Illini Battle Previous Buckeyes En Path to Street Win

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Fighting Illini prolonged their successful streak to 4 matches with a gritty four-set win at Ohio State on Friday night time. Illinois improved to 6-1 in convention play, persevering with their greatest begin to convention motion since 2011.

Taylor de Boer completed the night time with a team-high 17 kills, her seventh straight outing with double-digit kills. She additionally added three digs and made two complete blocks.

Alyssa Aguayo collected 13 kills whereas tying her career-high with 4 blocks. Posting 10+ kills for the twelfth time this season, the freshman additionally tallied eight digs and two assists.

Kayla Burbage recorded 9 kills, 5 blocks, and an ace, whereas Ashlyn Philpot equaled her season-high with seven blocks along with her six kills.

Kenna Phelan posted her fifth double-double of the season with 43 assists and a career-high 21 digs. She additionally tacked on three kills and three blocks.

Taryn Kirsch totaled 13 digs, whereas Averie Hernandez amassed 10 digs. Kenzie Cogan collected 9 digs.

With the primary set even at 10, the Buckeyes started a 7-2 scoring stretch to ascertain a 17-12 benefit. After Illinois known as a timeout, the guests started to battle again through a 9-2 run with Cogan and Vivian Campbell on the service line, which turned a five-point deficit right into a two-point Illini edge. Closing out the body with back-to-back kills from de Boer, the Orange and Blue secured the set, 25-22.

Though the away aspect opened the second body with a 3-0 run, the hosts responded with a 4-1 run to knot the body at 4. Shortly after, the rating degree at 9-9, Ohio State opened up a 12-9 lead earlier than lengthening their benefit to 5, 18-13. The Buckeyes’ edge by no means dropped under three after that time, with the house aspect claiming the body, 25-20.  

The sides traded factors early within the third set, and Ohio State finally entered the media timeout with a slim 15-14 lead. After the Buckeyes’ benefit ballooned as much as 17-14, the Illini known as a timeout in hopes of shifting the momentum. With the rating 21-19 in OSU’s favor, the Orange and Blue closed the set on a 6-0 run with Hernandez on the service line, giving the guests a 25-21 resolution.

In the fourth set, Illinois went forward by three, resulting in a Buckeye timeout with the house aspect going through a 10-7 deficit. Ohio State went in entrance shortly after, although, utilizing a 5-1 run to take their first lead of the body, 12-11. The hosts briefly went up by two, however a 7-3 stretch put the Illini as much as match level. The Buckeyes fought off two match factors, however the Illini posted the ultimate two factors of the night time to shut out the four-set victory.

NOTES

• Taryn Kirsch totaled 13 digs and dished out two assists.
  
  • Totaled double-digit digs for the eighth time.
    
    • Has 10+ digs in three of the final 4 matches and in 4 of the final six.

• Taylor de Boer completed the night time with a team-high 17 kills, three digs, and two blocks.
  • Had double-digit kills for the 14th time this season.
    • Has 10+ kills in all seven Big Ten matches and in 9 of her final 10 appearances total.

  • Made a number of blocks for the fifth time this season.
    • Has a number of blocks in back-to-back matches.

• Kenna Phelan posted her fifth double-double of the season with 43 assists and a career-high 21 digs, together with three kills and three blocks.
  • Dished out 40+ assists for the fifth time this season.
    • Has 40+ assists in three of the final 4 matches.

  • Posted her fifth double-double of the season.
    • Four of her 5 double-doubles have are available in street matches.
    • Phelan grew to become the primary Illini to submit a 40-assist, 20-dig double-double since Jordyn Poulter did so on Sept. 16, 2017, at Missouri State (47 assists, 23 digs).

  • Finished the night time with a career-high 21 digs.
    • Registered the primary 20-dig outing of her profession.

  • Logged at the very least three blocks for the fifth time this season.
    • Has a number of blocks in seven outings.

• Averie Hernandez amassed 10 digs.
  • Notched double-digit digs for the fifth time this season.

• Kayla Burbage recorded 9 kills, 5 blocks, and an ace.
  • Had 5+ blocks for the fifth time this season.
    • Has made at the very least 5 blocks in every of the final 4 matches, a season-best streak.
    • Has at the very least three blocks in every of the final 11 matches.

  • Tallied her seventh ace of the season.

• Ashlyn Philpot equaled her season-high with seven blocks along with her six kills.
  • Tied her season-best output with seven blocks.
    • Logged at the very least three blocks for the thirteenth time this season and for the sixth consecutive match.
    • Has a number of blocks in 15 of her 16 appearances this season.

  • Had 6+ kills for the fourth straight match and for the twelfth time total.

• Alyssa Aguayo collected 13 kills, 4 blocks, eight digs, and two assists.
  • Tallied 10+ kills for the twelfth time this season.
    • Has double-digit kills in three of her final 4 appearances.

  • Tied her career-high with 4 complete blocks.
    • Has a number of blocks in seven matches this season.

  • Made at the very least eight digs for the eighth time this season.

• Illinois completed with a season-high 73 digs as a staff.
  • Three gamers had 10+ digs: Phelan (21), Kirsch (13), and Hernandez (10).
  • The Illini’s 73 digs are their most since posting 75 at Wisconsin on Oct. 2, 2022.

• With a 6-1 Big Ten report, the Illini are off to their greatest begin to convention play since 2011, when Illinois received its first 9 Big Ten matches.
• Head coach Chris Tamas moved to 160-99 total throughout his time on the helm of the Illini.
• Illinois prolonged its successful streak to 4 matches, its longest streak of the season.
• The Illini moved to 48-46 all-time in opposition to Ohio State.
  • UI holds a 19-21 report in opposition to the Buckeyes in true street matches.
  • The Illini defeated the Buckeyes on the street for the primary time since Nov. 24, 2019, snapping a two-match skid.

• Illinois is now 4-4 in four-set matches this season.
• Illinois is now 6-2 in true street matches this season.
• The Illini moved to 4-0 when carrying navy sleeveless jerseys.

UP NEXT

Illinois (11-5, 6-1 B1G) wraps up its four-match street swing on Sunday afternoon with an in-state battle at Northwestern. First serve between the Fighting Illini and the Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena is ready for two p.m. CT and can stream on B1G+.