University of Illinois
16-7,8-4Big Ten
Ohio State
10-12,3-9Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio St. | 27 | 23 | 16 | 0 |
| Illinois | 29 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
November 1, 2026 | Volleyball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois continued its winning ways with a sweep of Ohio State at Huff Hall on Sunday afternoon.
Now 16-7 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play, the Fighting Illini tallied 10 blocks en route to their 29-27, 25-23, 25-16 victory over the Buckeyes.
The Orange and Blue attack was led by Madi Miles' 15 kills, which tied her career-best mark, and she added two digs and two blocks. Paityn Chapman and Ashlyn Philpot finished with nine kills apiece, with Chapman adding eight digs and Philpot making four total blocks.
Sophi Randall put together another big day with her career-high 33 assists and career-best four blocks alongside four digs and an ace.
Kristina Starostenko contributed seven kills and a team-high five blocks, while Alyssa Aguayo amassed seven kills, nine digs, two blocks, and an ace.
With Ohio State holding a 14-5 advantage in the opening set, the Illini began chipping away via a 6-0 run to reduce their deficit down to three. Trailing by four shortly after, a 5-0 scoring stretch for the Orange and Blue saw the hosts take their first lead of the day. After the Illini fought off a Buckeye set point, it was the Orange and Blue who were unable to finish off three set points of their own. The hosts eventually finished it off on their fourth set point to take the opening frame, 29-27.
The Illini found themselves with an early deficit again in the second set. A 9-4 stretch put Illinois ahead by one, but Ohio State accounted for six of the next eight points to grab a 15-12 edge at the media timeout. A 3-0 Illini run out of the break evened the frame at 15, but the Buckeyes went back in front and eventually lengthened their lead to 23-20. Unfazed, the Fighting Illini closed the set on a 5-0 run to claim the frame, 25-23, and double their advantage in the match.
It was all Illini in the third set, with the home side storming out to a 15-5 edge. That lead grew as large as 11, and despite a late 5-1 Buckeye run, the Illini tallied the match's final two points to complete the sweep, 25-16.
Illinois (16-7, 8-4 B1G) wraps up its three-match homestand on Thursday night against UCLA. First serve from Huff Hall between the Fighting Illini and the Bruins is slated for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+, with tickets available at tickets.fightingillini.com.
NOTES
- Paityn Chapman posted nine kills, eight digs, two aces, and a block.
- Recorded multiple aces for the 10th time.
- Madi Miles logged 15 kills, two blocks, and two digs.
- Tied her career-high with 15 kills.
- Had double-digit kills for the fifth time.
- Equaled her career-best with two blocks.
- Tied her career-high with 15 kills.
- Sophi Randall posted 33 assists, four blocks, four digs, and an ace.
- Had a career-high 33 assists.
- Tallied the first 30-assist outing of her career.
- Tied her season-high with four digs.
- Marked her second multi-dig game of the year.
- Registered a career-high four blocks.
- Had the second straight multi-block outing of her career.
- Had a career-high 33 assists.
- Kristina Starostenko contributed seven kills and five blocks.
- Totaled at least five blocks for the fourth time this season.
- Has multiple blocks in 20 consecutive appearances.
- Totaled at least five blocks for the fourth time this season.
- Ashlyn Philpot finished with nine kills and four blocks.
- Had at least four blocks for the eighth time.
- Logged her 10th solo stuff of the season.
- Had at least four blocks for the eighth time.
- The Illini limited the Buckeyes to a .149 hitting percentage.
- Illinois recorded 10.0 blocks as a team.
- Had double-digit blocks for the fifth time this season.
- Illinois extended its winning streak to four matches.
- The Illini moved to 49-46 in the all-time series against Ohio State.
- Illinois has now won four straight contests in the series.
- Illinois moved to 8-3 at Huff Hall this season.
- The Illini are now 10-3 in three-set contests this season.
- The Illini are now 2-0 when wearing white long-sleeve jerseys.
