Another Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge Split in NCAA Volleyball Action

  0 Jil Price Igara | September 02nd, 2018 | Big Ten, College - Women's Indoor, News, Pac 12

For the second-straight day, the Big Ten and Pac-12 Conference split in challenge action. #20 Colorado opened the night with a sweep of Iowa, while #11 Illinois upset #10 Washington in 4 sets.

Match Stats

No. 20 Colorado rebounded from its loss to No. 11 Illinois with a 4-set win over Iowa in Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge action Saturday in Seattle, Wash. The Buffaloes have yet to lose to the Hawkeyes, leading the all-time series 2-0.

The opening set was back and forth early, until Colorado went on a 5-1 run to pull ahead. The Buffaloes did not surrender the advantage, leading by as much as 8 en route to their 25-19 win.

The Hawkeyes fought to knot the second set twice and took a 2-point lead, 14-12, before Colorado rattled off 6-straight scores to seize the momentum. The Buffaloes held on from there to record the 25-21 victory.

In the third set, Colorado jumped ahead 8-2 to force an Iowa timeout. With the odds against them, the Hawkeyes mounted a comeback run and came back to tie the score 22-22 and again at 23-23. Iowa extended the match with a 2-0 run to secure a 25-23 win.

The fourth set contained four early ties before Colorado took over with an 11-3 stretch. The effort shut down the Hawkeyes and handed the Buffaloes a 25-13 victory for the final result.

Senior Alexa Smith and junior Justine Spann posted double-doubles for Colorado with a team-high 23 kills and 11 digs and 13 kills and a team-high 25 digs, respectively. Sophomore Brynna DeLuzio distributed a team-high 25 assists, while redshirt freshman Danielle Price notched a team-high 6 blocks.

Senior Taylor Louis and senior Reghan Coyle led the Hawkeyes with 19 and 10 kills, respectively. Sophomore Brie Orr posted a double-double with a team-high 37 assists and 11 digs, while senior Molly Kelly posted a team-high 20 digs.

Match Stats

No. 11 Illinois continued to show its dominance with a 4-set upset of No. 10 Washington in Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge play Saturday night. The Fighting Illini, who are 5-0 on the season and 3-0 against ranked opponents, handed the Huskies their first loss of the year.

Set one contained four early ties before Illinois was able to establish an edge with a 6-3 stretch. The Huskies could not recover from there, as the Fighting Illini went on to win 25-18. Illinois never trailed in the second set, hitting a dominant .444 to collect the 25-20 victory.

Despite falling behind 4-1 early, the Huskies fought their way back into contention in the third set. Washington held on to extend the match with a 25-22 win. The fourth set contained 12 ties, however Illinois pulled it out, 25-22, with a 6-3 run late.

On the match, Illinois posted a .356 attack percentage compared to Washington’s .241 effort. The Fighting Illini were dominant on the block, notching 15 to the Huskies’ 5.

Junior Jacqueline Quade (18), redshirt junior Beth Prince (13) and sophomore Megan Cooney (11) all tallied double-figure kill totals to lead Illinois to the victory. Senior Jordyn Poulter posted a team-high 50 assists, sophomore Morgan O’Brien logged a team-high 17 digs and junior Ashlyn Fleming recorded a team-high 8 blocks.

Junior Kara Bajema led the Huskies with 21 kills, followed by sophomore Lauren Sanders (11). Freshman Ella May Powell logged a double-double with a team-high 47 assists and 11 digs, while junior Shayne McPherson notched a team-high 12 digs.

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