BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Big Ten play began on Wednesday for Illinois volleyball, with the team dropping a four-set match to Indiana at Wilkinson Hall.
The Fighting Illini fell to 5-6 on the year and dropped to an 0-1 record in league play. Indiana improved to 11-3 with a 1-0 mark in conference play.
As a team, the Illini tallied 43 kills but hit .053 in the loss. Defensively, the Illini squad added five blocks and 66 digs. Individually, Raina Terry once again led the way in kills, tallying 19 in the match. Kennedy Collins posted double-figure kills as well, logging 11 while hitting .240. Brooke Mosher added the seventh double-double of her career, recording 35 assists and 12 digs.
How it happened
The Illini found themselves behind early after a 3-0 Indiana run left the visitors trailing, 11-6, before calling a timeout. Back-to-back IU points late in the set extended the deficit, putting the Orange and Blue behind, 17-10, before burning the team's final timeout. The Illini finished the set hitting just .029, dropping the opening frame, 25-13.
Looking to rebound in the following set, a 4-0 rally powered Illinois to an early 7-4 advantage. The team built onto its lead, with a Terry kill sending the squads into the media break as the Illini owned the 15-11 edge. Three straight scores for the Hoosiers led to a timeout by the Illini as the team clung to a 17-15 lead late in the set. Back-to-back kills brought Illinois to set point, but a 3-0 IU rally tied the frame at 24. Back-to-back kills from Collins and Mosher put away the second set, giving the Illini the 26-24 triumph.
With the match even at one set apiece, a 7-0 run left Illinois behind, 20-13, before the team used its final timeout. Mosher snapped the rally out of the break, spurring a 3-0 turn for the Illini. However, Indiana continued to hold the momentum, closing out the frame on a 3-0 run to hand the Illini the 25-17 third-set loss.
Illinois fell behind early, with a 4-0 IU rally putting Illinois behind 12-5. Errors continued to plague the Illini, with the team down, 16-6, before using a timeout. A kill from Kayla Burbage sparked an Illini rally as the team scored four-straight before Indiana looked to halt the Orange and Blue's momentum with a timeout. Despite the shift, Indiana continued to take control, and the deficit was too much for Illinois to overcome, with the Illini falling, 25-17, in the final frame.
Up Next
Illinois returns to Huff Hall for a match against Michigan State on Sunday. First serve on B1G+ is slated for 1 p.m. CT.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Kayla Burbage, Kennedy Collins, Lily Barry, Cari Bohm and Caroline Barnes
- Barnes earned her first start of the season at the libero position.
- Sophie Stephenson made her debut for the Orange and Blue.
- Terry tallied an ace to hold 137 in her career, placing her eighth all-time.
- The Illini wore long-sleeved anthracite jerseys for the first time this year.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 74-19 against Indiana.
- The Orange and Blue moved to 4-1 in four-set matches.
- Illinois dropped to 0-3 on Big Ten Network.
- Attendance on Wednesday was called at 1,531.
