CHAMPAIGN — The start of Big Ten play doubled as a chance for the Illinois volleyball team to secure its first signature win of the season in a conference that provides nearly endless opportunities on that front.
An 8-3 record through the nonconference portion of the schedule was fine.
The Illini mostly did what they needed to do, winning far more than they lost.
But it was an 11-match slate that didn’t do much from a résumé building perspective.
Illinois dropped its only match to a ranked opponent, getting played off the court in a three-set sweep at Tennessee. The best win of the bunch was a five-setter at home against a .500 Marquette team that came two days after getting swept by the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee.
Until Thursday night with No. 15 Minnesota in town for both teams’ Big Ten opener.
Illinois took the Gophers’ best shot in the second set — a prime example of why they were ranked in the top 15 nationally — but didn’t let it derail the upset.
The Illini were able to keep Minnesota out of system and messy offensively and capitalized with a 25-22, 14-25, 25-18, 25-22 statement victory.
“Any team that’s in system at this level is going to make you pay — dearly,” Illinois co...