CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini returned to winning ways with a four-set victory over Washington at Huff Hall on Friday night.
Double-doubles from Kenna Phelan and Alyssa Aguayo helped Illinois improve to 8-7 in Big Ten play and 13-11 overall during the 2025 campaign.
Phelan filled the stat sheet with 42 assists, 11 digs, a career-high five kills, five blocks, and two aces, marking her eighth double-double of the season.
Aguayo accumulated 12 kills, 17 digs, an assist, an ace, and a block en route to the ninth double-double of her career.
Taylor de Boer led the Illini with 14 kills while also tallying a dig and a block.
Ashlyn Philpot amassed 12 kills at an efficient .550 clip, and she also secured five total blocks and four digs.
Auburn Tomkinson totaled eight kills, a dig, and a block, while Gabby Dean notched six kills and a career-high three blocks.
Taryn Kirsch finished the night with 13 digs, three assists, and an ace, while Kenzie Cogan logged eight digs and an ace.
The Huskies accounted for five of the first six points of the night, eventually going into the media timeout with a 15-10 advantage. A 9-5 Illini scoring stretch cut the home side's deficit to one, though Washington ultimately won the opening frame, 25-22.
Illinois stormed out to a 9-3 lead in the second frame, though the sides soon traded points for a majority of the set. The visitors were able to trim their deficit to two late in the frame, forcing the Illini to call a timeout, but the hosts posted the final three points to grab a 25-20 decision, evening the match at one set apiece.
With the Huskies holding a 4-2 edge in the third period of play, the Illini used a 9-0 run with Cogan at the service line to claim an 11-4 edge. After Washington reduced its deficit to four, a 4-1 Illinois scoring stretch re-established the Orange and Blue's seven-point lead. Closing the frame on a 7-3 run, Illinois secured the third set by a 25-16 margin.
The Illini started the fourth frame with an 11-3 advantage before Washington took a timeout with the home side in front by nine, 13-4. Illinois soon extended its edge to double digits for the first time, dominating the set the rest of the way en route to a 25-13 triumph and a four-set home win.
NOTES
- Auburn Tomkinson totaled eight kills, a dig, and a block.
- Finished with at least eight kills for the eighth time in Big Ten play.
- Taryn Kirsch finished the night with 13 digs, three assists, and an ace.
- Had 10+ digs for the 12th time this season.
- Posted her fifth ace of the campaign.
- Now has at least one ace in four of the last five matches.
- Taylor de Boer led the Illini with 14 kills while also tallying a dig and a block.
- Now has double-digit kills in 14 of the Illini's 15 Big Ten matches.
- Has 10+ kills in 21 matches this season.
- Kenna Phelan filled the stat sheet with 42 assists, 11 digs, five kills, five blocks, and two aces.
- Registered her eighth double-double of the season and her 14th such performance of her career.
- Made double-digit digs for the eighth time.
- Her five kills marked a new career-high.
- Tied her career-high with five total kills.
- Had at least five blocks for the third time this season.
- Had multiple aces for the seventh time.
- Gabby Dean notched six kills and three blocks.
- Tied her career-high with six kills.
- Has six kills in back-to-back matches.
- Set a new career-high with three blocks.
- Has multiple kills in three consecutive matches.
- Ashlyn Philpot amassed 12 kills at an efficient .550 clip while securing five total blocks and four digs.
- Posted double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.
- Tallied at least five blocks for the eighth time this season.
- Has made at least five blocks in back-to-back outings for the second time this season.
- Has hit over .500 on six occasions this season.
- Had only one error against Washington.
- Alyssa Aguayo accumulated 12 kills, 17 digs, an assist, an ace, and a block.
- Finished with double-digit kills for the 17th time this season/in her career.
- Had double-digit digs for the 10th time this season.
- Has made 10+ digs in back-to-back matches for the third time this season.
- The Illini hit at a .283 clip while holding the Huskies to a .187 hitting percentage.
- Illinois limited Washington to two aces.
- The Illini's seven aces are tied for their sixth-most in a match this season.
- The Huskies' two aces are tied for the second-most conceded by the Illini this season.
- Head coach Chris Tamas moved to 162-105 overall during his time at the helm of the Illini.
- Illinois moved to 4-5 all-time against Washington.
- The Illini are now 5-5 in four-set matches this season.
- Illinois is now 4-5 at Huff Hall this season.
- The Illini moved to 1-2 when wearing white sleeveless jerseys.
- Attendance was called at 3,057.
UP NEXT
Illinois (13-11, 8-7 B1G) concludes its three-match homestand on Saturday night with a rematch against #11 Wisconsin for its annual Stuff Huff contest. The Fighting Illini will battle the Badgers at 8 p.m. on B1G+.
