By Michael Belmont & Deren Kudeki
Gargoyle sports editor & staff reporter
Posted Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — Uni's volleyball team dropped a conference match at home Friday night to Decatur Lutheran 16-25, 13-25.

The loss, which drops the Illineks to 6-12 overall and 3-3 in the East Central Illinois Conference, dampens the team's hopes for a conference championship and a record-breaking 15-win season.

Senior Beckaa Wallig, junior Ruthie Welch, and sophomore Jessi Sullivan each had two kills for Uni. Welch also contributed four assists, while Wallig added two blocks. Senior Mandy Grill recorded one ace and 10 digs.

Despite the loss, Welch said the match was “an improvement on how we've been playing” compared to Uni's previous two outings. She added that Decatur Lutheran, last year's champion with a conference record of 11-1, was a tough team that would have required everyone playing at their best to beat.

The team will look to end its conference skid Tuesday when it takes on Judah Christian at Kenney Gym. Uni began conference play with three consecutive wins. But since Sept. 15, the Illineks have lost three straight ECIC matches.

VARSITY RECORD: 6-12 overall, 3-3 ECIC
(Home matches in bold)
Aug. 31: Oakwood, L 11-25, 23-25
Sept. 2: Atwood-Hammond (at Deland-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 23-25, 25-18, 9-15
Sept. 2: LeRoy (at Deland-Weldon Eagle Classic), W 25-13, 22-25, 15-10
Sept. 2: South Fork (at Deland-Weldon Eagle Classic), L (game scores to be posted)
Sept. 2: Rockford Keith (at Deland-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 9-25, 17-25
Sept. 2: Lovington (at Deland-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 20-25, 9-25
Sept. 5: Buckley Christ Lutheran,* W 25-12, 25-22
Sept. 8: Decatur Christian,* W 25-5, 25-23
Sept. 9: Westville (at Westville Invitational), L 25-17, 10-25, 11-25
Sept. 9: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (at Westville Invitational), W 25-14, 25-15
Sept. 9: Heritage (at Westville Invitational), L 23-25, 21-25
Sept. 9: Salt Fork (at Westville Invitational), L 25-10, 21-25, 25-27
Sept. 11: St. Thomas More, L 25-16, 17-25, 9-25
Sept. 12: at Normal Calvary Baptist,* W 25-20, 21-25, 25-23
Sept. 14: Fisher, W 25-23, 25-22

Sept. 15: at Deland-Weldon,* L 25-17, 20-25, 22-25
Sept. 18: Normal Calvary Baptist,* L 24-26, 25-15, 23-25
Sept. 22: Decatur Lutheran,* L 16-25, 13-25
*East Central Illinois Conference opponent