Illinois volleyball falls 3-1 (22-25, 24-26, 25-20, 20-25) in a non-conference matchup at Huff Hall on Saturday night.
Despite a slow start and a heartbreaking collapse in the second set, the Illini showcased resiliency, particularly in a dominant third set, before Iowa State clinched their first victory over Illinois since 2012.
The Illini struggled early, dropping the first set 25-22 as Iowa State out-blocked Illinois three to zero and set the tone.
Taylor de Boer kept Illinois competitive, tying for the team lead with four kills in the opening frame alongside Ashlyn Philpot. However, seven attack errors and Iowa State's ability to pull away each time Illinois closed the gap proved too much to overcome.
Illinois bounced back in the second set, controlling much of the action behind setter Kenna Phelan's dynamic play. Phelan, who finished with 34 assists and four aces, sparked a 4-1 lead with back-to-back service aces. The connection between Phelan and Philpot was great all night.
The Illini built a commanding 24-18 lead, but Iowa State stunned the Orange and Blue with an 8-0 run to steal the second set 26-24.
Undeterred, Illinois fought back in the third. A 6-0 run, fueled by Philpot's .500 hitting percentage (9 kills, 1 error) and four blocks, gave the Illini a 13-9 lead. Averie Hernandez, thriving in her back-row role, delivered timely kills all night, including two straight to spark a rally earlier in the match.
Illinois' block, absent in the first set, came alive with nine total, four in the second set alone. The Illini closed out the third 25-20, dominating the second half of the set to extend the match.
The fourth set saw Iowa State surge ahead with a 12-2 run to take a 15-7 lead. Illinois battled back to 16-12, forcing a Cyclones timeout, but couldn't close the gap, dropping the set 25-20.
De Boer led the Illini with 13 kills, while Auburn Tomkinson impressed with 11 kills on a .444 hitting percentage. Phelan's four aces and Hernandez's 12 digs highlighted Illinois' effort.
The Illini finished with a .224 hitting percentage (53 kills, 19 errors on 152 attacks), 12 aces, and 8 blocks. Iowa State's balanced attack (59 kills, .290 hitting) and 61 digs proved decisive.
Despite the loss, Illinois showed flashes, particularly in their serving (12 aces) and improved blocking as the match went on. On Sunday afternoon, the Illini responded well with a 3-0 sweep of Eastern Illinois to get back on track.