The No. 15 Gophers volleyball team rallied in the third and fourth sets to pull out a 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 27-25 victory over Illinois on Wednesday in Champaign, Ill.
Julia Hanson had 22 kills to lead the Gophers (19-10, 12-7 Big Ten). The Gophers close out the regular season Friday at home against Ohio State. The Buckeyes (14-15, 7-12) lost in five sets at No. 6 Wisconsin on Wednesday.
With the teams tied 12-12 in the third set, Illinois (18-11, 10-9) used a 5-0 run to take a 17-12 lead. But the Gophers responded with an 8-1 run to take a 20-18 lead.
The Gophers closed out the third set on Hanson’s 16th kill of the match.
In the fourth set, Illinois used a 6-0 run to open a 16-6 lead, but the Gophers pulled within 22-20. Illinois took a 23-20 lead on a service error, but a kill by Lydia Grote got the Gophers within 23-21.
After an Illinois point made it 24-21, Grote again got the Gophers within two. The Gophers tied the match 24-24 on two attack errors by Illinois.
The teams exchanged points before the Gophers took the lead on a service error. A kill by Alex Acevedo sealed the victory for the Gophers.
Calissa Minatee had nine kills, and Grote had seven for the Gophers.
