It’s tough to win a Big Ten volleyball match in the first place, but when outperformed by a ranked opponent in a categorical strength, it becomes exceedingly more difficult.
IU, 14-9 and 3-7 in conference, ranks second in the Big Ten in service aces yet could only muster two against No. 22 Illinois, 14-7 and 7-3 in conference. The Fighting Illini sit on the other end of the spectrum in the bottom three of the conference in aces but tallied eight, which is seven more than their average.
For the second week in a row, the Hoosier seniors led the way.
Senior libero Taylor Lebo notched 11 digs against Illinois to move into 11th place on IU’s all-time list for career digs with 1,014. Senior outside hitter Allison Hammond was responsible for 11 kills. Senior middle blocker Jazzmine McDonald added six kills on a .500 hitting percentage.
“I think Taylor is playing differently right now,” IU Coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. “She is acting different and talking different. Everything about her is winning and a winning mentality. She has taken it upon herself, her demeanor never changes, and she just plays.”
Still in the lineup for injured senior setter Megan Tallman, freshman setter Victoria Brisack posted a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs, but the Hoosiers were not able to pick up a single set win.
IU came closest in the first set when it tied the score 15-15, but Illinois was able to pull away after a 5-0 run to make the score 20-15 and eventually closed out the set 25-18. The Hoosiers dropped the remaining sets 25-19 and 25-20, respectively.
Although IU picked up the three-set sweep against the Northwestern Wildcats to complete the season sweep against the Wildcats, Sunday’s match was much tighter than the 3-0 set score indicated.
Northwestern, 8-14 and 1-9 in conference, was looking to build upon its momentum from Friday’s unexpected victory against No. 24 Purdue to avenge its Sept. 21 loss in Bloomington.
The Wildcats were able to stay competitive against the Hoosiers and kept the score close in the first two sets, 25-23 and 27-25, respectively.
IU’s increased intensity in practice last week was on display in set three, as the Hoosiers clinched the match victory on the shoulders of their 25-19 final set win, their first Big Ten road win of 2016.
“I think anytime you can win on the road, especially the first two sets, being 25-23, 27-25, on the road is tough to do against any Big Ten team,” Dunbar-Kruzan said. “This is a team that just upset Purdue. We are proud to get out of here going 3-0.”
The Hoosiers’ offense exploded during a stretch in the third set and achieved a 9-1 scoring run. That run was part of a larger string of success that saw IU collect 13 out of 16 points, en route to a 16-9 lead.
Brisack played a big role in the Northwestern match as well. She contributed another double-double with 27 assists, 10 digs and a .500 hitting percentage. Tallman, recovering from a broken finger, entered the match on the last play, where sophomore defensive specialist Samantha Fogg claimed the victory with her third service ace of the afternoon.
Hammond once again led the Hoosiers in kills with 14, followed by freshman outside hitter Kendall Beerman, nine; sophomore right side hitter Elizabeth Asdell, eight; and freshman middle blocker Deyshia Lofton, six. Northwestern was led in kills by junior outside hitter Symone Abbott’s seven.
“I thought we took some good steps this weekend,” Dunbar-Kruzan said. “We have to continue to have a winning mentality and continue to stay focused on our goals and keep working towards achieving them.”
