DEKALB, Ill. – Illinois volleyball began its season with a victory against Northern Illinois at the Convocation Center on Saturday evening.
The Fighting Illini improved to 1-0 this season while NIU dropped to 0-2 in 2023.
Illinois posted 54 kills with a .280 hitting percentage during the triumph over the Huskies. Raina Terry led the way offensively for the Illini, tallying 19 kills to start her senior campaign. Defensively, Kennedy Collins boasted six blocks during the four-set match. Lily Barry logged 27 digs during her collegiate debut, and the libero paced the Orange and Blue with three aces.
How it happened
Illinois opened the match in a back-and-forth battle with the Fighting Illini leading, 15-13, at the media break. After a four-point rally by the Huskies left Illinois trailing, 21-19, the Orange and Blue called their final timeout of the set. Despite holding the Huskies to a .125 hitting clip, the Illini dropped the opening set, 25-22.
Looking to rebound in the following frame, five-straight points for the Orange and Blue with Barry behind the service line gave the team the 14-11 edge. The Illini continued to build on their advantage with Sarah Bingham's kill putting Illinois ahead 22-16. A block from Collins and Terry sealed the 25-19 victory in the second set.
With the match even at one-set apiece, the Fighting Illini maintained momentum, holding a 15-11 lead at the media timeout. The team continued to cruise, with a Collins kill putting Illinois ahead, 18-12. Despite a late rally by Northern Illinois while the Orange and Blue held set point, the Illini took the third set, 25-22.
The Fighting Illini came out flat in the fourth set, trailing 6-1 early before a kill by Terry snapped the run. Playing from behind, Bianca May held steady behind the service line, helping the Fighting Illini take a 14-13 lead with a 7-0 run. Keeping the set tight, four-straight points including an ace from Barry gave Illinois the late 23-20 edge. Collins completed the victory with a kill out of the middle, sealing the four-set win.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- The Illini wore long sleeved navy jerseys for the first time this season.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 18-3-1 against NIU all time.
- Terry tallied an ace during the match, bringing her career total to 129.
- For a seventh-straight season, Illinois won its first road match of the year.
- Saturday's match marked Barry and Bohm's first official start for the Orange and Blue.
- Bianca May also made her first career appearance in the match.
- Attendance Saturday evening was called at 1,468.
The Fighting Illini improved to 1-0 this season while NIU dropped to 0-2 in 2023.
Illinois posted 54 kills with a .280 hitting percentage during the triumph over the Huskies. Raina Terry led the way offensively for the Illini, tallying 19 kills to start her senior campaign. Defensively, Kennedy Collins boasted six blocks during the four-set match. Lily Barry logged 27 digs during her collegiate debut, and the libero paced the Orange and Blue with three aces.
How it happened
Illinois opened the match in a back-and-forth battle with the Fighting Illini leading, 15-13, at the media break. After a four-point rally by the Huskies left Illinois trailing, 21-19, the Orange and Blue called their final timeout of the set. Despite holding the Huskies to a .125 hitting clip, the Illini dropped the opening set, 25-22.
Looking to rebound in the following frame, five-straight points for the Orange and Blue with Barry behind the service line gave the team the 14-11 edge. The Illini continued to build on their advantage with Sarah Bingham's kill putting Illinois ahead 22-16. A block from Collins and Terry sealed the 25-19 victory in the second set.
With the match even at one-set apiece, the Fighting Illini maintained momentum, holding a 15-11 lead at the media timeout. The team continued to cruise, with a Collins kill putting Illinois ahead, 18-12. Despite a late rally by Northern Illinois while the Orange and Blue held set point, the Illini took the third set, 25-22.
The Fighting Illini came out flat in the fourth set, trailing 6-1 early before a kill by Terry snapped the run. Playing from behind, Bianca May held steady behind the service line, helping the Fighting Illini take a 14-13 lead with a 7-0 run. Keeping the set tight, four-straight points including an ace from Barry gave Illinois the late 23-20 edge. Collins completed the victory with a kill out of the middle, sealing the four-set win.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- The Illini wore long sleeved navy jerseys for the first time this season.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 18-3-1 against NIU all time.
- Terry tallied an ace during the match, bringing her career total to 129.
- For a seventh-straight season, Illinois won its first road match of the year.
- Saturday's match marked Barry and Bohm's first official start for the Orange and Blue.
- Bianca May also made her first career appearance in the match.
- Attendance Saturday evening was called at 1,468.
