Bangert, Edinger lift UI in marathon

CHAMPAIGN – The No. 12 Illinois volleyball team rallied for a five-set victory against Purdue on Friday night behind a record-tying blocking performance by Johannah Bangert and 32 digs by Ashley Edinger.

"Johannah Bangert and Ashley Edinger were a big reason why we pulled it out," Illini coach Kevin Hambly said after the 24-26, 25-21, 24-26, 25-18, 15-9 Big Ten triumph at Huff Hall. "I felt they won that fifth set for us in the end. Ashley was everywhere making plays. I just thought those two really carried us in the fifth set."

Bangert finished with 13 block assists, matching the 18-year-old school record of Kellie Hebeisen. The Illini (11-3, 3-2 Big Ten) outblocked Purdue 17 1/2-10.

The Boilermakers (9-7, 1-4 Big Ten) hit .370 in the first set but hit no higher than .081 in any remaining set.

"I liked the way we responded to them scoring easily on the left side," Hambly said. "We just kept after it. Eventually we started playing great defense and really giving them some trouble."

Kylie McCulley and Laura DeBruler led the Illini attack with 20 kills apiece.

This was Illinois' third straight five-set match, with Hambly's team winning the last two.

"I think having the experience of those five-set matches was helpful," McCulley said. "Coming into that fifth set, we knew exactly what we needed to do, and I think we performed at a high level."

Illinois will face Indiana at 7 tonight.

In women's tennis:

Duo prevails. Kristina Minor and Annie McCarthy of Illinois won opening-round singles matches at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington, Ky.

Minor outbattled Louisville's Kaysara Mandry 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in Flight C. McCarthy, also in Flight C, swept Riley Blanks of Virginia 6-3, 6-1.

In doubles, the Illini tandems of Minor/Christine Stromberg and Amy Allin/McCarthy each won twice to advance to the Flight B semifinals from different brackets.

The Illini, who finished the day 2-4 in singles, were without their top two players. No. 42 Megan Fudge and No. 78 Leigh Finnegan did not make the trip after competing earlier this week in the ITA All-American Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

The three-day Kentucky Invitational continues today.

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