Illinois Extends Profitable Streak to 5 Matches With Highway Sweep at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Fighting Illini closed its four-match street swing with a sweep towards Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Illinois prolonged its successful streak to 5 matches and now holds a 7-1 report in convention play and a 12-5 general mark.

Taylor de Boer tallied a team-high 14 kills, her eighth straight effort with 10+ kills. She additionally made two digs whereas main the staff in kills for the thirteenth time this season.

Alyssa Aguayo posted her third consecutive outing in double figures with 12 kills and a career-best .423 hitting share. She additionally crammed the stat sheet with seven digs, 4 assists, three blocks, and an ace.

Auburn Tomkinson amassed six kills, three digs, and two blocks, whereas Ashlyn Philpot added six kills, two digs, and two blocks, together with a solo stuff.

Kenna Phelan recorded 31 assists, eight digs, 4 kills, and an ace. Averie Hernandez completed with two aces, whereas Kenzie Cogan collected eight digs. Kayla Burbage notched 4 kills and 4 blocks.

The dwelling facet jumped out to a fast 5-2 edge, sustaining the lead for a majority of the primary half of the set. With the Illini going through an 11-8 deficit, the guests started a 10-3 run to ascertain a four-point edge, which quickly grew to 5. A late 3-0 stretch from the Wildcats noticed the house facet reduce their deficit to 2, although the Orange and Blue closed out the body shortly after, 25-22.

With Northwestern in entrance by one early, the Illini used a 5-1 run to take an 8-5 benefit. The Wildcats referred to as a timeout down by three, however the Orange and Blue continued their momentum after the transient stoppage. A 9-3 stretch from the guests pushed the lead as much as 21-13, although the hosts fought again to chop the Illini lead all the way down to 4. Northwestern fought off 4 set factors, however an Aguayo kill thwarted the Wildcat comeback, 25-22, doubling Illinois’ benefit.

The Illini fell behind by 4 early within the third set, however a 5-0 run put the guests in entrance and compelled the Wildcats to make use of a timeout. NU went again in entrance shortly after, however a 4-0 stretch from the Orange and Blue helped the away facet take a 15-13 edge. With the perimeters buying and selling factors the remainder of the way in which, the Illini fended off two Wildcat set factors earlier than finally scoring the ultimate three factors of the body en path to a 27-25 determination and the sweep.

UP NEXT

Illinois (12-5, 7-1 B1G) returns to Huff Hall for a two-match homestand subsequent weekend. The Fighting Illini will play #12 Purdue on Friday at 7 p.m. CT earlier than internet hosting Michigan on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. Both matches will stream on B1G+.