Illinois-Fighting-Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini (23-10, Big Ten Conference) stunned No.8 Washington Huskies (25-8, Pac-12 Conference) in Second Round of the NCAA Women’s’ D1 Champs to qualify to the Regional Semifinals, or so-called Sweet 16, for the 8th time in 10 years. The Fighting Illini have played the second tie-breaker in two days. Firstly, they eliminated Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine (20-8, Big West Conference) in First Round by a 25-18, 25-17, 13-25, 24-26, 15-10, and then made an even harder tie-break win, coming from behind to Washington in Second Round – 25-22, 17-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-9. A sophomore outside hitter Jacqueline Quade created the upset on the road at Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle, Washington, by pouring in 23 points (6 kill blocks) for Illinois.
The biggest upset of the weekend came in the final match! #NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/pcIZtxhqUn
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) 3 December 2017
Check out more details on this year’s NCAA Women’s Volleyball D1 Championship.
But, this is not the end of surprising results in Second Round as Michigan State Spartans (23-8, Big Ten Conference) knocked down hosts Creighton Bluejays, the ninth seed, (26-7, Big East Conference) by a 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16) at CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska. Senior outside hitter Autumn Bailey stood out on the winning side with 18 points.
Another seeded team has fallen to advance to the regionals. No.12 Baylor Lady Bears (24-7, Big 12 Conference) succumbed to Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Conference) in front of own fans at Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas, in straight sets, with partial 25-12, 25-22, 25-20. Junior outside hitter Alexa Smith and junior middle blocker Naghede Abu (8 kill blocks) tallied 15 points each, to lead Buffaloes to their first Sweet 16 in 20 years.
Wisconsin Badgers (22-9, Big Ten Conference) swept No.14 Iowa State Cyclones (22-7, Big 12 Conference) as visitors at Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa, making another Second Round upset and moving to the regional semis for the fifth time in a row. Freshman middle blocker Dana Rettke notched 19 points (4 kill blocks) for the Badgers.
And finally, the 16th seed Wichita State (29-4, American Athletic Conference) did not take of a home ground advantage at Charles Koch Arena, Wichita, Kansas, as they suffered a four-set defeat to Missouri Tigers (22-11, Southeastern Conference), 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 26-24. Pushed by the senior outside hitter Sydney Deeken (19 points), Mizzou Volleyball punched their ticket to the second consecutive Sweet 16.
Read more reports from First and Second Round matches.
Other favorites, like No.1 Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions and No.2 Florida Gators were successful in Second Round. The defending champions, and also No.3, Stanford Cardinal managed to do so as well.
Subscribe to have full access to WoV PROFILES, STATS, and WoVVIDEO.
Discover what’s new in a volleyball world.
