Rutgers University
3-11,0-2Big Ten
#9 Illinois
11-2,2-0Big Ten
Volleyball Downed by No. 9 Illinois
Sep 26 | Women's Volleyball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Sept. 26, 2015) - Facing its first ranked opponent of the season, the Rutgers volleyball team dropped its second Big Ten match to No. 9 Illinois on Saturday night at the College Ave. Gym. The Fighting Illini took the victory by scores of 25-20, 25-8 and 25-16.
RU dropped to an overall mark of 3-11 and an 0-2 record in Big Ten play, while UI improved to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
Sophomore outside Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.) led Rutgers with 11 kills and 11 digs, marking her fourth double-double of the season. Junior outside Micaela Anderson (La Canada, Calif.) also added double-digits in the kills' column with 10. Senior setter Anna Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wisc.) paced the team with 25 assists in the loss.
Three Fighting Illini registered double-digit kill performances, led by Michelle Strizak with 15 kills. Katie Roustio and Katie Stadick followed with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Jordyn Poulter posted a match-high 40 assists in the win.
Illinois took an early control of set one, establishing a 10-5 lead. Rutgers managed to keep the deficit at no more than six until Illinois found a six-point run to set the score at 20-10. The Scarlet Knights discovered a late surge with a 8-2 run to hold the set at 24-20. However, it was not enough to surpass IU, as the Fighting Illini closed the first stanza at 25-20.
Illinois used their momentum from the set one victory to take control of the second frame. UI never relinquished control and would go on to take the set by a commanding score of 25-8.
Moving into set three, Rutgers never backed down, keeping the score balanced to open the stanza. With the score tied at 5-5, the Fighting Illini began to pull away with six unanswered points to create the largest lead for either team at 11-5. However, Rutgers stumped the run with back-to-back kills from senior Megan Stephenson (Burbank, Calif.) and Sudbury. Although the Scarlet Knights would cut their deficit to four, it was the closest RU would come. Illinois claimed set three, 25-16, to earn the victory.
RUTGERS NOTES
- Rutgers faced its first ranked opponent of the season in No. 9 Illinois.
- Meme Fletcher registered her fourth double-double of the season, while also leading the Scarlet Knights on the stat sheet for the ninth time.
- Ali Schroeter extended her career digs total to 1,409, as she continues to cement her spot at first-place in the Rutgers record books.
- Alex Lassa added in three kills on the night, bringing her career total to 962 to sit at ninth in the career record books.
Rutgers continues conference play on the road with back-to-back trips to Purdue and Indiana. The Scarlet Knights face the Boilermakers on Friday, Oct. 2, before taking on the Hooisers the day after. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. ET start times.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics ) and (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's volleyball, follow the program on Twitter @RUvball.
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