Illini Secure Road Win Over Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Illinois improved to 4-1 during Big Ten play with a four-set road win over Maryland at the Schanwald Pavilion on Friday night.

Despite dropping the opening set, the Fighting Illini stormed back to claim the next three frames en route to victory. With the triumph, the Orange and Blue marked their best start to Big Ten play through five matches under head coach Chris Tamas.

Auburn Tomkinson registered a career-high 17 kills, finishing in double figures for the sixth time this season. Posting a .394 hitting percentage, she also secured a career-most six blocks, including the fourth solo stuff of her career.

Ashlyn Philpot filled the stat sheet with 11 kills, six blocks, and two digs while hitting at a .409 clip. Her six blocks marked a new season-high during conference play.

Taylor de Boer logged her fifth double-digit kill effort of Big Ten action with 11 kills while also tacking on two digs and a solo block.

Alyssa Aguayo amassed seven kills and equaled her career-high with four aces, including three straight to close the third set. Kayla Burbage collected a season-best seven blocks.

Taryn Kirsch tied her career-high with a team-most 21 digs, while Kenzie Cogan ended the night with a career-best 11 digs. Kenna Phelan concluded the day with 42 assists, eight digs, five blocks, two kills, and an ace.

Maryland held the advantage at the first media timeout, though the Illini used a 5-0 run to take a 21-18 lead. The Terps answered with the next three points to even the set. Shortly after, Maryland closed the frame on a 5-1 run to take the opener, 26-24.

With the sides knotted at 15 in the second set, the Terrapins started a 7-2 run to establish a late five-point edge. The Illini stormed back with Alyssa Aguayo at the service line, going on a 7-0 run to move within a set point of completing the comeback. Though the Terps ended their scoreless drought with a kill, Kenna Phelan won a joust at the net to close out the frame in the Illini's favor, 25-23.

Behind by four, the Illini recorded a 5-0 run to take a brief lead, but the Terrapins tallied for the next four points to retake a three-point advantage. Soon after, a 7-1 run from the visitors saw the Orange and Blue post a 19-16 edge, during which Tomkinson set a new career-best kill mark. Aguayo then accounted for Illinois' final six points of the frame, logging three kills before closing the frame with three consecutive aces to round out a 25-18 third-set victory for the Illini.

Trailing by one early, a 4-0 Illini run put the away side in front by three, though the Terps battled back to level the frame at 12. A 4-1 scoring stretch from the Orange and Blue helped the visitors retake a three-point edge, though Maryland once again had an answer, tying the frame at 18. After forcing a Terrapin timeout by scoring the next two points, the Illini led the rest of the way, completing the four-set win via a 25-23 decision in the fourth frame.

NOTES

• Auburn Tomkinson registered 17 kills on a .394 hitting percentage and also secured six blocks.
  • Set a new career-high with 17 kills.
    • Has double-digit kills in six outings this season.
  • Her .394 hitting percentage marked her second-best effort this season.
  • Finished with a career-high six total blocks.
    • Has 5+ blocks in back-to-back appearances.
    • Made multiple blocks for the 13th time this season.
    • Made her fourth solo block of the campaign.
• Taryn Kirsch tied her career-high with a team-most 21 digs.
  • Finished with at least 20 digs for the second time.
    • Totaled double-digit digs for the seventh time.
    • Has 10+ digs in three of the last four matches.
• Taylor de Boer logged 11 kills while also tacking on two digs and a solo block.
  • Had double-digit kills for the 12th time this season.
    • Has 10+ kills in all five Big Ten matches and in seven of her last eight appearances overall. 
  • Has a block in eight of the last eight matches and in 10 matches overall.
    • Made her third solo stuff of the season.
• Kenna Phelan concluded the day with 42 assists, eight digs, five blocks, two kills, and an ace.
  • Now has 40+ assists in four matches this season.
    • Has 40+ assists in back-to-back matches for the first time this season.
  • Has at least eight digs in nine outings this season.
    • Has 9+ digs in back-to-back efforts and in three of the last four.
  • Tied her career-high with five total blocks.
    • Had five blocks for the second time this season/in her career.
• Kayla Burbage collected a season-best seven blocks, along with two kills and an assist.
  • Set a new season-best effort with seven total blocks.
    • Has at least three blocks in each of the last nine matches.
      • Has at least five blocks in three outings this season.
      • Has multiple blocks in 11 straight matches and in 13 appearances overall.
    • Posted her fifth solo block of the season.
• Kenzie Cogan ended the night with a career-best 11 digs.
  • Set a new career-high 11 digs, her second career effort with double-digit digs.
    • Has 10+ digs in two of the last three matches.
    • Now has at least eight digs in three straight matches.
• Ashlyn Philpot filled the stat sheet with 11 kills, six blocks, and two digs.
  • Has 10+ kills in four matches this season.
    • Has 10+ kills in nine matches during her collegiate career.
    • Has double-digit kills in back-to-back matches and in three of the last four.
  • Has at least six blocks in four appearances this season.
    • Has multiple stuffs in all but one match this season.
    • Has at least three blocks in four straight matches.
  • Made multiple digs for the fourth time this season.
• Alyssa Aguayo amassed seven kills and equaled her career-high with four aces.
  • Tied her career-high with four aces, which she first set vs. Iowa State on Sept. 20.
    • Totaled multiple aces for the fourth time this season.
    • Closed the third set with three consecutive aces.
• Illinois set a new season-high with 15 total blocks.
  • Illinois' 15 blocks are its most since tallying 15.5 blocks against Purdue on Oct. 28, 2023.
  • The Illini equaled their season-high with three solo blocks, the fifth time achieving that mark this season.
• The Illini held the Terrapins to a .109 hitting percentage, the second-lowest by an Illini opponent this season.
• The Illini have won four of their first five Big Ten matches for the first time under Chris Tamas and for the first time since 2016.
• Head coach Chris Tamas moved to 158-99 overall during his time at the helm of the Illini.
• The Illini moved to 17-0 all-time against Maryland.
  • UI holds a 7-0 record against the Terrapins away from home.
• Illinois is now 3-4 in four-set matches this season.
• Illinois is now 4-2 in true road matches this season.
• The Illini moved to 1-0 when wearing anthracite jerseys.

UP NEXT

Illinois (9-5, 4-1 B1G) remains on the East Coast for a Saturday night matchup at Rutgers. First serve between the Fighting Illini and the Scarlet Knights from Jersey Mike's Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.