CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois closed its nonconference schedule with an in-state sweep over Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall.
The win saw the Illini improve to 5-4 heading into Big Ten play next week.
Alyssa Aguayo registered her fifth double-double of the season with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs. Reaching the 10+-kill mark for the seventh time this season, she added two blocks while posting a .353 hitting percentage.
Ashlyn Philpot filled the stat sheet once again, recording nine kills and four blocks, including a solo stuff. She also tacked on three digs.
Kenna Phelan secured her third double-double of the campaign with 38 assists and a team-most 13 digs, in addition to her three kills.
Auburn Tomkinson finished the afternoon with eight kills, six digs, and three blocks, while Averie Hernandez amassed six kills, 10 digs, a season-best three aces, and two blocks. Kayla Burbage tallied three kills and four blocks.Â
The Panthers accounted for the first four points of the opening set, though the Illini battled back to level the frame at 8-8. Though EIU re-established its advantage, going ahead 17-14, Illinois used a 7-1 run to take its first lead of the set. Ahead 22-20, the home side scored three of the final four points of the frame to win the first set, 25-21.
EIU got off to a fast start once again in the second set, though Illinois found a quick response via a 5-1 run to go ahead, 7-6. A 6-1 stretch from the visitors saw the Panthers jump back in front, 14-10, but a 6-2 Illini run tied the frame at 16. Behind 19-18, the home side claimed a 4-0 run to turn a deficit into a late three-point lead, with Hernandez's ace on set point closing out the frame for Illinois, 25-21.
The Illini threw the first punch in the third set by scoring four of the first five points, but the Panthers countered with a 6-0 run to move in front by three. A 7-1 Illini stretch shortly after put the hosts ahead once again, but EIU refused to go away, eventually grabbing a 22-21 advantage. A 3-1 Illini run put the hosts up to match point, though the Panthers scored the next two points to get a set point of their own. Despite EIU fending off one more match point, Illinois claimed the final two points of the frame to secure the sweep.
NOTES
- Alyssa Aguayo registered a double-double with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs, along with two blocks and a .353 hitting percentage.
- Logged her fifth double-double of the season/of her career.
- Has 10+ kills in seven of her nine career collegiate matches.
- Has 10+ digs in six matches this season.
- Has multiple blocks in each of her last four appearances and in five matches overall.
- Ashlyn Philpot filled the stat sheet with nine kills, four blocks, and three digs.
- Has at least nine kills in back-to-back outings and in five matches overall this season.
- Finished with at least four blocks for the fifth time this season.
- Made her sixth solo block of the season; has a solo block in each of the last three matches.
- Kenna Phelan secured a double-double with 38 assists and a team-most 13 digs, in addition to three kills.
- Marked the ninth double-double of her career and her third of the season.
- Has double-digit digs in three matches this season.
- Tallied at least three kills for the fourth time this season.
- Has multiple kills in six outings.
- Auburn Tomkinson finished the afternoon with eight kills, six digs, and three blocks.
- Finished with at least eight kills for the sixth time this season.
- Equaled her season/career-best with six digs.
- Has six digs in three matches this season.
- Had at least three blocks for the fourth time.
- Averie Hernandez amassed six kills, 10 digs, a season-best three aces, and two blocks.
- Set a new season-high with six kills.
- Her three aces marked a new season-best.
- Had multiple aces for the second time this season.
- Has double-digit digs in back-to-back matches and in three appearances overall.
- Registered her first two blocks of the campaign.
- Kayla Burbage tallied three kills and four blocks.Â
- Has four blocks in each of the last four matches.
- Has at least four blocks in five outings this season.
- Has multiple blocks in six straight matches and in eight appearances overall.
- The Illini held the Panthers to just one service ace, the fewest by an Illinois opponent since Nov. 17, 2024, when Purdue also had one.
- Three Illini had double-digit digs for the second time this season (at #3 Louisville on Sept. 7).
- Illinois hit .238 as a team while holding EIU to a .194 clip.
- Head coach Chris Tamas moved to 154-98 overall during his time at the helm of the Illini.
- The Illini moved to 21-4 all-time against Eastern Illinois.
- Illinois is 11-1 when playing the Panthers at home.
- The Illini have won the last 12 regular-season matches in the series.
- Illinois is now 3-0 in three-set matches this season.
- The Illini moved to 2-0 when wearing orange long-sleeved jerseys.
- Illinois is now 1-1 at Huff Hall this season.
- Attendance was called at 2,792.
UP NEXT
The Illini return to Huff Hall on Friday night for their Big Ten opener against [RV] Oregon. First serve from Huff Hall is slated for 8 p.m. CT and will stream on B1G+.
