LINCOLN, Neb. – Illinois volleyball fell to #2 Nebraska in straight sets at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini moved to 13-6 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play. The Huskers improved to 19-1 and 9-0 in league action.
The Orange and Blue hit .217 in the match with 41 kills. Raina Terry led all players with 15 kills while hitting .213 in the loss. Brooke Mosher paced the team 31 assists and Christina Martinez Mundo led the Orange and Blue with 13 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois struggled early in the opening set, and the Illini trailed 15-12 at the media break. The Fighting Illini chipped away at Nebraska's advantage, with a kill from Terry closing the deficit to three. But the Huskers tacked on a 3-0 run late in the set, putting Illinois behind 20-14 before the Orange and Blue called its final timeout of the opener. A Terry kill helped fend off set point, but the Huskers eventually took the first set, 25-17.
The second set favored the opposition early with Illinois trailing 7-3 following a 4-0 run. Kills from Ashlyn Philpot and Averie Hernandez helped cut the Husker lead to just a pair, 11-9. However, the team trailed 15-10 when it came to the media timeout. The Illini continued to fumble late into the set, taking a timeout while behind 20-13. The Fighting Illini made a late push with Lily Barry behind the service line, scoring five straight, 20-18, before Nebraska looked to stall the Orange and Blue. However, Illinois allowed a 4-0 run to get Nebraska to set point before the Illini dropped the set, 25-19.
Illinois held an early 9-7 lead following a 4-0 run that included an ace with Terry serving. A block by Hernandez and Cari Bohm put Illinois ahead by a pair but the Huskers took a 4-0 run into the media timeout, putting the Illini behind 15-13. The teams battled back-and-forth with a kill from Laynie Smith locking the frame at 17 apiece. Going back and forth late into the set, Smith got the Illini to set point, but the Huskers sent the set into extra points before handing the Illini the 28-26 loss.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini remain on the road for a match at Iowa on Sunday. First serve from Xtreme Arena is slated for 2 p.m. on B1G+.Â
NOTES:
- Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Christina Martinez Mundo.
- The Illini wore short-sleeved navy jerseys, moving to 1-2 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 8-32-1 against Nebraska.
- Chris Tamas moved to 1-13 all-time against the Nebraska.
- Terry owns 1,940 career kills and 2,889 career points for the Illini, ranking second in each category.
- Terry tallied five kills and no errors in the second set.
 - Attendance was called at 8,551.
