University of Illinois
11-3,3-0Big Ten
Washington
11-1,2-1Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Washington | 22 | 22 | 20 | 0 |
Illinois Secures Third Consecutive Ranked Win, Sweeps #22 Washington Away from Home
October 3, 2026 | Volleyball
RECAP
SEATTLE – Illinois continued its winning ways with its third straight ranked victory, sweeping #22 Washington on the road on Friday night in Seattle.
Four Fighting Illini finished with double-digit digs, while three players posted 10 kills as the Orange and Blue extended their winning streak to seven and secured their third ranked win in the last eight days.
Three Illini recorded double-doubles, including a 10-kill, 17-dig outing for Paityn Chapman. She also added two aces and two blocks.
Kenna Phelan finished with 36 assists and 16 digs, while Alyssa Aguayo amassed 10 kills and 11 digs.
Kristina Starostenko collected 10 kills and six blocks while swinging at a .643 clip, while Taylor de Boer tallied eight kills and a career-high six blocks.
Talita Goncalves totaled 13 digs and three assists, and Maya Harris added nine digs and three aces.
After the Huskies jumped out to an early 9-6 edge, an 8-2 scoring stretch for the Orange and Blue saw the visitors take their first lead of the night. A 7-2 Washington run put the home side in front by a 21-20 margin, but Illinois scored five of the final six points of the frame to take the opener, 25-22.
The Illini carried their momentum into the second set, opening the frame on a 5-2 run. With Illinois' lead up to 11-7, Washington scored the match's next four points to even the set at 11, though the Orange and Blue went into the media break with a 15-12 edge. That lead grew to five, though a late Husky run cut the hosts' deficit to two. Illinois soon closed out the frame, 25-22, to double its advantage in the match.
The third set featured a 10-3 Fighting Illini run out of the gates, though a 6-3 stretch from Washington cut that lead to four. Going on a 5-1 run soon after, the Illini pushed their edge up to eight, 18-10. Despite two late 3-0 runs from the Huskies, the Illini closed out the sweep after scoring three of the set's final four points.
Illinois (11-3, 3-0 B1G) concludes its time in the Pacific Northwest at #17 Oregon on Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Illini will face the Ducks at 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
NOTES
- Paityn Chapman posted a double-double with 10 kills, 17 digs, two blocks, and two aces.
- Marked the fifth double-double of the season/of her career.
- Had 10+ kills for the 11th time.
- Has double-digit kills in six of the last seven matches.
- Equaled her career-high with 17 digs.
- Logged 10+ digs for the sixth time this season.
- Has 10+ digs in back-to-back outings and in three of the last four matches.
- Registered multiple aces for the seventh time.
- Has multiple blocks in five consecutive matches.
- Kristina Starostenko totaled 10 kills, six blocks, and two digs.
- Had 10+ kills for the fourth time this season.
- Had at least six blocks for the second time.
- Swung at a .643 clip.
- Alyssa Aguayo posted a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
- Marked her first double-double of the season and the 12th of her career.
- Has 10+ kills in seven matches this season.
- Recorded 10+ digs for the third time.
- Taylor de Boer totaled eight kills, six blocks, and three digs.
- Set a new career-high with her six blocks.
- Has multiple blocks in five appearances this season.
- Set a new career-high with her six blocks.
- Kenna Phelan filled the stat sheet with 36 assists, 16 digs, and an ace.
- Marked her fifth double-double of the season and the 21st of her career.
- Her 16 digs marked a new season-high.
- Has 10+ digs in five matches.
- Has double-digit digs in five of the last seven matches.
- Talita Goncalves totaled 13 digs along with three assists.
- Now has double-digit digs in 12 consecutive matches.
- Maya Harris finished with nine digs and three aces.
- Had at least nine digs for the fourth time.
- Registered at least three aces for the second time.
- Has multiple aces in eight outings this season.
- Illinois recorded 71 digs in the contest.
- The Illini had 70+ digs for the second time this season.
- Illinois has at least 50 digs in five straight matches.
- The Illini improved to 3-0 in Big Ten play this season.
- Illinois is off to its best start to conference play since 2021.
- The Illini posted their third ranked win of the season.
- Illinois has three ranked wins in a season for the first time since 2021.
- Illinois' three-match winning streak when facing ranked opponents (non-consecutively) is its longest since 2018.
- Illinois' three-match winning streak when facing ranked opponents (consecutively) is its longest since October 2011.
- Illinois has multiple sweeps over ranked opponents for the first time since the 2018 season.
- Illinois extended its winning streak to seven matches.
- The Illini are on their longest winning streak since the 2018 season.
- The Illini limited Washington to a season-low .163 hitting percentage.
- Illinois has held opponents below .200 in nine matches, all of which were Illini wins.
- The Illini are now 8-2 in three-set contests this season.
- Illinois is now 4-2 in true road matches this season.
- The Illini now are on a three-match winning streak in true road contests.
- The Illini are now 5-5 in the all-time series against Washington.
- The Illini are now 1-2 when wearing blue long-sleeve jerseys.
- Attendance at Alaska Airlines Arena was called at 3,201.
