Rutgers University
4-11, 0-2B1G
Illinois
9-4, 2-0B1G
Illinois Outlasts Volleyball in Third Set to Complete Sweep
Sep 24 | Women's Volleyball
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. (Sept. 24, 2016) - Although the Rutgers women's volleyball team (4-11, 0-2 Big Ten) pushed Illinois (9-4, 2-0 Big Ten) to the brink in the third set of the match, the Fighting Illini claimed the sweep by set scores of 25-18, 25-15, and 25-21 on Saturday night at Huff Hall.
Junior outside hitter Meme Fletcher led RU for the ninth time this season with 13 kills. Fifth-year senior middle blocker Mikaela Matthews posted five blocks, while adding eight kills of her own.
Ali Bastianelli paced Illinois with a .450 hitting percentage, including a total of 11 kills, and five blocks. Jacqueline Quade and Michelle Strizak rounded out the double-figure kill performances with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
After falling behind 9-1 to start set one, the Scarlet Knights found their rhythm to rally a 10-5 run to cut the Illini lead to 14-11. Rutgers continued to dig into the deficit, pulling as close as 18-16 on a kill by Fletcher. However, the late RU surge fell short as UI closed the frame with a 25-18 win.
Despite stumbling in the second set, a kill for senior right side Lauren Cloyd to open the third set brought RU to life. The Scarlet Knights kept the score balanced as a block from Fletcher and Matthews put the Scarlet Knights in the lead, 4-3. The teams continued to trade points keeping the margin tight, but Illinois managed to hold a slight edge on the board. RU gained momentum after stringing together three unanswered points highlighted by a successful challenge and a kill by Fletcher to tie the set, 11-11.
RU knotted the score three more times before claiming the lead, 18-16, on back-to-back kills by Fletcher and sophomore middle blocker Tiaja McKnight. Although the count would be tied on two more occasions, the Fighting Illini inched to a 22-20 advantage. The Scarlet Knights pulled back within one, however, RU was unable to stay alive as UI closed the match with a slim 25-21 victory in the third.
NEXT UP
Rutgers returns home for matches with No. 22 Michigan on Friday, Sept. 30 and No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 1.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Following four consecutive games at home, Rutgers traveled to Illinois for its first conference road match of the season.
- Mikaela Matthews has posted four or more blocks in six of the last seven matches.
- Meme Fletcher has led RU in the kills column in nine contests this season.
- Freshmen Jillian Duffin, Megan Sharkey, Jasmine Stackhouse, Karysa Swackenberg and transfer Phallyn Hill all played in their first Big Ten road match.
Follow Rutgers Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram (@RUvball) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersVolleyball). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics).
-RU-
