Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Fall to No. 13 Illinois, 3-0
9/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 25, 2004
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In the second conference match of the season, Head Coach Katie Weismiller's volleyball squad dropped to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play when 13th-ranked Illinois claimed the victory, 30-22, 30-21, 30-27, on Saturday night at the Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill. The Fighting Illini improved to 9-2 and 1-1 in conference action.
Junior Mandy Eberle paced IU with 11 kills, just short of her career-high of 13 kills set against Arkansas-Little Rock on Sept. 10 of this year. Additionally, the Sussex, Wisc., product converted at a .450 clip when attacking the Illinois defense. Senior Katie Pollom scorched the floor with a .750 hitting percentage after nine kills off 12 attacks.
After a pair of kills and a block assist by Pollom led IU to a quick 3-1 lead in game one, the Hoosiers endured a 6-1 run by Illinois as the Illini took their first lead of the game at 7-4. The Cream and Crimson responded with a 3-1 run of its own to pull to within 8-7 after Eberle found the floor.
That would be the last time Indiana would close to within striking distance of the U of I as the Illini strung together a 20-12 performance to bring the score to 28-19 in favor of Illinois. IU would not go quietly, however, as the Hoosiers rang off three consecutive points concluded by a Christina Archibald and Eberle block to cut the lead to 28-22. Unfortunately, Illinois regrouped to close out the initial game 30-22 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Game two would follow much the same pattern as game one, with IU nabbing the first point with a kill by Pollom. Illinois, however, would retake the lead, 8-3, by reeling off eight of the games next 10 points. After a kill by freshman Lauren Ditteon, the Cream and Crimson would pull to within three points with the scoreboard reading 14-11. Once again, the Illini countered an IU threat with a run of their own with three consecutive points to push their lead to 17-11. That would be the closest Indiana would close the distance as the U of I took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 30-21 victory.
After trading points to knot the score, 4-4, coming out of the break, Indiana demonstrated grit and determination by striking out to a 10-6 lead in game three on the strength of Eberle and Pollom's fierce attack. Illinois responded by deadlocking the game, 11-11, after taking five of the next six points. Neither squad would budge as the teams exchanged point-after-point until Ditteon and Eberle blocked an Illini attack to take a 24-22 advantage. Unfortunately, Illinois mustered up the final counter-attack it would need as the Illini would need to put away the Hoosiers, 30-27, and claim the match, 3-0.
Sophomore Meghan Macdonald and junior Rasa Virsilaite led the Illini with 11 kills each, while sophomore Meg Griffin and junior Rachel VanMeter registered 10 of their own.
Next up, the Cream and Crimson travel to East Lansing, Mich., to tangle with Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., before matching up with Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
