BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Illinois volleyball closed its run at the Best Western Invitational with a sweep of tournament host Bowling Green at the Stroh Center on Saturday night.
The Fighting Illini improved to 2-0 on the young season, while BGSU fell to 1-1.
As a team, the Orange and Blue posted 34 kills on .184 hitting for the match. The Illini also recorded 35 digs, 31 assists, 12 blocks and 12 aces. Individually, Raina Terry paced the squad for a second-straight match with 11 kills. Vivian Campbell and Brooke Mosher notched a team-best three aces. Defensively, Ashlyn Philpot tallied seven blocks, and Christina Martinez Mundo logged nine digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois came out hot with a 3-0 run before an ace from Campbell helped the Illini earn the 9-4 advantage. Point-for-point, the teams battled, but a reception error by the Orange and Blue led to a timeout with the squad holding onto a 16-13 lead. Back-to-back points for Illinois late in the set left the Falcons burning their final timeout of the set with Illinois ahead, 22-17. The break did not stall the Illini offense, and the team took the opening frame, 25-19.
An early 10-5 advantage with Campbell behind the service line left the Falcons calling for a timeout early in the second set. Bowling Green crept within a pair, but an ace from Mosher helped the Illini regain its five-point lead late in the frame. The Falcons fended off set point, but Averie Hernandez registered the final kill,…
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