Illinois Falls to #7 Wisconsin at Sold-Out Huff Hall

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois dropped its home contest against #7 Wisconsin, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon at sold-out Huff Hall.

The Fighting Illini moved to 15-7 overall and 7-5 in Big Ten play. The ranked Badgers improved to 16-5 this season with a 10-2 mark in league action.

The Orange and Blue hit .206 as a team in the loss, while the Badgers recorded a .364 hitting percentage.

Raina Terry led the match with 15 kills, her 10th consecutive outing and 21st match of the season with double-digit kills. Registering a .375 hitting percentage, Terry recorded eight of those kills in the second set before finishing with four digs, two aces, and two blocks. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Badgers opened the match with a 3-0 run, though the Illini responded by scoring the next two points to reduce that deficit to a single point. Wisconsin would not be denied, eventually forcing Illinois to take its first timeout of the frame with the Badgers holding a 14-8 edge. 

The visitors' advantage grew to nine, leading to the Illini using their second timeout of the set, but a 5-1 Illini run shortly after reduced the hosts' deficit to 21-15. Closing the set on a 4-1 run, Wisconsin never trailed, going on to claim the opening frame, 25-16.

The away side continued their momentum early in the second set, with a 5-1 Badger run giving Wisconsin a 9-5 edge. Illinois answered right back with a 6-1 scoring stretch of its own, putting the hosts narrowly ahead, 10-9. The Illini's advantage expanded to two points at the media timeout, with the Orange and Blue holding a 15-13 edge at the break.

Two separate 3-1 Badger runs put the visitors in front once again, forcing Illinois to take a timeout while facing a 21-19 deficit. A 3-0 Illini run out of the brief break put the hosts in front, 22-21, which saw the Badgers burn their first timeout. After Wisconsin tied the frame at 22, a kill and an ace from Terry brought the Orange and Blue to set point. The Badgers scored the set's final four points, though, giving Wisconsin a 26-24 second-set win and a 2-0 advantage in the match.

The Badgers opened the third set with a 6-1 run, and that advantage grew to 10-3 before Illinois took its first timeout of the frame. Wisconsin continued to capitalize on its momentum, extending its edge to 17-5 and forcing the Illini to use its final intermission of the set. A 7-2 Illini run out of the break reduced Illinois' deficit to 19-12, which saw the Badgers use their first timeout. 

A 3-0 run by the visitors re-established their commanding lead, and despite a late rally, the Illini fell in the final frame, 25-17.

UP NEXT

Illinois hosts #21 USC for Hail to the Orange Out on Friday. First serve against the Trojans is slated for 5 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 sleeveless white jerseys, moving to 0-2 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 49-49-1 against Wisconsin.
- Chris Tamas moved to 2-12 all-time against the Badgers..
- Illinois moved to a 6-2 offense for the first time this season.
- The Illini's .206 hitting percentage against Wisconsin was the third highest against a conference opponent for the Badgers this year.
- Martinez Mundo tallied double-digit digs for the ninth-straight match
- Raegen Reilly posted nine assists, a new season high.
- Taylor de Boer tied her career high for kills with three.
- Terry registered double-digit kills for the 10th consecutive match and for the 21st time overall this season.
- Terry posted eight kills in the second set alone.
- Attendance was called at 4,352, the second sellout at Huff Hall this season.