The IU volleyball team dropped the first contest of its two-match road trip, falling to No. 12 Illinois in straight sets.
The Fighting Illini (12-3, 4-2) defeated the Hoosiers (13-6, 2-3) by scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-22.
Junior middle blocker Johannah Bangert paced Illinois, killing eight balls at a .800 clip -- all but two of her hits being kills. Junior outside hitter Laura DeBruler added 12 kills at a .407 percentage and also added 14 digs and two block assists.
Senior libero Ashley Edinger hit two service aces for the Illini.
For IU, junior middle blocker Ashley Benson led the way with nine kills at a .333 clip, and freshman right-side hitter Kelci Marschall added 10 kills at a .25o percentage.
Sophomore libero Caitlin Cox led the Hoosiers with 10 digs.
The Illini jumped out to an early lead in set one, capitalizing on DeBruler's four kills and winning 25-20.
IU battled early in the second contest and even jumped to a 8-5 lead when freshman setter Whitney Granado recorded a service ace. However, Illinois opened things up late and maintained enough of a cushion to close the frame 25-21.
The teams went back-and-forth throughout the final set, and neither team trailed by more than three points. An ace by Illinois sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bartsch gave the Illini match point at 24-21. An Illinois error vaulted the Hoosiers within two, but their own error by senior outside hitter Kelsey Hall sealed the victory for the Illini.
IU returns to action at 6 p.m. Sunday at Northwestern.
