Final Four: Illini show true grit
December 16, 2011 3:58 PM
In the end, these Illini wrote an unprecedented chapter in the history of the sport at their school, advancing Thursday night to the championship match of the NCAA tournament for the first time.
It wasn't easy, but third-seeded and seventh-ranked Illinois persevered in five sets to defeat top-ranked Southern California, taking a history-making step into Saturday night's winner-take-all final.
"I'm proud of the girls," coach Kevin Hambly said after his Illini prevailed 25-27, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 15-10 in a battle worthy of a championship bout. "Our goal was to get to this match -- the next match -- and they stuck to that. ... I thought they were determined to make that happen."
Jeff Huth
It wasn't easy, but third-seeded and seventh-ranked Illinois persevered in five sets to defeat top-ranked Southern California, taking a history-making step into Saturday night's winner-take-all final.
"I'm proud of the girls," coach Kevin Hambly said after his Illini prevailed 25-27, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 15-10 in a battle worthy of a championship bout. "Our goal was to get to this match -- the next match -- and they stuck to that. ... I thought they were determined to make that happen."
Jeff Huth
Filed under: Illini Volleyball
