CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball took care of business with a sweep of Maryland at Huff Hall on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini improved to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Terrapins dropped to 10-9 on the season and 1-7 in the Big Ten.
The Orange and Blue hit .302 in the match, amassing 39 kills. The team tallied 39 assists with Mosher leading the way with 23 of those. The setter also posted a match-high five aces. Raina Terry paced the squad with 15 kills, hitting .454 in the triumph. Defensively, Cari Bohm logged eight blocks while Christina Martinez Mundo collected 11 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Maryland jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the first set and held the 19-15 edge when the first timeout was taken by Illinois. Out of the break, the Illini took a 21-20 advantage thanks to a 6-1 run topped off by a Terry kill. The Orange and Blue closed the set on a 3-0 run to take it by a score of 28-26.Â
Averie Hernandez opened the second set with an ace to help propel the Illini to own the 5-0 edge forcing an early Maryland timeout. After the timeout, the Fighting Illini kept their foot on the gas with three-straight points leading to another Terp timeout. The Terrapins clawed back with three-straight aces to make the score 16-10 before the Orange and Blue responded with a 6-0 run. The Fighting Illini didn't look back, winning the set 25-17 after a kill from Terry ended the frame.
Illinois and Maryland battled back-and-forth early in the third set and with teams knotted at 12, Illinois looked to stall with a break. The Terps went on to take a 19-15 lead, but the second 6-0 Illini run of the match with Mosher at the service line propelled the Fighting Illini ahead by a pair. The Orange and Blue held onto the lead down the stretch, and, for the second-straight set, Terry ended the frame with a kill to secure Illinois the 25-23 win, and the sweep.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini head to Lincoln, Neb., to face #2 Nebraska on Friday. First serve is slated for 7 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 white jerseys, remaining undefeated while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 16-0 against Maryland
- Chris Tamas moved to 11-0 all-time against the Maryland.
- Illinois earned double-digit blocks for the 10th time this year and third-straight match, recording 12 roofs.
- Attendance was called at 2,869.
