CHICAGO – Illinois volleyball topped UIC in a four-set battle at Credit Union 1 Arena on Tuesday night.
The Fighting Illini improved to 4-1 this season including a 2-0 record on the road. The Flames dropped to 5-2 on the year with the loss.
The Orange and Blue hit .371 for the match, recording 61 kills. Defensively, the team posted 55 digs and nine total blocks. Brooke Mosher logged her third double-double of the year, amassing a career-high 42 assists and 14 digs. Raina Terry paced the Illini with 22 kills for the 12th 20-kill performance of her career and second this season. Lily Barry posted a team-high 17 digs while Kennedy Collins totaled six blocks and a .756 hitting clip during the four-set triumph.
How it happened
UIC held all the momentum to start the match, owning the 5-1 edge early in the opening frame. Illinois continued to struggle and a block by the Flames increased the 13-7 deficit for Illinois, leading to a timeout by the Illini. A 3-0 rally from the Orange and Blue including a kill by Cari Bohm brought Illinois within three of UIC, but Illinois was unable to ever take the lead, falling 25-23.
Looking to rebound in the second set, a 4-0 run powered Illinois to an 8-2 advantage, forcing UIC to burn a timeout. With Caroline Barnes behind the service line, the Fighting Illini extended its advantage with three-straight points. Back-to-back scores for Illinois, including a kill from Terry led to the Flames' second timeout of the set with the Orange and Blue ahead 17-9. The Illini continued to dominate and a Jessica Nunge kill sealed the 25-12 win in the second set.
With the match knotted up at a set apiece, a back-and-forth battle began with Illinois trailing 15-14 at the media break. Out of the brief stoppage, a 3-0 turn in the Illini's favor with Kayla Burbage adding a pair of kills led to a timeout from the Flames. Holding all the momentum, Illinois ended the set on a 6-1 scoring run, with a Collins kill giving Illinois the 25-18 third-set victory.
An 8-0 run that included four kills from Burbage helped Illinois hold the 15-7 advantage in the fourth set. The team built on its lead, with Collins' 12th kill of the match giving Illinois the nine-point edge. Burbage gave Illinois match-point with a kill and Terry's 22nd kill of the day sealed the 25-17 fourth-set victory.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- Caroline Barnes made her season debut in the match, coming in off the bench.
- The Illini wore long sleeved navy jerseys moving to 2-0 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 4-9 against UIC all-time.
- Illinois moved to 3-0 in four-set matches this year.
- Attendance Tuesday evening was called at 380.
