Colorado
2-3
Illinois
4-1
No. 6 Illinois Defeats No. 21 Buffs At Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge
September 05, 2015 | Volleyball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — University of Colorado senior Alexis Austin hammered 15 kills for the No. 21 Buffaloes, but it wasn't enough as No. 6 Illinois defeated CU 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-17) on Saturday afternoon at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge.
Austin tied a match-high with her 15 kills as Illinois' top hitter, Jocelyn Birks, also had 15 kills in the match.
As a team, the Buffs recorded 32 kills, but again they had too many errors (22) on 97 attacks to hit .103. The Illini hit .361 with 39 kills and only nine errors on 83 attacks. Austin led both teams with a .522 hitting efficiency with just three errors on 23 attacks.
“Today's match was a struggle offensively, with a bright spot being Alexis, who came back with a vengeance today in her attacking,” head coach Liz Kritza said. “There came a point in the match when she was clearly a veteran player and we will need to see more of that throughout the season to accomplish our team goals.”
After Austin, sophomore Anna Pfefferle had the next best kills total for CU (5) and freshman Naghede Abu and junior Kaitlyn Cuff each tallied three. Sophomores Gabby Simpson and Stephanie Shadley each recorded two kills and senior Nicole Edelman and freshman Aidan Lea each had one.
Illinois had 37 digs and 13.0 blocks on defensive, while CU had 32 digs and 4.0 blocks in the match. Sophomore Cierra Simpson led the match with 14 digs and Abu led CU with a pair of block assists. Brandi Donnelly picked up 12 digs for UI and Jordyn Poulter posted a match-high five blocks, one solo and four assists. Two other players, Ali Bastianelli and Birks posted four block assists for the Illini.
“CeCe Simpson led all players in the match in digs and she will continue to only get better playing this level of competition,” Kritza said.
The loss moves CU to 2-3 on the season, while UI is now 3-1.
“Overcoming adversity and just grinding out a good performance is something that all high level teams are able to do, regardless of any obstacle that may present itself,” Kritza said. “We are getting there in that category and the difficulties of this weekend will do more to help this young team develop that steely eyed consistency more than they realize.”
The first set was tied 8-8 when the Illini went up 13-8, forcing the Buffs to take a timeout. Austin hammered a kill out of the break, but UI answered back with a 4-0 run (17-9). The Illini continued to control the frame, and had a 21-13 advantage when the Buffs used their second timeout. UI closed out the set with a 4-0 run (25-13).
The second set was more of the same as the Buffs couldn't get their offense going. CU took the first point off a block by Austin, but UI answered, taking the next three points, and would never give up the lead. CU took a timeout when IU led 8-3 and again at 19-9. The Illini were clicking and finished the set 25-14.
The Buffs played better in the third set, but it wasn't enough. The set was tied at 5-5, but the Illini went ahead on the following point and wouldn't look back. CU got the score within three points several times, the last at 17-14, but just couldn't hold serve and UI went on to take the set 25-17.
Colorado will stay on the road next weekend, traveling to Houston, Texas for the Rice Adidas Invitational. The Buffs will face Sam Houston State on Friday, Sept. 11, and on Saturday, Sept. 12, they will play Louisiana-Lafayette and Rice.
“I cannot say that we are not disappointed in the results on the scoreboard this weekend, but more so in the missed opportunity,” Kritza said. “Every time we take the court, we are competing for the win and for a championship level program. We will not be satisfied with anything less.
“This weekend was a great opportunity to better our team, and despite ending up on the wrong side of the win-loss column, there is tremendous individual growth that has and will continue to take place because of this experience.”
