SEATTLE – Illinois volleyball dropped a Big Ten battle with Washington at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday night.
The Fighting Illini fell to 8-4 this season and 0-2 in league play with the straight-set loss. The Huskies, who were receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll, remained undefeated at 12-0 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
Three Illini, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez and Raina Terry, recorded at least one ace in the match. Hernandez also paced the squad with 10 digs during the loss. Cari Bohm tallied five kills and five blocks while Ashlyn Philpot posted a team-best seven kills and added four blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini started slow, surrendering the first four points of the match. The momentum stayed with the Huskies, growing the Illini deficit, 12-5, before the Orange and Blue burned a timeout. Mistakes from the service line and at the net plagued the Illini throughout the frame, resulting in the 25-15 defeat
Looking to bounce back in the second set, a 4-0 run with Mosher behind the service line gave Illinois the 10-6 edge. Washington chipped away at the Illini lead, but at the media break, the Fighting Illini held the slight 15-14 advantage. Back-and-forth the teams battled, but Bohm and Laynie Smith put Illinois ahead 23-19 with a block. A Washington attack error got the Illini to set point, but a 5-0 Husky run tied the frame at 24. The teams continued to fight but Washington clinched the set, 30-28, after closing the frame…
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