UI delivers in the clutch

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Melissa Beitz was wondering when the competition would show up. Virginia ended her wait Saturday night.

The host Cavaliers pushed Illinois to the brink in the championship match of the Jefferson Cup volleyball tournament. But Beitz and the Illini persevered, rallying for a pulsating 15-7, 7-15, 5-15, 15-13, 15-10 win.

"Our first three matches weren't quite what we expected, but the last match was more of a challenge," said Beitz, named Cup MVP. "That's the way we wanted to kick off our season."

Illinois is 4-0 heading back to Huff Hall, where it plays Illinois State on Wednesday night. Before facing a 3-0 Virginia team, the Illini did not lose a game in sweeping Delaware, Coastal Carolina and Liberty.

"They're learning that they have a button they can push to take it to another level," UI coach Don Hardin said. "To come out in a hostile environment, when everything looks bad, and to win tells me something."

Beitz had 60 assists against Virginia. Tracey Marshall had a team-high 20 kills and Laura Haselhorst had 12.

Cristy Chapman and Paula Prentice were named all-tournament. Prentice played for the first time this season in Saturday afternoon's 15-3, 15-2, 15-1 win over Liberty.

"She sat out all (Friday) and made all-tournament," Hardin said. "She made an impression."

The UI has started 4-0 one other time in the 1990s, Mike Hebert's 1995 team winning its first nine matches.

Virginia led 13-10 with a chance to clinch the match in Game 4, but the Illini went on a 5-0 run for the win. The UI rallied with 5-foot-3 defensive specialist Heidi Coulter on the front row after Hardin ran out of substitutions.

"Coulter's leadership was the difference," Hardin said.

"Not everything went right today," Beitz said. "We didn't play our best volleyball but still won. Our teamwork came through."

Against Liberty, former News-Gazette Area Player of the Year Heather Wilson of Rantoul made her college debut with a kill and four assists.

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