Michigan
Illinois
Schnichels' Career Day Powers Michigan Past Illinois in Five Sets
10/18/2026 5:12:00 PM | Volleyball
» Sydney Schnichels posted a career-high 18 kills on a .519 hitting percentage, surpassing her previous career best of 12 kills.
» Michigan hit .314 as a team, with Morgan Burke and Camille Edwards each recording 20-plus assists.
» Ella Demetrician and Cymarah Gordon joined Schnichels in double figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
» The Wolverines fought off a pair of late Illinois rallies in the fifth set before Demetrician closed out the match with a kill.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team earned a five-set victory over Illinois (20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 14-25, 15-13) on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18) at Huff Hall.
In the decisive fifth set, Michigan (12-7, 3-5 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead behind a kill and block from Sydney Schnichels. Illinois (12-7, 4-4 Big Ten) tied the set at five, but a kill from Ella Demetrician kept the Wolverines in front. The Fighting Illini took a 7-6 lead before Michigan answered with a 3-0 run highlighted by an ace from Morgan Burke. U-M stayed in front and fought off two late Illinois rallies before Demetrician finished off the match with a kill for a 15-13 fifth-set victory.
The Wolverines were led by a career day from Schnichels, who tallied 18 kills on a .519 hitting percentage and added three blocks and an ace. Demetrician and Cymarah Gordon joined Schnichels in double figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Jenna Hanes was errorless on nine swings and tallied six blocks, while Lydia Johnson recorded eight kills. Burke and Camille Edwards each recorded more than 20 assists, while Meredith Martin led the Wolverines with 12 digs.
Illinois got out to a quick start, taking a 5-2 lead and extending its advantage to 7-3 before Michigan strung together a rally. U-M went on a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead behind kills from Hanes and Demetrician. Illinois tied the set at 11 before retaking the lead on the next point. The Wolverines answered with ties at 12 and 13, but Illinois held the advantage at the technical timeout. Out of the timeout, Michigan cut the deficit to one three times, including on an ace from Schnichels at 16-15 and a block from Hanes and Johnson at 18-17. Illinois held off the Wolverine rally, taking six of the final eight points to win the first set 25-20.
The second set was balanced to start, with neither team stringing together more than two points until Michigan went on a 3-0 run. Gordon opened the run with a kill as U-M took a 13-12 lead, but Illinois responded with three straight points to lead 15-13 at the technical timeout. The Fighting Illini took five of the next eight points to double their lead and force a Michigan timeout. U-M used another timeout trailing 22-17, but came out of the break with a 5-0 run behind Martin at the service line to tie the set. Illinois regained the lead, but a service error tied the set at 23 before a kill from Johnson put Michigan at set point. An Illini attack error ended the set as Michigan won 25-23 to even the match at one set apiece.
Both teams battled early in the third set before the Wolverines used a 3-0 run, led by a kill and block from Schnichels, to take a 9-5 lead. Michigan extended its advantage heading into the technical timeout, taking five of seven points highlighted by three Schnichels kills. Out of the timeout, the Wolverines continued to add to the lead, using three kills to take an 18-9 advantage. Illinois chipped away and forced a Michigan timeout at 20-16, but U-M responded by taking the next three points. The Illini won four of the next five before Schnichels ended the set with a kill to give Michigan a 25-20 victory and a 2-1 match lead.
After a back-and-forth opening to the fourth set, Illinois went on a 7-1 run to force an early Michigan timeout. Hanes tallied a kill out of the break, but the Illini took four of the next five points to reach the technical timeout with a 15-8 lead. Michigan strung together back-to-back points twice, but Illinois answered each time and forced the Wolverines' second timeout at 19-12. The Fighting Illini scored six of the final eight points to take the set 25-14 and force a decisive fifth frame.
Michigan returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 22) when it travels to face Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT and will stream live on B1G+.
