CHAMPAIGN – The killer instinct wasn't missing. It was just briefly misplaced.

After squandering a seven-point lead in Game 1 and losing the next game as well, the Illinois volleyball team beat the odds and Oral Roberts on Saturday night at Huff Hall.

"We just don't take no for an answer," coach Don Hardin said after his Illini battled back for a 14-16, 11-15, 15-8, 15-7, 15-13 victory. "That was incredible."

The triumph extended Illinois' streak of Illini Classic titles to four. The Illini (4-0) and Oral Roberts (2-2) both entered the final match of the tournament with 2-0 records in the 15th edition of the Classic.

Illini outside hitter Tracey Marshall was selected tournament most valuable player for the second year in a row. When Illinois needed her help the most, the junior came through with 36 kills and 27 digs in the 2-hour, 38-minute showdown with the Golden Eagles.

"I think she was hitting the ball harder than I've ever seen her," UI setter Melissa Beitz said. "Great defense, great serving. She was a rock for us."

The Illini appeared to be on solid ground in the first game after building leads of 13-6 and 14-8. But Illinois couldn't put ORU away. The Golden Eagles fought off three Illini serves for game point and then stunned the host team with eight unanswered points to pull out the game. Illinois trailed the entire way in losing Game 2.

If the Illini were discouraged or panicking, it didn't show thereafter. They led the entire way in both of the next two games in forcing Game 5.

In the decisive game, Illinois again had its back to the wall, facing deficits of 8-5 and 9-6 in the rally-scoring format. The Illini charged back with three straight points to tie the game, then dueled ORU on even terms until Marshall broke the seventh tie of the game with her fifth kill of the game.

Mary Coleman then finished the job with her 12th kill of the night.

"That's what this team is all about," Beitz said. "We're more focused this year and definitely more mature."

Marshall was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Cristy Chapman and Sara Sorrell. Chapman recorded a triple-double (23 kills, 13 digs, 10 blocks), and Sorrell had 17 kills, 13 digs and hit .412 in 34 swings.

The kills and digs totals for Marshall and Chapman were career highs for each.

UI 3, Akron 0

The Illini could afford to do some experimenting.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in games against the Zips, Illinois showed a new look that's really an old look in Game 3.

For the first time since late last October, Illinois employed a traditional alignment of two middle blockers instead of three. Although the results were mixed, Illini opponents might not have seen the last of the changeup.

"I think that's going to be very important to our team that we're going to be able to go from the three-middle to the traditional and vice versa," Sorrell said after the 15-6, 15-4, 15-11 victory against Akron. "If we can use that in mid-match, it's really going to cause other teams problems."

With Sorrell moving to right-side hitter and Betsy Spicer and Cristy Chapman manning the middle, the Illini immediately fell behind 4-0 before righting themselves while going on a 7-0 run.

"I think we struggled with that at the very beginning," Sorrell said, "just getting used to the serve-reception patterns. I think that might have broke any momentum we might have built. Once we got back into a rhythm with that, I think we were OK."

Even with the abrupt switch, the Illini hit a more-than-respectable .385 in Game 3 en route to a .383 attack percentage for the match.

Marshall finished with a match-high 17 kills, committing one error in 25 swings. She also led all players in digs with nine.

Chapman contributed 12 kills, and Spicer finished with six block assists and one solo block.

Next up

The Illini will travel Tuesday to Normal to play Illinois State at 7 p.m. Illinois has won 11 of the last 12 in the series.