Friday, September 26
Urbana-Champaign, IL
6:00 PM
University of Oregon
9-2,0-1Big Ten
0
at
3
Illinois
6-4,1-0Big Ten
1
2
3
F
Oregon
24
15
18
0
Illinois
26
25
25
3
Ducks Drop Big Ten Opener at Illinois
09/26/25 | Women's Volleyball
Alanah Clemente, Iva Sucurovic each had eight kills Friday.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Oregon volleyball team suffered its first straight-set loss of the season Friday in its Big Ten opener at Illinois. The Ducks led by as much as nine in the first set before Illinois rallied on its way to the sweep. The loss was just the second of the season for Oregon.
Alanah Clemente and Iva Sucurovic led UO with eight kills apiece, hitting .333 and .583, respectively. It was Sucurovic's fourth match of the season to hit over .500 on double-digit swings. She also recorded a match-high four blocks against the Illini. Valentina Vaulet and Ksenija Tomic added seven and five kills, respectively.
The Ducks' defense allowed Illinois to hit .362 in the match, the highest figure by an opponent this year.
How It Happened: The Ducks started the match strong, jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the opening frame and stretched their lead to 22-13 after a second ace by senior Maya De Los Reyes. However, Illinois (6-4, 1-0) answered immediately with six in a row to pull to within three. Oregon went on to have set points at 24-22 after a kill by Maria Tabacuks.
The home team saved both on its way to ending the set on a four-point run and taking a 1-0 match lead.
Early in the second, Sucurovic had a kill and block on back-to-back plays to tie the score at 7-all. The Illini rattled off nine of the next 12 points in a decisive blow to take control of the set. Sucurovic got her team within four later in the set—Illinois leading 19-15—but Illinois ran off with the final six points to take the two-set advantage.
The momentum carried over into the third with Illinois surging ahead 11-5 to force Oregon into an early timeout. The deficit reached eight on two occasions but the Ducks scored four in a row to cut the Illinois lead to 17-13. During the stretch, De Los Reyes had another ace and the UO block picked up two points. It was as close as Oregon would get down the stretch.
De Los Reyes tied her career high with three service aces Friday night. She had three last season against Rutgers.
The Ducks fought off two match points, the first on a kill by Sophia Meyers, but Taylor de Boer found the floor with her match-leading 15th kill to secure the sweep for Illinois.
Notable: Oregon had five of its eight aces in the first set … Meyers recorded the 150th ace of her career, a service winner in the third set … first series meeting in Champaign since 2008.
Up Next: Oregon travels to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern (12 p.m. PT, B1G+) in Sunday's weekend finale. The Ducks are home next Friday, Oct. 3, hosting Iowa in a Green Out at Matthew Knight Arena.
For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
Alanah Clemente and Iva Sucurovic led UO with eight kills apiece, hitting .333 and .583, respectively. It was Sucurovic's fourth match of the season to hit over .500 on double-digit swings. She also recorded a match-high four blocks against the Illini. Valentina Vaulet and Ksenija Tomic added seven and five kills, respectively.
The Ducks' defense allowed Illinois to hit .362 in the match, the highest figure by an opponent this year.
How It Happened: The Ducks started the match strong, jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the opening frame and stretched their lead to 22-13 after a second ace by senior Maya De Los Reyes. However, Illinois (6-4, 1-0) answered immediately with six in a row to pull to within three. Oregon went on to have set points at 24-22 after a kill by Maria Tabacuks.
The home team saved both on its way to ending the set on a four-point run and taking a 1-0 match lead.
Early in the second, Sucurovic had a kill and block on back-to-back plays to tie the score at 7-all. The Illini rattled off nine of the next 12 points in a decisive blow to take control of the set. Sucurovic got her team within four later in the set—Illinois leading 19-15—but Illinois ran off with the final six points to take the two-set advantage.
The momentum carried over into the third with Illinois surging ahead 11-5 to force Oregon into an early timeout. The deficit reached eight on two occasions but the Ducks scored four in a row to cut the Illinois lead to 17-13. During the stretch, De Los Reyes had another ace and the UO block picked up two points. It was as close as Oregon would get down the stretch.
De Los Reyes tied her career high with three service aces Friday night. She had three last season against Rutgers.
The Ducks fought off two match points, the first on a kill by Sophia Meyers, but Taylor de Boer found the floor with her match-leading 15th kill to secure the sweep for Illinois.
Notable: Oregon had five of its eight aces in the first set … Meyers recorded the 150th ace of her career, a service winner in the third set … first series meeting in Champaign since 2008.
Up Next: Oregon travels to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern (12 p.m. PT, B1G+) in Sunday's weekend finale. The Ducks are home next Friday, Oct. 3, hosting Iowa in a Green Out at Matthew Knight Arena.
For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
Team Stats
Oregon
Illini
Kills
32
44
Errors
13
10
Attempts
98
94
Hitting %
.194
.362
Points
46.0
56.0
Assists
28
40
Aces
8
6
Blocks
6
6
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOPP/OH
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