DeBruler can't save UI on road

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Illinois began its first Big Ten road trip on a sour note.

No. 12 Illinois jumped ahead two sets to one but dropped a 25-20, 20-25, 24-26, 28-26, 15-10 decision to No. 23 Michigan State to fall to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference Friday night.

Illinois, which got a team-high 21 kills from Laura DeBruler, had three match-point opportunities in the fourth set.

"It was a battle tonight, which is what we expected," Illinois coach Kevin Hambly said. "I was disappointed with how we competed in the first set. We took care of business in Set 2, but (Sets) 3 and 4 could have went either way. We had a swing for the match, but they made some plays at the end of the (fourth) set."

In soccer:

Purdue 1, Illinois 0. The Illini (5-4-2, 0-1-1 Big Ten) failed to convert on any of their 15 shots on goal in West Lafayette, Ind.

"It's too bad to lose this one because we played better than we have the last several games," UI coach Janet Rayfield said. "We fought hard in the midfield, battled and won some balls. We just didn't finish the couple of chances we had and didn't get the clean look inside the penalty box that we have gotten in the past. If we had, the game would have been much different."

Illinois' Marissa Mykines had two shots on goal and six total. Illini keeper Alexandra Kapicka made two saves. The 12th-ranked Boilermakers scored in the 47th minute.

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