BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Illinois made it through a difficult nonconference schedule unscathed. The Illini tested themselves — and prevailed — with top 25 victories on the road against Colorado State, Colorado and Washington. They added a fourth in their return home against Creighton.
The start of conference play proved one indisputable truth. The Big Ten is a wholly different animal. Illinois scrapped for another top 25 road win Friday at No. 16 Purdue and then had its hands full Sunday afternoon against Indiana.
The unranked Hoosiers have finished in the bottom quarter of the Big Ten each and every one of the last seven seasons and were playing without top outside hitter Kendall Beerman.