Nov. 21, 2009
Box Score 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Wisconsin volleyball team (11-16 overall, 6-12 Big Ten Conference) fell to No. 5 Illinois on Saturday in a three set sweep. The Badgers lost 25-23, 25-11, 25-21 at Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.
"I think we actually responded well from our play Friday night to really compete against the fifth ranked team in the country tonight and really make them work," head coach Pete Waite said. "We were a little off in the second set, but the first [set] and third [set] were very competitive and we did some great things."
The Badgers were unable to maintain a consistent offensive flow throughout the match as they connected on just .092 percent of its shots, while Illinois (23-4, 15-3) hit a solid .264 percent.
Senior Caity DuPont led the Badgers offensively with 11 of the team's 32 kills. DuPont was also Wisconsin's most consistent player, hitting a team-high .310 percent.
"Caity DuPont was really on tonight," Waite said. "We gave her the start and she was really unstoppable at the net."
Janelle Gabrielsen guided the UW offense as she put up 26 assists.
Kim Kuzma headed UW's defensive effort as she tallied a team-high 11 digs, but the Fighting Illini out-dug the Badgers, 47-21. Freshmen Clare Liston received playing time tonight and chipped in eight digs.
Rachel Feldman tallied a team-high 14 digs for Illinois, while Michelle Bartsch contributed 12 saves.
Illinois also out-blocked Wisconsin, 8-3, and was led by Bartsch and Johannah Bangert who each had five blocks apiece.
UW's Alexis Mitchell led the team with three stuffs.
Laura DeBruler highlighted the Fighting Illini offense, totaling a match-high 18 kills while also maintaining a match-high .424 hitting percentage. Hillary Haen dished out a match high 37 assists for Illinois.
Wisconsin started the first set strongly as it took an early 9-7 lead over Illinois. With the score tied at 11, Illinois made a 6-3 run to take a 17-14 advantage. The Badgers then strung together a 7-3 run to narrow the deficit to one at 24-23, but a kill from DeBruler gave Illinois a 25-23 set victory.
Illinois jumped out to an early 14-8 lead over Wisconsin in the second set. Following a timeout, the Badgers were unable to regroup and the Fighting Illini rolled on an 11-3 run to take the set, 25-11.
The Badgers improved their play in the third set as the score was tied at the halfway mark, 13 all. However, a 6-3 run gave Illinois the 19-16 advantage. Wisconsin did come within one later in the set at 20-19, but Illinois proved to be too strong as they took the match, 25-21.
"They [Wisconsin] certainly never gave up and they battled the whole way," Waite said. "Illinois really had to earn this match."
The Badgers wrap up their season next weekend at home against Indiana and Purdue
"We want to give our crowd a couple of great matches and a couple of wins," Waite said.
"We want to build on the level of play we took into this match and hopefully catch fire these last two [matches]and really enjoy the weekend. Our fans have been fantastic this year and we want to show how much we appreciate their support."
Both matches will take place in the UW Field House and begin at 7 p.m.
