Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois
No. 8 Illinois Gets Past Hoosiers in Four-Set Contest
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 16, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Indiana Volleyball's recent winning streak came to an end Saturday night, dropping a 3-1 decision (25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19) on the road at No. 8 Illinois (15-3, 7-1). The Hoosiers are now 15-5 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play.
Each of the four sets were tight ones with a total of 18 tied scores and seven lead changes. The Hoosiers were ahead on the scoreboard at least once in all four sets, but could only come up with the victory in the third frame.
Ashley Benson had her second straight night of blocking havoc. Twenty-four hours after setting the IU school record for most blocks in a three-set match with 13 stuffs at Wisconsin, Benson came back Saturday to post 10 more rejections. She did some damage offensively as well, connecting for 16 kills.
Kelci Marschall was a thorn in the Illini's side, responsible for 20 points with her team-high 18 kills and four block assists. The New London, Ohio native hit .326 (18-4-42) for the match. Hoosier libero Caitlin Cox came up just one dig shy of a seven digs per set average, digging 27 balls on the night. Sophomore setter Whitney Granado recorded her first double-double of 2010 with 31 assists and 13 digs.
Illinois was the aggressor early on, busting out for a five-point lead at 15-10 in front of a home crowd of just under 2,000 people. The Hoosiers quickly erased that deficit, going up by two points as late as 19-17 in the set. The Fighting Illini responded by snagging five of the next six points to push back ahead, 22-20. Moments later back-to-back Hoosier errors, one service and one attacking, broke a 23-23 tie and handed Illinois the opening set.
It was Indiana's turn to take a substantial lead early on in set number two. IU doubled up Illinois at 12-6 before the Fighting Illini ripped off seven consecutive points for a 13-12 edge. Indiana was able to regroup and knot the score back up at 22-22. But once again it was Illinois earning the most important points down the stretch, notching the final three of the 25-22 winner.
Indiana went ahead 4-3 early in the third frame, and never looked back. The Hoosiers remained ahead the rest of the way, forcing a fourth set after a 25-21 victory. Unfortunately, Illinois continued to bounce back and did so in the fourth set to end the match, 25-21.
The Cream and Crimson conclude the first half of Big Ten play next weekend, hosting a pair of home matches versus Michigan and Michigan State.
