CHAMPAIGN — Eastern Michigan's Jordan Smith thought she had a free kill off an Illinois overpass early in the third set of Friday night's first round NCAA volleyball tournament match at Huff Hall.
That didn't take into account having to get it past Illinois' Jordyn Poulter, though. The Illini setter went up for the solo block and stuffed Smith at the net.
The look on the Eagles' outside hitter's face was part disappointment, part exasperation. It screamed, "What do I have to do?"Poulter's block was only one example of how Illinois' physicality at the net dictated Friday's match.