CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Nov. 9, 2018) – Rutgers volleyball used a spread out offense and an edge in the blocking battle to hang tight with No. 4 Illinois before the Illini posted a straight-set victory in a Big Ten match in Huff Hall on Friday evening.
THE LINE
Illinois (23-3, 11-3)
3, Rutgers (6-22, 0-15)
0 – 25-20, 25-22, 25-11
STANDOUT STATS
- Senior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie registered 12 kills on a .219 hitting percentage to lead Rutgers' offense. She also added two digs and two blocks.
- Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg brought up eight digs and passed out five assists from the back row, a season-high in Big Ten matches.
- Freshman setter Inna Balyko put up 25 assists to go with a team-high nine digs and a block assist.
- Junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse was involved in all six of Rutgers' blocks on Friday.
- Sophomore right side Beka Kojadinovic posted another well-rounded line with eight kills, six digs, two blocks and the Scarlet Knights' only two service aces of the match.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers played its fifth AVCA Top 10 team in its last 14 matches.
- Stackhouse has racked up 270 career blocks, which has her just seven away from cracking the all-time Top 10 at Rutgers.
- Rutgers outblocked an opponent for the 17th time this season – including five Big Ten matches – as they hold on to a Top 20 national ranking in the team blocks per set category.
THE MOMENTS
- Set 1 | Illinois never led by more than five in a tight set, aided by a 5-1 Rutgers run midway through the set to cut an Illini lead to 15-13. Kojadinovic led the spurt with two kills and a block assist.
- Set 2 | Rutgers took an early lead at 5-1 and 7-2, forcing Illinois to come from behind and take their first lead at 11-10. Sophomore outside hitter Kamila Cieslik had two kills early in the period, part of her six-kill evening.
UP NEXT
Rutgers heads north past Chicago to Evanston, Illinois to visit Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. ET.
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