University of Illinois
15-7,7-4Big Ten
Northwestern
7-15,0-11Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 25 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 2 |
| Illinois | 22 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
October 29, 2026 | Volleyball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois extended its winning streak to three matches with a five-set win over Northwestern at Huff Hall on Thursday night.
The Fighting Illini's 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-15, 15-6 come-from-behind victory saw the Orange and Blue improve to 15-7 overall and 7-4 in Big Ten play.
Five Illini finished with double-digit kills, led by Paityn Chapman with 14 kills and a career-high 20 digs as she logged her third consecutive double-double. She also added two aces and two blocks.
Middle blockers Ashlyn Philpot and Kristina Starostenko both finished in double figures. Philpot tallied 13 kills and six blocks, while Starostenko secured 11 kills and three blocks while swinging at a .444 clip.
Alyssa Aguayo amassed 12 kills, seven digs, and two blocks, while Madi Miles marked her night with 11 kills and seven digs of her own.
Kenna Phelan and Sophi Randall both saw extended action in the match, with Phelan ending the night with 28 assists, five digs, and two blocks. Randall registered a career-most 25 assists, four digs, a career-best three blocks, and an ace while also recording the first two kills of her collegiate career.
After the Wildcats claimed the opening frame, 25-22, the Illini bounced back by taking the second set. With Northwestern ahead by two, Illinois used a 5-0 run to take a three-point edge. The visitors battled to tie the frame at 20, but a 5-2 Illini scoring stretch saw the home side take the set, 25-22, to even the contest at one set apiece.
Northwestern's 25-22 decision in the third set put the Illini behind in the match, but the Orange and Blue fought back by claiming the final two frames to secure the win. It was all Illinois early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 15-4 advantage before the media timeout. With the Illini ahead 23-10, the Wildcats accounted for the next five points, but kills from Aguayo and Miles saw the Illini claim the frame, 25-15, to send the match to a decisive fifth set.
The Orange and Blue carried their momentum into the final frame, opening the set on a 4-0 run, though the Wildcats answered with a 5-2 stretch to cut their deficit to one. After Illinois called a timeout with a one-point lead, the Illini dominated the rest of the way, closing the set on a 9-1 run to complete the victory.
Illinois (15-7, 7-4 B1G) continues its three-match homestand on Sunday afternoon against Ohio State. First serve from Huff Hall between the Fighting Illini and the Buckeyes is slated for 12 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, with tickets available at tickets.fightingillini.com.
NOTES
- Paityn Chapman posted a double-double with 14 kills and 20 digs, also adding two blocks and two aces.
- Recorded her seventh consecutive 10+-kill outing.
- Had double-digit kills for the 18th time.
- Secured her ninth double-double of the season/of her career.
- Has a double-double in her last three matches.
- Recorded a career-high 20 digs.
- Had double-digit digs for the 11th time.
- Has multiple blocks in 13 straight appearances.
- Has an ace in five of her last six matches.
- Recorded multiple aces for the ninth time.
- Recorded her seventh consecutive 10+-kill outing.
- Ashlyn Philpot finished with 13 kills and six blocks.
- Tied her season-high with 13 kills.
- Registered double-digit kills for the fifth time this season.
- Had at least five blocks for the fifth time.
- Tied her season-high with 13 kills.
- Alyssa Aguayo logged 12 kills, seven digs, two blocks, and an ace.
- Had 10+ kills for the 12th time this season.
- Had multiple blocks for the eighth time this year.
- Tied her season-high with two assists.
- Has multiple assists in four of her last five outings.
- Has recorded an ace in five of the last six matches.
- Madi Miles posted 11 kills and seven digs.
- Had her fourth match of the season with double-digit kills.
- Recorded a new career-high with seven digs.
- Was her fifth outing with multiple digs this season.
- Kristina Starostenko contributed 11 kills, three blocks, and two digs.
- Had double-digit kills for the eighth time this year.
- Has multiple blocks in 19 consecutive appearances.
- Kenna Phelan secured 28 assists, five digs, two blocks, and one kill.
- Had her sixth match of the year with multiple blocks.
- Has a kill in seven of her last eight matches.
- Sophi Randall posted 25 assists, four digs, three blocks, two kills, and an ace.
- Had a career-high 25 assists.
- Secured the first 20+-assist performance of her career.
- Had a season-high four digs.
- Marked her first multi-dig game of the year.
- Logged a career-high three blocks.
- Had the first multi-block outing of her career.
- Entered Thursday with two career blocks.
- Had three in the fifth set alone.
- Posted a career-high with two kills.
- Logged her first two collegiate kills.
- Had a career-high 25 assists.
- Maya Harris finished with three kills, six digs, and an ace.
- Has multiple kills in three straight outings.
- Has recorded an ace in each of her last six appearances.
- Talita Goncalves totaled 18 digs, seven assists, and an ace.
- Tallied double-digit digs for the 18th time this season.
- Has 10+ digs in five of her last six outings.
- Finished one assist shy of her season-best mark.
- Has at least seven assists in three matches this season.
- Had her fifth game of the season in which she recorded an ace.
- Tallied double-digit digs for the 18th time this season.
- Illinois allowed zero aces for the second time this season.
- The Illini last had zero aces against Lindenwood in a three-set victory on Sept. 9.
- Illinois extended its winning streak to three matches.
- The Illini improved to 69-33 in the all-time series against Northwestern.
- Illinois moved to 7-3 at Huff Hall this season.
- The Illini are now 3-3 in five-set contests this season.
- The Illini are now 4-2 when wearing orange sleeveless jerseys.
