University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Illinois
Gophers Upset No. 3 Illinois in Straight Sets
10/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2011
The No. 15 University of Minnesota volleyball team defeated No. 3 Illinois, in straight sets, 25-19, 25-20 and 25-15, tonight in Champaign, Ill. With the win tonight, the Golden Gophers defeated their highest-ranked opponent ever as the Illini entered tonight's match ranked third in the country. Minnesota (13-8 overall, 6-6 in the Big Ten) was propelled by a season-best seven aces. The Gophers also outblocked the Illini, 9.0-8.0 and held them to a .087 hitting percentage. The loss also marked Illinois' just second of the season, now sitting at 21-2 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten and first loss at home.
The Gophers had kills and aces from multiple sources tonight. Ashley Wittman had 10 kills and a match-high 10 digs, while Hailey Cowles had seven kills and nine digs, while Ariana Filho and Tori Dixon has six kills. Dixon also led the team with four aces and a match-high six block assists. Kellie McNeil started for the second-straight night and had 31 assists.
The Golden Gophers took the first set against the Illini, 25-19 as they held the lead for the majority of the set as only four tie scores and zero lead changes existed. Minnesota had four aces in the first set, including two from Dixon late to help the Gophers to the set win. Illinois closed the gap to 20-19, but Minnesota responded with a kill by Wittman, an ace by Dixon, a kill by Wittman, an ace by Dixon and a kill by Filho to close out the first set.
Minnesota went up, 2-0 when it won the second set, 25-20 after rallying back from a 15-12 deficit. Minnesota took a timeout and rallied back to tie the set at 16-16 and went ahead for good when Cowles had an ace at 17-16. Minnesota jumped out to a three-point lead when Minnesota had three-straight kills from Wittman, Ariana Filho and Cowles to force the Illini to take a timeout. However, out of the timeout, Dixon delivered another ace. The Gophers finished the set with a kill from Cowles and an attack error from Illinois' Michelle Bartsch to close out the set.
Minnesota closed the door on the Illini when it again, rallied back from an early 9-5 deficit and went on an 11-2 in the middle of the set to close it out and the match with a three-set win. Minnesota jumped up to as high of a lead of 22-13 and won the set, 25-15.
Minnesota finished up a lengthy road portion of the Big Ten schedule and is now home three of the four weeks in November. The Gophers host No. 8 Penn State, Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., while hosting Ohio State, Saturday, Nov. 5.
