It was feast or famine for Illinois (4-3) at the Linda Herman Classic. After three matches against good competition over the weekend, the Illini walked out of CEFCU Arena with two wins as Saturday’s home opener draws closer.
The weekend was encapsulated by sweeps, rough patches, elation and adversity, all of which is highlighted in this recap.
Illini tested, pass every time
The story of Friday’s match was how Cincinnati (6-2) hung around with Illinois for three straight sets, but never got over the hump. The Illini committed unforced errors early in set one, which led to a 5-0 Bearcats run. They later countered with a 6-0 run by junior setter Vivian Campbell, who contributed a kill and two aces during that stretch.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Taylor de Boer continued going above and beyond on the outside, leading the way in kills in this match with 17. Seven of them came in a highly competitive second set, which the Illini squeaked away with 25-23.
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Junior setter Kenna Phelan kept logging assist after assist in this one, finishing with 34. This would be the case in all three matches, as she came away with a weekend total of 86. When she got the ball and put up a fast set, it resulted in 14 of the 16 Illini kills in a decisive third-set victory.
Washed away
The Miami Hurricanes (7-1) made landfall the next day, and the Illini felt the immediate effect in set one. A 5-0 service run by redshirt sophomore setter Ariana Rodriguez was the difference in a 25-21 Miami set win. Rodriguez also contributed two of Miami’s three aces in that first set.
The Illini rode the storm in the second set with more physical blocking, led by sophomore middle blocker Ashlyn Philpot. They got out to an early 9-3 lead before the Hurricanes continued moving inland. The two teams would continue to trade punches throughout the set.
In this set, freshman outside hitter Alyssa Aguayo made her presence felt. Her fifth kill of the set brought it to match point. The Illini stole the set 25-23. Aguayo would finish the weekend with 34 kills.
Once the eye of the storm arrived in set three, there was nothing Illinois could do to stop it. Senior outside hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon ravaged the Illinois defense in the latter two sets, tallying 12 kills, three blocks and four aces. This was more than enough to wipe the Illini off the floor in four sets.
Swept hosts aside
Sunday’s matinee was not the cleanest match. Set one was full of errors, especially from the host Illinois State Redbirds (4-5), who committed 13. The gap got as large as 11 due to a multitude of miscues by the Illinois State attack.
The cruising Illini cleaned up their game in set two. Three 4-0 service runs were highlighted with an ace each from Phelan, graduate middle blocker Kayla Burbage and redshirt sophomore opposite Auburn Tomkinson. Those three runs curbed any momentum the Redbirds had tried to build.
Fittingly, the third set began with another 4-0 service run from Phelan, half the points off of Redbird attack errors. Illinois State caught fire behind six kills from junior left side Caitlyn Little, electrifying the crowd in Normal, Illinois. Neither team gave up hope, trading shots until the score was tied late.
In the end, a kill by de Boer and a final service ace from senior outside hitter Averie Hernandez put this match to bed. The Illini defeated the Redbirds in straight sets.
Home opener is here
Illinois welcomes Iowa State (7-1) to Huff Hall on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., followed by Eastern Illinois (6-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
