NCAAs: Volleyball victorious over Austin Peay, will face Cincinnati tonight 7pm at Huff
December 4, 2010 9:40 AM
"This is a new season and we're 1-0," summed up Illinois sophomore middle blocker Erin Johnson after helping eighth-seeded and 14th-ranked Illinois to a straight sets 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 victory over Austin Peay in round one of the NCAA Tournament. Illinois got 17 kills from junior All-Big Ten performer Colleen Ward in advancing to meet 21st-ranked Cincinnati in round two.
Facing Cincinnati is nothing new for the Illini who will play the Bearcats for the fourth time in three years. Illinois defeated Cincinnati in straight sets in the same round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament at Huff Hall and topped the Bearcats in three in the opening match of the 2009 State Farm Illini Classic. Cincinnati, however, handed Illinois its second loss of the 2010 season in five sets on Sept. 17 at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.
"We have to win the serve-pass battle," Hambly said when asked about the keys to avenging the earlier defeat to Cincinnati. "Last time we missed 18 serves and they aced us 10 times, which was the biggest key in the match. That's 28 points that we gave them, that's a whole set. We need to get them out of system and make it easier for us to play defense."
fightingillini.com
Facing Cincinnati is nothing new for the Illini who will play the Bearcats for the fourth time in three years. Illinois defeated Cincinnati in straight sets in the same round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament at Huff Hall and topped the Bearcats in three in the opening match of the 2009 State Farm Illini Classic. Cincinnati, however, handed Illinois its second loss of the 2010 season in five sets on Sept. 17 at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.
"We have to win the serve-pass battle," Hambly said when asked about the keys to avenging the earlier defeat to Cincinnati. "Last time we missed 18 serves and they aced us 10 times, which was the biggest key in the match. That's 28 points that we gave them, that's a whole set. We need to get them out of system and make it easier for us to play defense."
fightingillini.com
Filed under: Illini Volleyball
