CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A five-set thriller against #20 USC favored the Fighting Illini as Illinois volleyball pulled out the upset at Huff Hall on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini improved to 16-7 this year with an 8-5 Big Ten record. The ranked Trojans dropped to 16-7 on the year with an 8-5 league mark.
Raina Terry recorded the 2,000th kill of her career in the third set, ultimately finishing the match with 18 kills. As the program record holder for career kills, the accomplishment marked a first in program history.
Averie Hernandez amassed double-digit kills for the 10th time this year, logging 16 in the match. Ashlyn Philpot was the third Illini to tally double-digit kills, posting a career best 17 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans went ahead 3-1 early, but the Illini answered with back-to-back points to even the set at 3-3. After USC restored its two-point edge shortly after, Illinois used a 4-0 run to take its first lead of the night, a stretch that included a block and two kills from Hernandez.
The visitors did not trail for long, though, with USC retaking the lead with a 3-0 run and eventually forcing an Illini timeout with the Trojans in front, 13-11.
Soon trailing by three, the Orange and Blue began their comeback with a 5-1 run. Back-to-back kills from Hernandez finished off the Illini scoring run and led to a Trojan timeout with the hosts narrowly in front, 16-15.
USC then established a 20-18 edge via a 3-0 run, which saw Illinois use its final stoppage of the opening frame….
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