Volleyball wins battle for first vs Michigan in five sets

Friday's match between first-place Illinois and second-place Michigan lived up to the billing as the teams took turns heating up the floor at Huff Hall. In the end, junior Michelle Bartsch had 21 kills and seven big blocks as the sixth-ranked Illini held off No. 15 Michigan in five sets (25-11, 16-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-12) to push to a two-match lead over both the Wolverines and Penn State for first place in the Big Ten with nine matches to go.

The victory also avenges the only conference loss for the Illini, who move to 10-1 in the league and 18-3 overall. Michigan falls to 19-4 and 8-3 in the league. Illinois also wins at home for the 19th straight time, the sixth-best active streak in the country and three off the best ever since moving to Huff.

fightingillini.com