CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball dropped a Big Ten battle to UCLA at Huff Hall on Saturday night.
The Fighting Illini fell to 18-10 this year with a 10-8 conference record. The Bruins improved to 13-14 overall and 7-11 against league opponent.
Raina Terry logged a squad-best 22 kills in the match and 10 digs for her 22nd career double-double. Laynie Smith reached double figures for the 11th time in her career, posting 12 kills for the Illini. Setter Brooke Mosher paced the offense with 40 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini started the frame slow, trailing 13-8 when the team called for a timeout. A 3-0 run, including an ace from Mosher, helped the Orange and Blue come within a score, 16-15. Back-and-forth the teams battled and a kill from Cari Bohm allowed the Fighting Illini to take the 19-18 lead. The Illini did not look back with a kill from Ashlyn Philpot sealing the 25-20 triumph in the opening set.
The teams kept the second set close with the UCLA holding the slight 15-12 edge at the media break. Out of the timeout, Illinois scored back-to-back points, cutting the deficit to one, but the Bruins built back an 18-15 advantage before the Fighting Illini used a timeout. The Illini were unable to find their rhythm, and the Bruin took the frame 25-17 to even the match.
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With the battle locked at a set apiece, the Illini fell behind 10-6 early in the third following a three-point scoring run by the opposition. The Fighting Illini came within a pair following an ace from Lily Barry, but at the media timeout, the Orange and Blue trailed UCLA, 15-11. The struggles continued for Illinois with the team burning a timeout down 19-13. Unable to overcome the deficit, the Illini fell 25-15.
Needing to rally in the fourth frame, the Illini trailed 10-7 early following a service error. With Averie Hernandez serving, the Illini made a run, posting four-straight to hold the 11-10 edge when UCLA used a timeout. Late in the match and the set knotted at 20, UCLA outscored Illinois 4-0 to earn match point. Despite fending off the Bruins with a 3-0 run, Illinois dropped the set 25-23 and the four-set match.
UP NEXT
Illinois closes out the home slate with a match against #16 Minnesota. First serve on Wednesday is scheduled 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, moving to 7-1 while donning those this year.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 0-12 against UCLA.
- Chris Tamas moved to 0-1 all-time against the Bruins.
. Illinois moved to 1-3 against new Big Ten programs.
- Terry posited 20 kills for the fifth time this year and 25 time in her career.
- Terry's double-double was the seventh of the season and 22nd of her career.
- Attendance was called at 2,952.
