CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois volleyball team drpped a four set Senior Night heart-breaker to #15 Minnesota at Huff Hall on Wednesday.
The Fighting Illini fell to 18-11 overall and 10-9 in conference play. The ranked Golden Gophers improved to 19-10 on the season and 12-7 in the Big Ten
Raina Terry led the way for the Illini recording 20 kills for the sixth time this season, to go along with two blocks and six digs. Laynie Smith contributed with 14 kills of her own, reaching the double-digit kill mark for the 12th time in her career while hitting .321.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Christina Martinez Mundo and Smith gave the Illini an early lead, recording a pair of aces and a pair of kills respectively to go up 4-0. Minnesota battled knotting things at 8-8, before Illinois surged back in front with a 4-0 run forcing the opposition to burn their first timeout of the set, trailing 12-8.
Out of the break the Orange and Blue kept their foot on the gas as they extended their lead to go up 20-12. With Illinois ahead 22-15, the Golden Gophers fought back to make it 24-20 before a Smith kill ended things in the first as Illinois took it 25-20.
The teams kept things close early in the second before Minnesota broke it open with a 7-2 run to give them a 12-6 lead, forcing Illinois to call their first timeout. With the Gophers leading 17-13 they went on a 5-1 run, extending their lead to eight. The Illini cut into the Gopher lead trailing 24-18 but couldn’t overcome the deficit as an Illinois error ended the set…
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