LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Illinois battled from start to finish but ultimately fell to No. 3 Louisville in four sets at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini responded after dropping the opening two sets, taking the third frame before the host Cardinals closed out their win in the fourth.
Taylor de Boer led the team with a career-high 18 kills while hitting at a .273 clip. Now with four consecutive double-digit outings to start the season, the Canada native had eight kills in the second set alone and added a dig.
Alyssa Aguayo posted her third double-double across the first four matches of her collegiate career, totaling 10 kills and 11 digs. The freshman outside hitter has 10+ kills in each of her first four collegiate matches, and she also logged two assists, a block, and an ace.
Ashlyn Philpot continued her strong weekend with nine kills at a .333 hitting percentage while making six total blocks (one solo, five assisted).
Kenna Phelan put together her second straight double-double with 38 kills and a season-high 16 digs. Her five total blocks marked a new career-best effort.
Taryn Kirsch tacked on 16 digs, her third performance of the year with at least 16 digs, and she tallied six assists.
The Illini took their first lead of the afternoon at 5-4 in the opening frame, but a 6-0 Cardinal run forced the visitors to use an early timeout with the home side ahead by five. Illinois accounted for the next three straight points, reducing the deficit to two, but a 5-1 Louisville stretch later in the set extended the hosts' edge to seven. The Orange and Blue were able to chip away and close the gap to five, but the Cardinals closed out the frame by a 25-19 scoreline.
With the second set knotted at six, Louisville strung together a 6-1 run to go in front, 12-7, and cause Illinois to take a timeout. The Illini quickly battled back after the brief intermission, with four kills from de Boer fueling a 6-1 run from the visitors to tie the frame at 13.
With the sides going point for point, the Orange and Blue capitalized on a solo block and a kill from Philpot to go on a 3-0 run and establish a 20-18 edge. A 4-0 Louisville run swung the momentum back in the home side's favor, and the Cardinals scored the final two points of the frame en route to the 25-22 decision and a two-set lead.
Facing an early two-point deficit, the Illini bounced back with a 3-0 run to take a 7-6 advantage. With the Cardinals back ahead by one, the Orange and Blue began a 4-0 run to retake the lead, 13-10. Louisville continued to battle, cutting its deficit to one, but a late 3-0 stretch from the Illini pushed their advantage up to five. Illinois ultimately closed out the set, 25-20, to trim the Cardinal edge to 2-1.
An 8-1 Louisville run early in the fourth frame forced Illinois to take a timeout while facing an 11-4 deficit. De Boer reached her career-high in kills shortly after with her 18th of the day, which brought the Illini deficit down to four, 13-9. The Orange and Blue used their final timeout after the Cardinals climbed back in front by six, but a 5-0 run via back-to-back Vivian Campbell aces turned that deficit quickly down to one.
Louisville eventually closed the frame on a 6-0 run, giving the No. 3-ranked Cardinals a four-set victory.
NOTES
- Taylor de Boer led the team with a career-high 18 kills while hitting at a .273 clip.
- Has 10+ kills in each of her first four matches of the season.
- Logged eight kills in the second set alone.
- Alyssa Aguayo notched a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
- Now has double-digit kills in each of the first four matches of her collegiate career.
- She is the first true freshman with 10+ kills in their four collegiate matches since Jacqueline Quade in 2016 (she had 10+ kills in her first six matches).
- Posted her third double-double of the season/her college career.
- Also totaled two assists, an ace, and a block.
- Recorded her second ace of the season.
- Ashlyn Philpot concluded the afternoon with nine kills and six total blocks.
- Has at least nine kills in three of the first four matches of the season.
- Has at least six blocks in back-to-back matches.
- Auburn Tomkinson amassed five kills, six digs, three blocks, an assist, and an ace.
- Her six digs matched a career-high, which she set against South Dakota State on Aug. 29.
- Has an ace in all four matches this season.
- Kenna Phelan accumulated 38 assists and 16 digs.
- Marked the eighth double-double of her career and her second in as many matches.
- Her 16 digs set a new season-best mark.
- Her five total blocks are a new career-best output.
- Taryn Kirsch logged a team-high and career-most 17 digs in the win.
- Has 10+ digs in two of the first three matches of her collegiate career.
- Has at least nine digs in all three matches thus far this season.
- Illinois' eight aces are the team's season-best output.
- Head coach Chris Tamas moved to 151-96 overall during his time at the helm of the Illini.
- The Illini moved to 13-5 all-time against Louisville.
- UI is now 5-1 all-time in true road matches against the Cardinals.
- Illinois is now 1-2 in four-set matches this season.
- The Illini improved to 1-1 when wearing blue long-sleeved jerseys.
- Illinois is now 1-1 in true road matches this season.
UP NEXT
Illinois will return to the Land of Lincoln next weekend for the Linda Herman Classic hosted by Illinois State. The Illini will take on Cincinnati on Friday, Miami (Fla.) on Saturday, and the host Redbirds on Sunday.
