BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Illinois volleyball closed its run at the Best Western Invitational with a sweep of tournament host Bowling Green at the Stroh Center on Saturday night.
The Fighting Illini improved to 2-0 on the young season, while BGSU fell to 1-1.
As a team, the Orange and Blue posted 34 kills on .184 hitting for the match. The Illini also recorded 35 digs, 31 assists, 12 blocks and 12 aces. Individually, Raina Terry paced the squad for a second-straight match with 11 kills. Vivian Campbell and Brooke Mosher notched a team-best three aces. Defensively, Ashlyn Philpot tallied seven blocks, and Christina Martinez Mundo logged nine digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois came out hot with a 3-0 run before an ace from Campbell helped the Illini earn the 9-4 advantage. Point-for-point, the teams battled, but a reception error by the Orange and Blue led to a timeout with the squad holding onto a 16-13 lead. Back-to-back points for Illinois late in the set left the Falcons burning their final timeout of the set with Illinois ahead, 22-17. The break did not stall the Illini offense, and the team took the opening frame, 25-19.
An early 10-5 advantage with Campbell behind the service line left the Falcons calling for a timeout early in the second set. Bowling Green crept within a pair, but an ace from Mosher helped the Illini regain its five-point lead late in the frame. The Falcons fended off set point, but Averie Hernandez registered the final kill, helping Illinois take the set, 25-17.
A 3-0 run, including a kill from Cari Bohm and an ace from Mosher, propelled the Illini to the 12-10 lead, forcing the Falcons to burn a timeout. The teams battled back-and-forth following the break in the action, and a pair of blocks followed by a Terry kill pushed the Illini ahead, 20-18. The Orange and Blue closed out the match by scoring the final three points to take the set, 25-21, and the match in straight sets.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue return to action with its first home match of the season as the team hosts Illinois State at Huff Hall on Tuesday. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on B1G+.
NOTES:
- Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Caroline Barnes
- The match served as the first collegiate meeting for Hernandez and her sister, Sydnie.
- The Illini wore long-sleeved navy jerseys for the first time.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 3-0 all-time against Bowling Green.
- The team's 12 aces were the first time the team reached double-digits in the category since hosting Ohio State on Nov. 15, 2023, when the squad also registered 12.
    -  Illinois served up six aces on the way to a second-set victory.
- Terry's 1,657 career kills currently place the outside hitter tied for eighth place in program history.
- Chris Tamas moved to 2-0 all-time against the Falcons.
- Attendance was called at 1,178.
