Illini Volleyball Sweeps Indiana

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball took down Indiana in straight sets at Huff Hall on Wednesday night. 

The Fighting Illini improved to 12-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The Hoosiers dropped to 9-8 this year and 2-5 in the Big Ten.

Raina Terry recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing the night with a match-high 16 kills to go along with 10 digs. Terry also registered a season-best five blocks, and she has now added at least four blocks in three consecutive matches.

Averie Hernandez totaled 12 kills, her ninth outing with double-digit kills this season. Hernandez also tacked on six digs and one block.

Brooke Mosher tallied 35 assists, a new best for her in three set matches.

Defensively, Christina Martinez Mundo logged 10 digs while Terry and Cari Bohm posted five blocks each.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois came out hot to start the match, with the team posting a 3-0 run to earn the 8-3 edge. The Fighting Illini continued to control the opening frame, taking the 13-6 lead before the Hoosiers burned their first timeout of the set. However, Indiana did not go away quietly, stringing together a 4-0 run to come within a point of the Orange and Blue, 17-16. 

Coming out of a timeout, Illinois built back the four-point advantage, leading to IU's final break of the frame following an ace from Mosher. A block from Bohm helped the Illini reach set point before Philpot secured the 25-19 triumph with a kill.

Despite Indiana starting the second set on a 4-0 run, the Orange and Blue put together a rally of its own when it outscored the Hoosiers, 6-1, to take the early 6-5 lead. Back and forth, the teams battled with Illinois hanging onto the slight 15-14 edge at the media timeout thanks to a kill from Laynie Smith. 

With the frame knotted at 21 following a kill from Terry, back-to-back Illinois scores left Indiana scrambling, with the Hoosiers using both timeouts in the span of two points. An ace from Martinez Mundo gave the Fighting Illini set point, and Terry tipped one over the block to earn the 25-22 win.
Illinois looked to carry its momentum into the third set, taking an 11-8 lead with Hernandez behind the service line. However Indiana added a rally of its own, knotting the frame at 11 apiece. Martinez Mundo added her second ace of the match while helping Illinois take back its advantage, 15-11. 

The Hoosiers chipped away at the Orange and Blue lead, securing a block before the Illini used their first timeout of the frame while clinging to the 17-15 edge. A block from Bohm and Hernandez expanded the 20-17 lead before the Hoosiers used their final break of the set. Indiana accounted for the next two points of the frame, forcing Illinois to take its final timeout of the set. Illinois emerged from the brief intermission and closed out the night on a 5-1 run, sealing a 25-21 third-set win and the sweep.

UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini ready for a clash with Big Ten foe Maryland on Sunday. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. on B1G+.

NOTES:
- Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Christina Martinez Mundo.
- The Illini wore long-sleeved pink jerseys for the first time this year.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 76-19 against Indiana.
- Chris Tamas moved to 11-2 all-time against Indiana.
- The Illini moved to 2-2 in televised matches.
- The teams saw 15 ties and seven lead changes in the second set.
- Illinois held Indiana to an .062 hitting percentage in the opening set
- The Fighting Illini recorded double-digit blocks for the ninth time this year, posting 10 roofs in the match.
-Terry paced the team in kills for the 14th time this year.
- Attendance was called at 2,662.