Fighting Illini Triumph at Michigan State in Thrilling Fashion – University of Illinois Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich.– A five-set thriller favored the Fighting Illini as Illinois volleyball took down Michigan State at the Breslin Events Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Fighting Illini moved to 11-5 this season with a 3-3 mark in Big Ten action. Michigan State dropped 7-10 overall and remained winless in Big Ten play with an 0-6 conference record.

Raina Terry paced all players, tying her season high with a season-high 25 kills.  Averie Hernandez and Laynie Smith recorded 10 kills apiece during the victory. Cari Bohm amassed five blocks and Christina Martinez Mundo posted a squad-best 15 digs. Brooke Mosher laos added 45 assists in win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Illini came out flat, allowing the Spartans to score the first five points of the match. Illinois took a timeout trailing 12-6, and an error for MSU out of the break gave the Illini the sideout. The Illini continued to struggle throughout the frame, taking their final timeout down nine. Despite a 4-0 run with Martinez Mundo behind the service line, the Orange and Blue dropped the set, 25-15.

Looking to rally in the second, a run with Raegen Reilly serving helped the team gain the early 7-3 edge. Mosher’s powerful serve helped Illinois gain the 10-5 advantage before MSU burned a timeout. The opposition did not go away quietly out of the break with the Spartans coming within one of the Illini lead thanks to a 5-0 run. However, Terry shattered the rally with a kill, putting the Orange and Blue ahead 13-11. Despite MSU knotting the set at 15, Illinois extended its advantage to three following the tie. Hernandez closed out the set with back-to-back aces, helping Illinois take the frame, 25-19.

The teams went back-and-forth to in the third set with nine ties and seven lead changed. However, Illinois trailed 15-12 when the teams took the media timeout. An error by the Spartans helped the Illini come within a score, 16-15, but MSU extended its three-point edge late in the set before the Illini took a timeout down 19-16. The Orange and Blue came within one down the stretch, but Michigan State scored the final three points of the frame, handing the Illini the 25-20 loss.

In the fourth set, a 4-0 run with Mosher tallying a pair of aces helped the Illini take the slight 8-7 edge. Point-for-point the teams battled, but the Fighting Illini used a timeout down 13-11. A four-point rally with Hernandez serving led to the Spartans using both of their timeouts with Illinois ahead 21-17. However, MSU did not go away with a 3-0 rally helping the Big Ten foe come within one. Despite Michigan State fending off a pair of Illini set points, a kill from Terry closed out the 25-23 triumph for the Illini.

The fifth set proved to be a grind with the Orange and Blue holding the slightest 8-5 edge when it came time to switch sides of the floor. Terry and Philpot logged a block to extend the 10-6 set, forcing the Spartans to burn a timeout. Three-straight kills from Terry got Illinois to match point and a service error closed out the the 15-8 fifth set and the conference victory.

UP NEXT

The Orange and Blue returns home for a midweek tilt with Indiana. First serve from Huff Hall on Wednesday is slated for 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

NOTES:

– Starters: Raina Terry, Brooke Mosher, Averie Hernandez, Cari Bohm, Ashlyn Philpot, Laynie Smith, and Christina Martinez Mundo.

– The Illini wore short-sleeved navy jerseys, moving to 1-1 while donning those.

– The Illinois volleyball program is now 57-28 against Michigan State.

– Chris Tamas moved to 8-2 all-time against the Michigan State.

– the Illini moved to 1-2 in televised matches.

– The match was the second-straight year the battle between the programs went five sets.

– Illinois improved to 4-1 in five-set matches.

– Bianca May made her 2024 debut in the match.

– Illinois earned double-digit blocks for the eighth time this year, recording 10 roofs.

– Terry tallied 20-plus kills for the fourth time this season and 24th time in her career.

 – Mosher’s double-double was the fourth of the season and 19th of the setter’s career.

– Terry’s double-double, which included 25 kills and 11 digs was the fourth of the season and 22nd of the outside hitter’s career.

– Attendance was called at 2,609.