Wolverines suffer first three-set loss, falling to Illinois

» Michigan lost to Illinois in three sets.
» Allison Jacobs led the team with 13 kills.
» Jacque Boney And Serena Nyambio combined for 10 kills and only one mistake.
» Morgan Burke had 29 assists and three aces, both of which led the team.

Ann Arbor, Mich – The University of Michigan volleyball team lost in three sets to Illinois (19-25, 22-25, 20-25) on Friday night, October 11, at the Crisler Center.

Michigan (13-2, 2-2 Big Ten) was led by midfielders on the night. Jacque Boney And Serena Nyambiowho recorded a combined 10 kills in 22 attacks with just one error, while Allison Jacobs led the team with 13 kills. Morgan Burke registered 29 assists, one kill and three aces while Maddi Cuchran added a team-leading 13 digs.

Illinois (9-5, 1-3 Big Ten) opened the game with two straight points, but the Wolverines tied the game after a kill from Burke and two of their own Valentina Vaulet. The Fighting Illini regained the lead and led 10-7 before the Wolverine went on a 6-1 run. Jacobs scored three kills on the run while Vaulet added one. With UM leading 13-11, Illinois took a timeout and scored the next point. Michigan scored two of the next three points, but seven straight points for Illinois gave them a 20-15 lead. After killings of Ella Demetrician and Vaulet put the Illini two more on the board, forcing the second UM timeout. Illinois reached the target point, but two attack errors kept the Wolverines in control. On Illinois’ third chance, they converted and won the first set 25-19.

The second set began with Illinois taking the first point, but the Wolverines responded with a 7-2 run led by two kills from Nyambio and an ace from Vaulet. After a kill by Boney that gave Michigan a 7-3 lead, Illinois called a timeout. The teams traded the next few points before Illinois scored three straight points, cutting Michigan’s lead to just two at 13-11. Michigan countered, scoring six of the next eight points, led by three kills from Jacobs. Illinois took its second timeout of the set down 19-13 and went on an 8-2 run after the timeout to tie the game at 21 points. Vaulet gave the Wolverines the lead with a kill, but the Fighting Illini won the final four points of the set to win 25-22.

Illinois led the third set from start to finish, opening with a 4-0 run. However, the Wolverines held on and got two aces from Burke to bring the score to 11-9, forcing an Illinois timeout. Burke’s strong performance continued with another ace after the timeout, and then a kill from Demetrician tied the match at 11. The Fighting Illini didn’t relinquish the lead and went on a 4-0 run going into a Michigan timeout. UM failed to muster a significant run and was only able to get the score close to two for the remainder of the set. Michigan took another timeout down 22-18 and forced a serve error from Illinois, but the Illini took three of the final four points of the set and won the third set 25-20.

The Wolverines will face Ohio State on Sunday, October 13th at 1 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.