Illinois finished its regular season 19-12, and 10-10 in B1G conference play.
Freshman middle blocker Ali Bastianelli had a career best match in a sort of homecoming for the Marysville, MI native. Bastianelli tallied 11 kills and 11 blocks in the Illini loss, and hit a .346.
The first set saw neither team with more than a two-point lead. After nine ties and five lead changes – and seven Illini two-point leads – it was a kill from senior outside hitter Jocelynn Birks, and a block from Bastianelli and junior opposite hitter Naya Crittenden that put the set away for the Illini 25-23.