EVANSTON, Ill. – Another Illinois volleyball program record belongs to Raina Terry as the outside hitter became the Orange and Blue's all-time kills leader and helped the Fighting Illini take down Northwestern in a four-set battle.
Terry's match-high 15 kills gave the outside hitter 1,973 for her career, breaking the previous Orange and Blue record set by Jocelynn Birks from 2012-15.
The Fighting Illini moved to 15-6 overall and 7-4 in Big Ten play with the victory. The Wildcats fell to 4-15 this year a 2-9 in conference action.
As a team, Illinois tallied 44 kills while hitting .233 in the match. The Orange and Blue also held the Wildcats to an .088 hitting percentage.
Christina Martinez Mundo led the way defensively, posting 16 digs. Both middle blockers, Ashlyn Philpot and Cari Bohm, tallied four blocks each.
Besides Terry, two others tallied double-digit kills as Philpot and Laynie Smith amassed 10 kills apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois went back-and-forth with Northwestern early in the opening frame, but the Wildcats held the 15-11 advantage at the media break. A 3-0 rally, which included an ace from Terry, helped the Fighting Illini come within a pair of the opposition's advantage, 16-14. However, the Wildcats built back its lead and the Illini called a timeout trailing 22-17. Despite fending off a pair of set points with Lily Barry behind the line, the Orange and Blue fell 25-22.
The Fighting Illini went on a 6-0 run with Terry serving before Northwestern burned a timeout with the Orange and Blue ahead, 9-6. Illinois scored four more out of the break, extending the lead to seven following a Wildcat attack error. Northwestern took its final timeout with the Fighting Illini owning the 19-13 edge and Barry tacked on an ace after the break. A kill from Terry gave the Illini set point and an attack error by Northwestern put away the 25-17 triumph in the second set.
In the third frame, the Illini held the 8-5 advantage following a block from Terry and Bohm. An attack error by the opposition sent the teams into the media break with the Orange and Blue holding onto the 15-9 edge. Back-to-back kills from Smith earned the Fighting Illini the 19-12 edge before the Wildcats took a timeout. The team continued to cruise, ending the frame on a 7-1 run to take the set, 25-13.
A 3-0 rally, including Terry's fifth ace of the day, helped Illinois gain the 14-11 advantage early in the fourth frame. After an ace from Martinez Mundo extended the 3-0 run and the six-point advantage, Northwestern used a timeout with Illinois ahead, 21-15. The Wildcats fought off a pair of Illini set points, but it was Terry's record-breaking kill that gave the Fighting Illini the 25-19 win and the four-set triumph.
UP NEXT
A battle with #7 Wisconsin at Huff Hall is on deck for the Fighting Illini. First serve on Sunday is slated for 1 p.m.
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 4-2 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 67-32 against Northwestern.
- Chris Tamas moved to 11-3 all-time against the Wildcats.
- The Illini hit .409 (10-1-22) in the third frame.
- Philpot reached double-digit kills for the third time this season.
- Terry tallying her seventh double-double of the year and 24th of her career with 13 kills and 10 digs
- Terry tied her season-high with five aces.
- Attendance was called at 1,685.
