CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball broke out the brooms during the team's Big Ten match against Iowa at Huff Hall on Saturday, topping the Hawkeyes in straight sets.
The Orange and Blue moved to 7-7 on the year with the victory and own a 2-2 record against league opponents. The Hawkeyes finished the weekend at 8-8 this season and remain winless in conference play.
Illinois hit .284Â as a team with 47 kills in the triumph over Iowa. The Orange and Blue added 49 digs, 41 assists, 9.5Â blocks and six aces. Raina Terry led the way with 19 kills while hitting .348 for the night. Kayla Burbage recorded double-digit kills, adding 10 while also recording three blocks. Kennedy Collins added a team-high five blocks, while Cari Bohm and Jessica Nunge logged four roofs each.
Brooke Mosher added her seventh double-double of the year and ninth of her career when she tallied 36 assists and 10 digs. The setter also added five kills and three blocks.
How it happened
Illinois got off to a sluggish start, allowing a 5-0 run from the jump. With a pair of aces from Caroline Barnes, Illinois clawed its way back to trail by just a score. The Orange and Blue gained the 9-7 edge following five unanswered with Vanessa Pan serving. Both teams went back-and-forth, but a Bohm kill helped Illinois pull away with the 17-13 advantage. Collins added an ace late, causing the Hawkeyes to burn a timeout with the Illini ahead, 23-19, but Iowa managed to tie the frame at 23 apiece. Point for point, the teams battled, but a 3-0 run closed out the set for Illinois, resulting in the 28-26 victory.
The Illini held all the momentum in the second set, with a Mosher kill spurring a 5-0 run and resulting in an Iowa timeout with the Orange and Blue ahead, 8-3. Mosher extended the Illini advantage to eight points with an ace before the Hawkeyes used their final timeout of the frame. The Fighting Illini continued to cruise late in the set with Burbage bringing Illinois to set point before a block by the junior, along with Collins, sealed the 25-18 triumph.
The third set favored Illinois early, with Iowa using a timeout following a Collins kill that gave the Illini the 8-4 edge. However, a 4-0 turn favored the Hawkeyes, cutting the Illini lead to just a score. With both teams battling for each point, Illinois used a timeout as a 3-0 rally for Iowa put the Orange and Blue behind, 19-17. Illinois fought back, fending off set point and tying the frame at 24 apiece. Terry's kill from the back row gave the Illini match point before Bohm and Burbage stuffed the Hawkeyes' attacker to seal the 28-26 win and the first sweep of conference play for the Illini.
Up Next
Illinois hits the road for a match at #17 Purdue on Wednesday. First serve on FS1 is slated for 5 p.m. CT
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Lily Barry, Kennedy Collins, Kayla Burbage, Cari Bohm and Caroline Barnes
- The Illini wore sleeveless white jerseys, moving to 4-0 while donning those
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 70-14 against Iowa all time.
- Head Coach Chris Tamas improved to 11-0 against the Hawkeyes.
- Terry has led the Illini in kills in 13 of 14 matches.
- Attendance Saturday evening was called at 2,109.
