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#1 Illinois Falls to #4 Nebraska in Four

Nebraska hosted #1 ranked Illinois in their home gym Saturday evening, battling to win the upset in four (24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 25-11). The NU Coliseum saw a sold out crowd to the match in which both teams were still undefeated in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini were led by Michelle Bartsch with 22 kills and 9 digs. Morgan Broekhuis led the Huskers with 17 kills and 11 digs.

The first set began as could be expected between two top five teams with Nebraska taking the early lead. The Huskers held on to the lead despite back and forth play before the score tied up at 14-14. Both teams battled it out tying up the score again at 15-15, with Nebraska recovering with the lead both times. Illinois finally took the lead for the first time in the set with a four point run to 20-18. However Nebraska wasn’t done, tying up the set again at 24-24 before a kill by Erin Johnson and a Nebraska hitting error finished the set for Illinois 26-24.

Nebraska took the lead in the second set with a kill by Morgan Broekhuis. They moved their lead to 7-2, before forcing an Illinois timeout. The timeout did not slow Nebraska; despite losing the following rally, they took back the ball immediately and did not allow Illinois within four points of them for the rest of the set. Nebraska finished the second set with a kill by Morgan Broekhuis and a hitting error by Illinois, closing the set 25-18.

The third set began with another Nebraska lead, however it didn’t last for long as Illinois tied up the set at 3-3 and then took the lead with 5-3 before Nebraska called a timeout following an Illinois ace. The Huskers returned from the timeout with their fight, they tied up the set at 5-5 and 6-6, but were unable to take the lead from Illinois. Nebraska continued to tie up the set four times before they finally broke away with the lead at 14-13, spreading the scoreboard with a four point run to 17-13. Not slowing down Nebraska went on another run of five points, making it 22-14 before Illinois was able to respond with a kill by Michelle Bartsch for a point. Nebraska won the ball back in the following rally and the teams went point for point before Illinois took off with a three point run putting them at 19-24. Nebraska slowed their run with a timeout and returned to the court to win the set with a kill by Gina Mancuso, finishing the third set 25-19, up two sets to Illinois’ one.

Nebraska began the fourth set up 3-0 before Illinois scored with a kill by Michelle Bartsch. The Huskers respond with points of their own, stretching the scoreboard to 8-3 before the Fighting Illini call a timeout to regroup. However the timeout didn’t slow the Huskers who lead the Fighting Illini by at least four points before Illinois called their second timeout at 6-13. This timeout didn’t affect Nebraska either, who went on a seven point run to 22-9 before a hitting error gave Illinois the ball. The Huskers bettered their error, winning back the ball with a kill and earning another point for 24-10. Illinois managed one more point before the Huskers closed the game at 25-11 with a kill by Hannah Werth.

Nebraska now stands at 17-1 overall, 10-1 in Big 10 play; Illinois falls to 20-1 overall and 9-1 in their conference.

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• NCAA DI Volleyball Final Four

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• 2011 NCAA Volleyball

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