Illini cage Redbirds

CHAMPAIGN – Paula Prentice may have lost her spot in the starting lineup, but it's becoming apparent she hasn't lost her ability to make an impact.

For the second match in a row, the junior outside hitter came off the bench and to the rescue of a University of Illinois volleyball team in dire need of a spark Wednesday night.

After sitting out the first two games, Prentice contributed four kills, four digs and two blocks in Game 3 as the undefeated Illini fended off Illinois State 15-6, 15-3, 17-15 at Huff Hall.

"Paula brought us back with some key blocks in that game," said UI coach Don Hardin, who has moved the two-year starter to the left side this season to provide an experience backup for Mary Coleman and Tracey Marshall. "She brought us back even more against Virginia with a couple of key blocks, just like tonight."

After needing five games and an all-tournament performance from Prentice to pull out their comeback victory over Virginia on Saturday, the 5-0 Illini appeared in danger of themselves being victimized by a comeback in their home opener. ISU, so dominated by Illinois in the first two games, charged back in Game 3 to take leads of 5-2, 6-5 and 8-7.

"I would never expect our team to give up," said coach Julie Morgan, whose Redbirds are now 1-3 after going 29-8 and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.

With Prentice's help, the Illini themselves fought back into an 11-8 lead and appeared in solid control at 14-12.

Then the Redbirds used some stout blocking and an ace serve by Kendra Haselhorst to reel off three straight points for a 15-14 lead.

In similar circumstances last season, Hardin had seen his squad fail to counter-punch.

"In the past, we would have gave that (game) up and been in a real mess," the second-year UI coach said.

Not this time, though. And so far, not this season. Just as it had against Virginia, Illinois regrouped. Catching a break when Haselhorst's serve for game point went into the net, the Illini overcame a subsequent hitting error by Marshall to force another sideout.

Then UI middle blocker Sara Sorrell delivered a game-tying kill before Coleman reeled off two more kills to clinch the match.

"I think we showed a lot of maturity tonight," Hardin said. "If we had let down in the third game, we could have been here for five games."

Coleman finished with a match-high 14 kills while hitting .345. Marshall contributed 13 kills on .385 hitting. Illinois hit .362 as a team to .193 for ISU.

No small factor in the Illini's big attack percentage, Morgan said, was their ability to go from defense to offense so fluidly.

"I think the strength of their game was their phenomenal transition defense," she said. "Their control on digs was very good, very low, very fast. Our block broke down because of their quick transition to offense."

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