CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball continued its hot streak with a four-set victory over Illinois State at Huff Hall on Tuesday night.
The Fighting Illini remained undefeated at 3-0 this year, while Illinois State fell to 1-3 this season.
As a team, the Orange and Blue tallied 47 kills and a .342 hitting percentage. The Illini squad added 42 digs, 40 assists, 14 blocks and seven aces.
Individually, Averie Hernandez paced the Fighting Illini with 12 kills. Ashlyn Philpot recorded her first collegiate double-double, amassing 11 kills and 10 blocks. Raina Terry contributed 11 kills and four strikes from the service line. Brooke Mosher dished out 31 assists, while Christina Martinez Mundo logged 13 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois dominated from the jump, with a kill from Cari Bohm giving the Illini the early 8-4 advantage. With the Caroline Barnes behind the service line, the Orange and Blue advantage was extended, 16-5. Late in the set, Illinois State burned its final timeout after back-to-back kills by Terry put the Illini ahead, 21-10. The team forged ahead after the break, taking the opening set, 25-13.
The teams battled back-and-forth early in the second frame, but the Illini burned their first timeout with the score knotted at nine apiece. Going point-for-point late in the set, the Orange and Blue fell out of rhythm, using its final timeout while trailing, 21-19. The break did not stall the Redbirds, with Illinois dropping its first set this season, 25-20.
A four-point run that included an ace from Raegen Reilly helped Illinois push ahead, 13-10, leading to an Illinois State timeout early in the third set. Terry's second ace of the match helped the team gain the 18-13 advantage late in the frame. Another four-point rally by the Orange and Blue led to the Redbirds' final timeout to the set with the Illini ahead, 22-14. The stoppage did not affect the Illini, with the team taking the set, 25-18
Illinois fell behind early, trailing 11-6 in the fourth set. However, a 5-0 run that included three monster blocks helped the Orange and Blue to the slight 14-13 advantage. The Fighting Illini held onto the advantage, with an ace from Terry leading to a timeout by ISU with Illinois ahead, 21-18. Terry continued her dominance behind the line, closing out the set, 25-18, and the four-set match.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue hit the road for the Cyclone Invitational. Competition begins on Friday with a match against Toledo slated for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
NOTES:
- Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Caroline Barnes
- Taylor de Boer made her collegiate debut.
- The Illini wore long-sleeved white jerseys, moving to 2-0 while donning those.
- The Illinois volleyball program is now 30-31 all-time against Illinois State.
- Terry tallied four aces in the match, bringing her career total to 170.
- Illinois recorded a .480 hitting percentage in the first set and held the Redbirds to a .034 hitting clip.
- Illinois hit double-digit blocks as a team for the second time this season, logging 14.
- Terry's 1,668 career kills currently place the outside hitter seventh all-time in the category.
- Philpot recorded a double-double, the first of her career.
- The last middle with a double-double was Kennedy Collins in 2021.
- The last freshman middle to record one was Ali Bastianelli in 2015.
- The 3-0 start is the first for the team since 2021.
- Chris Tamas moved to 3-2 all-time against the Redbirds.
- Attendance was called at 2,715.
