CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Michigan volleyball needed all five sets and a late stand in the decider, but the Wolverines left Huff Hall on Sunday with a 3-2 road win over Illinois. The Wolverines lost the opener 25-20, took the next two sets 25-23 and 25-20, dropped the fourth 25-14 and won the fifth 15-13.
Sydney Schnichels had the best game of her college career. The Michigan attacker put down 18 kills, six more than her previous high, and hit .519 while adding three blocks and an ace.
The fifth set swung several times. Illinois went up 7-6 before Michigan reeled off three straight points, a stretch that included an ace by Morgan Burke. The Illini made two late pushes, and Ella Demetrician ended the night with the match-winning kill.
Demetrician finished with 12 kills and Cymarah Gordon added 10. As a team, Michigan hit .314. Jenna Hanes did not commit an attack error on nine swings and was part of six blocks, and Meredith Martin led the back row with 12 digs.
Illinois made it a fight with a season-best 11 aces. Paityn Chapman had a career-high 23 kills for the Illini, the most by an Illinois player in nearly two years, and Madi Miles added 15.
The win moves Michigan to 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, while Illinois slips to 12-7 and 4-4. The Wolverines are back on the road Thursday, Oct. 22, at Northwestern, with a 7 p.m. Central start on B1G+.
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