Bizzarri helps Illini keep streak intact

Ranked wrestling, volleyball teams strut their stuff

STILLWATER, Okla. – The No. 14 Illinois women's cross-country team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Saturday.

It will be the fifth consecutive appearance for the Illini at the NCAA Championships.

Illinois earned 64 points at the meet, finishing seven points behind No. 7 Minnesota. Junior All-American Angela Bizzarri led the Illini with a second-place finish overall with a 6K time of 20 minutes, 39 seconds. Bizzarri has finished second at the regional championships each year of her career.

"We raced well today," UI coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "It was an honest course and the girls stepped up to the plate and did a great job of ensuring that we were one of the top two teams that would advance to the NCAAs."

Senior Katie Engel was ninth for Illinois in 21:07, giving the Illini two runners in the top 10. It was Engel's best career regional finish.

"Overall the girls did a great job," Rasmussen said. "Now we just need to go back and make sure that we recover properly and get ourselves feeling as fresh as possible for next Monday. We want to try to be a top-10 team at the NCAA Championships and we need to make sure that we are ready to go."

In men's cross-country:

Young Illini have fair showing. In Stillwater, Okla., Nathan Troester led Illinois to a ninth-place tie at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

Troester completed the 10K course in 32:14. Teammate Hunter Mickow was 35th. Mickow was one of four freshman to compete for the Illini.

In wrestling:

Illinois starts fast. In Chapel Hill, N.C., No. 9 Illinois opened the dual season with three wins at the ACC/Big Ten Clash.

The Illini defeated No. 21 Virginia, 39-7, North Carolina State, 40-7, and North Carolina, 26-9.

No. 6 John Wise posted a pair of pins in a combined 2:49 and defeated the Tar Heels' No. 13 Justin Dobies, 3-2 in the heavyweight division.

No. 4 Jimmy Kennedy notched a trio of major decisions at 133 and true freshman Jordan Blanton scored two pins and won by injury default at 184.

In volleyball:

Illini sweep. In Champaign, Ashley Edinger recorded 23 digs to lead Illinois to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 win against Indiana.

The No. 17 Illini (20-7) reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2003 and maintained third place in the Big Ten with an 11-5 conference mark.

Lizzie Bazzetta tallied a double-double with 10 digs and a team-leading 17 assists.

"Lizzie's leadership has really emerged, which is a big reason why we've been successful," Illinois coach Don Hardin said. "She really settled us down tonight and it helped us take care of business."

Laura DeBruler had 14 kills and seven digs for the Illini. DeBruler leads the league in kills.

"This is a huge win tonight," Hardin said. "Losing tonight would have really set us back."

In club hockey:

UI 10, Michigan-Dearborn 1. Junior Brad Hoelzer scored four goals and DJ Kohler made 26 saves for the host Illini. Jordan Pringle scored twice as the Illini sealed the win with six third-period goals.

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