University of Illinois
6-3,0-0Big Ten
Eastern Illinois
1-8,0-0OVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Eastern Ill. | 17 | 26 | 15 | 12 | 1 |
Fighting Illini Fend Off EIU in Four-Set Road Win
September 16, 2026 | Volleyball
RECAP
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Fighting Illini battled to a four-set road win over Eastern Illinois on Wednesday night.
The sides split the opening two sets before the Orange and Blue secured the third and fourth frames as Illinois improved to 6-3 on the season.
Paityn Chapman collected a season-high 18 kills, seven digs, two aces, and a block while swinging at a .350 clip. Alyssa Aguayo amassed 11 kills, seven digs, and two solo stuffs with a .333 hitting percentage.
Taylor de Boer totaled 10 kills and two blocks at an efficient .444 mark. Junior middle blockers Ashlyn Philpot and Kristina Starostenko each added eight kills.
Talita Goncalves tallied a team-best 17 digs, while Kenna Phelan finished with a double-double with 43 assists, 10 digs, two blocks, and a kill while guiding the Orange and Blue to a .362 hitting percentage as a team.
The Illini jumped out an early 6-2 advantage in the opening frame, though three straight points from the Panthers saw the hosts cut their deficit to one. With the frame even at 8-8, Illinois used a 7-2 scoring stretch to take a 15-10 lead into the media timeout. A 4-1 Orange and Blue run saw the away side extend their edge to nine, and they eventually took the set, 25-17.
After the Panthers claimed the second frame, the Illini strung together a 4-0 run early in the third set to take a four-point edge. With Illinois' advantage back down to one, the visitors began a 9-1 stretch to bring their lead to 20-11. The Orange and Blue soon secured the set, 25-15, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Illinois carried its momentum into the fourth frame, accounting for the first four points of the set. Ahead by seven at the media break, the Illini used a 6-0 run to further add to their advantage. The away side eventually closed out the set, 25-12, to take home the four-set triumph.
The Fighting Illini (6-3) wrap up their nonconference schedule with a road trip to Arkansas State, with Illinois set to take on Arkansas on Saturday afternoon and the host Red Wolves on Sunday.
NOTES
- Paityn Chapman collected a team-most 18 kills, seven digs, two aces, and a block while swinging at a .350 clip.
- Set a new season-high with her 18 kills.
- Now has double-digit kills in seven outings this season.
- Recorded multiple aces for the fourth time.
- Set a new season-high with her 18 kills.
- Alyssa Aguayo amassed 11 kills, seven digs, and two solo stuffs with a .333 hitting percentage.
- Had double-digit kills for the fourth time this year.
- Now has two or fewer attack errors in five of her last six outings.
- Set a career-high with her two solo blocks.
- Had double-digit kills for the fourth time this year.
- Taylor de Boer totaled 10 kills and two blocks at an efficient .444 mark.
- Marked her fifth match with 10+ kills this season.
- Had multiple blocks for the second time.
- Talita Goncalves totaled 17 digs and added five assists.
- Now has double-digit digs in seven consecutive matches.
- Kenna Phelan finished with a double-double with 43 assists, 10 digs, two blocks, and a kill.
- Was her second double-double of the season and the 18th of her career.
- The Illini hit .362 as a team.
- Illinois hit over .300 for the sixth time this season.
- All six of Illinois' wins have come when hitting at least .300.
- Illinois limited EIU to a .167 clip.
- The Illini have held opponents under .200 in all six wins.
- The Illini are now 1-0 in four-set contests this season.
- Illinois is now 2-2 in true road matches this season.
- The Illini moved to 22-4 in the all-time series against Eastern Illinois.
- The Illini are now 3-0 when wearing blue sleeveless jerseys.
