Volleyball bounces back with block party

CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois volleyball team rebounded from Friday's five-set loss to Northwestern in style Sunday with a straight-set (27-25, 25-17, 25-22) win against No. 19 Wisconsin at Huff Hall.

Laura DeBruler led the charge offensively with 14 kills, while Johanna Bangert powered the defense with six blocks.

"We tried to keep our eyes off the scoreboard, not really think about the outcome and just play," Illinois coach Don Hardin said. "Friday night we were a little too outcome oriented. Today we played every point for itself and I think that came across in the outcome."

Illinois freshman Michelle Bartsch also had a big day. Bartsch had eight kills and five blocks for an Illini front that constantly was disrupting the flow of the Badgers' attack.

"They are a really good offensive team and are big at the net," Hardin said of the Badgers. "To hold them down to a .160 hitting percentage is really significant."

DeBruler echoed those sentiments.

"The fact that the block was there made all the difference," she said. "Even when we didn't get a block, it diverted the shots around the blocks so that the back row could be there to make the passes."

In women's golf:

Sloan, Koschmann strong. Samantha Sloan tied for 29th and Hailey Koschmann tied for 39th to help Illinois finish 11th at the Lady Northern on Sunday at Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind. Sloan had a three-round total of 236 and Koschmann turned in a 239.

In soccer:

Illini blanked. The Illini outshot Indiana 9-7 on Sunday, but it was the Hoosiers who found the back of the net in a 1-0 Illinois setback in Bloomington, Ind.

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