Box Score Sept. 24, 2016 Final Stats
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
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-
