ANN ARBOR, Mich.– Illinois volleyball swept Michigan in a Big Ten clash at Crisler Center on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini moved to 10-5 this season with a 2-3 conference mark. Michigan dropped to 13-3, owning a 3-2 league record.
As a team, the Orange and Blue hit .305 with 41 kills. The team added 36 assists and 13 blocks during the triumph.
Individually, Raina Terry led the way with 16 kills while hitting .364 in the match. Ashlyn Philpot amassed six blocks and Christina Martinez Mundo logged 11 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois and Michigan went back-and-forth in the opening frame, but a four-point run by the opposition led to an Illini timeout with the Orange and Blue trailing 13-11. However, a 4-0 run with Terry behind the service line helped the Fighting Illini hold the 17-15 advantage before the Wolverines used their first timeout of the set. Illinois added three out of the break, extending the five-point edge. Michigan used its final timeout with the Illini owning to the 23-17 edge, but the break did not stall the offense as the team won the frame 25-19.
Michigan owned the early 7-3 edge, resulting in an Orange and Blue timeout. The teams continued to battle, but the Illini called their final timeout trailing 19-13. After chippikng away at the Wolverine advantage, the Fighting Illini knotted the set at 21 and allowed the Wolverines to score just once more in the frame. The Orange and Blue ended the set on a 4-0 run, taking the frame 25-22.
A 6-1 Illini run began the third set with Terry tallying a pair of kills during the rally. However, Michigan did not go away quietly with the Wolverines scoring six-straight to tie the frame at 11. Following the tie, the Orange and Blue rattled off a 4-0 run, resulting in a Michigan timeout. The teams continued to fight point-for-point but an ace from Brooke Mosher helped Illinois take the 22-18 lead and left Michigan to burn its final timeout. Terry scored her 16th kill to give the Illini match point before Laynie Smith sealed the 25-20 victory and the sweep.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue remains on the road for a match at Michigan State on Saturday. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
NOTES:
- Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Christina Martinez Mundo.
- The Illini wore long-sleeved orange jerseys, moving to 2-2 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 53-27 against Michigan.
- Terry's 16 kills was one away from her season high in a three-set match.
- The sweep was the fourth of the season for Illinois.
- Chris Tamas moved to 6-4 all-time against the Michigan.
- Erin Virtue is 0-2 as a head coach against her alma mater.
- The Illini tallied five blocks in the opening frame.
- Illinois earned double-digit blocks for the seventh time this year.
- Attendance was called at 2,062.
