CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball swept Rutgers in a Big Ten match at Huff Hall on Friday.
The Fighting Illini improved to 18-9 this year with an 10-7 conference record. The Scarlet Knights dropped to 5-23 and remained winless in league play.
Illinois tallied 34 kills and a .311 hitting efficiency. The Orange and Blue held Rutgers to a -.033 hitting clip in the match the lowest hitting percentage for an Illini opponent this year.
Individually, Raina Terry shined in the victory, amassing 15 kills while hitting a season-best .560 for the day. Brooke Mosher commanded the offense with 22 assists.
Ashlyn Philpot finished the match with nine blocks, helping the team earn 13 roofs in the match. Cari Bohm, Averie Hernandez and Terry recorded three stuffs each. Christina Martinez Mundo tallied double-digit digs, earning 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Orange and Blue took a 10-5 lead early in the opening set following a three-point run with Raegen Reilly serving. The Illini continued to cruise, and a Scarlet Knight error allowed the Fighting Illini to hold the 15-9 edge at the media timeout. Rutgers rallied out of the break, coming within four of the Illinois advantage, 16-12. But the Illini remained strong, and a block from Hernandez and Philpot helped the team extend the lead, 20-14. A kill by Hernandez allowed the Fighting Illini to reach set point, and Laynie Smith put away the set, 25-18, with a kill of her own.
The Illini posted four blocks in the first nine points of the second set, earning the 7-2 edge. A…
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