WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Illinois volleyball fell in straight set to #8 Purdue at Holloway Gymnasium on Saturday.
The Fighting Illini dropped to 17-9 this year with an 9-7 Big Ten record. The ranked Boilermakers improved to 22-5 with a 13-3 mark in conference action.
Raina Terry paced the Orange and Blue with 18 kills, hitting .250 in the match while Christina Martinez Mundo led the way with 15 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Purdue held the early momentum over the Illini, putting the Orange and Blue behind 12-8, before the team called a timeout. The Fighting Illini looked to chip away at the Boilermaker edge, with a block from Cari Bohm and Laynie Smith helping the team to a 17-14 deficit. However, the team struggled late, taking a timeout while behind 21-15. Unable to find a rhythm, Illinois dropped the opening frame, 25-17.
In the second set, the teams kept it close early, with six ties between the squads before the Orange and Blue called a timeout trailing 14-10. Illinois came within a pair following a kill from Brooke Mosher, 16-14, but the team called for its final break of the set down, 20-16. Despite a Terry kill fending off set point, the Illini fell 25-20.
The Orange and Blue struggled from the jump, trailing 9-3 after a five-point run for the opposition. Illinois called for a timeout trailing 12-15, but the stoppage did not stall the Boilermakers. Down by 11, Illinois called for its final break of the set. Despite a strong effort late in the frame, the Fighting Illini were unable to overcome the deficit, dropping the third 25-19 and the match in straight sets.
UP NEXT
Illinois hosts Rutgers at Huff Hall on Friday afternoon. First serve is slated for 4 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 orange jerseys, moving to 5-3 while donning those this year.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 51-46 against Purdue.
- Chris Tamas moved to 6-6 all-time against the Boilermakers.
- Illinois moved to 1-6 against ranked opponents.
- The Illini are now 2-3 in televised matches.
- Terry tallied seven kills while hitting .500 in the third set.
- Terry led the teams in kills for the 22nd time this year.
- Martinez Mundo paced the squad in dig for the eighth-straight match.
- Attendance was called at 2,415.
