CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball began the weekend with a five-set loss to Wichita State at Huff Hall on Friday evening.
The Fighting Illini dropped to 2-1 on the year while the Shockers improved to 2-2 in 2023.
Illinois logged 55 kills while hitting .136 in the match. Defensively, the team posted a season-high 14 blocks and 63 digs. Raina Terry led the way offensively, tallying 26 kills, one off her career-high. Lily Barry paced the squad with 24 digs and Brooke Mosher added 41 assists. Cari Bohm had a career-night at the net, recording eight blocks.
How it happened
The Illini took an early 12-9 lead following a service error by the Shockers. Keeping the set tight, a kill by Terry forced Wichita State to use a timeout trailing 23-20. A block by Bohm finished off the opening set, giving the Orange and Blue the 25-20 victory to start the match.
Illinois came out flat, trailing 11-5 early in the second frame before the Illini used a timeout. The Orange and Blue continued to struggle with an attack error putting the team behind, 21-11. A pair of kills from Terry helped Illinois fend off set point, but the Illini ultimately dropped the set 25-19.
With the match tied at one-set apiece, the Fighting Illini continued to struggle, calling a timeout trailing Wichita State, 11-7. A 3-0 rally by the Shockers led to the Illini used their final timeout trailing 17-10. Despite cutting the deficit to four, Illinois fell in the third set, 25-19.
Needing to rebound in the fourth set, Illinois used a 3-0 rally to take the 8-4 lead early in the frame. The Illini advantage was short-lived, with a four-point run helping the Shockers hold the 11-10 edge. The Orange and Blue did not go away quietly, with a 5-0 rally including kills by Terry and Sarah Bingham putting Illinois ahead by a pair. A back-and-forth battle commenced with kills from Terry and Collins giving the Illini set point before Terry put away the 25-23 victory, forcing a fifth set.
In the final frame, Wichita State took an early 5-2 lead following an attack error by the Illini. With the Illini continuing to fight, an ace by Collins tied the set before a kill by Kayla Burbage put Illinois ahead, 7-6. Back-to-back blocks for the Illini forced a Wichita State timeout with the Orange and Blue ahead 10-8. However, the lead did not last for Illinois as the Shockers ended the match on a 6-1 run, handing the Illini the 15-11 defeat in the final set.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- The Illini wore long sleeved white jerseys for the first time this season.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 1-2-0 against Wichita State all time.
- The match marked the Illini's first five set match of the year.
- The contest marked Terry's 11th 20-kill match of her career.
- Barry posted her second 20-dig match of her freshman campaign.
- Jessica Nunge made her 2023 debut in the match.
- Illinois never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-20.
- Attendance Friday evening was called at 1,955.
The Fighting Illini dropped to 2-1 on the year while the Shockers improved to 2-2 in 2023.
Illinois logged 55 kills while hitting .136 in the match. Defensively, the team posted a season-high 14 blocks and 63 digs. Raina Terry led the way offensively, tallying 26 kills, one off her career-high. Lily Barry paced the squad with 24 digs and Brooke Mosher added 41 assists. Cari Bohm had a career-night at the net, recording eight blocks.
How it happened
The Illini took an early 12-9 lead following a service error by the Shockers. Keeping the set tight, a kill by Terry forced Wichita State to use a timeout trailing 23-20. A block by Bohm finished off the opening set, giving the Orange and Blue the 25-20 victory to start the match.
Illinois came out flat, trailing 11-5 early in the second frame before the Illini used a timeout. The Orange and Blue continued to struggle with an attack error putting the team behind, 21-11. A pair of kills from Terry helped Illinois fend off set point, but the Illini ultimately dropped the set 25-19.
With the match tied at one-set apiece, the Fighting Illini continued to struggle, calling a timeout trailing Wichita State, 11-7. A 3-0 rally by the Shockers led to the Illini used their final timeout trailing 17-10. Despite cutting the deficit to four, Illinois fell in the third set, 25-19.
Needing to rebound in the fourth set, Illinois used a 3-0 rally to take the 8-4 lead early in the frame. The Illini advantage was short-lived, with a four-point run helping the Shockers hold the 11-10 edge. The Orange and Blue did not go away quietly, with a 5-0 rally including kills by Terry and Sarah Bingham putting Illinois ahead by a pair. A back-and-forth battle commenced with kills from Terry and Collins giving the Illini set point before Terry put away the 25-23 victory, forcing a fifth set.
In the final frame, Wichita State took an early 5-2 lead following an attack error by the Illini. With the Illini continuing to fight, an ace by Collins tied the set before a kill by Kayla Burbage put Illinois ahead, 7-6. Back-to-back blocks for the Illini forced a Wichita State timeout with the Orange and Blue ahead 10-8. However, the lead did not last for Illinois as the Shockers ended the match on a 6-1 run, handing the Illini the 15-11 defeat in the final set.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- The Illini wore long sleeved white jerseys for the first time this season.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 1-2-0 against Wichita State all time.
- The match marked the Illini's first five set match of the year.
- The contest marked Terry's 11th 20-kill match of her career.
- Barry posted her second 20-dig match of her freshman campaign.
- Jessica Nunge made her 2023 debut in the match.
- Illinois never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-20.
- Attendance Friday evening was called at 1,955.
- #Illin
