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Illini Volleyball Falls In First Ever National Championship; Illini BBall Loses In Chicago

>> UCLA Beat Illini Women For NCAA Volleyball Title

Outside hitter Rachael Kidder had 20 kills and UCLA beat Illinois in the NCAA women's volleyball championship to give the Bruins their first title in two decades Saturday night.

The Bruins won their fourth title in school history, putting them third behind Stanford (six) and Penn State (five).

Tabi Love had 14 kills for UCLA in the victory. Michelle Bartsch led Illinois with 22 kills in the first championship match ever for the Illini.

UCLA hadn't won a championship since 1991 or even played in the final since 1994.

The Bruins are the sport's first new champion in five years. They dethroned the Nittany Lions, whose record run of 4 consecutive titles ended in the regional semifinals.

>> UNLV Hands Illini First Loss

Mike Moser had 17 points and 11 rebounds, UNLV went on a 14-2 run to close the first half and the Runnin' Rebels handed No. 19 Illinois its first loss of the season with a convincing 64-48 victory Saturday.

UNLV (11-2), which beat then-No. 1 North Carolina earlier this season, used its quick, switching defense and nine blocked shots to frustrate the Illini at the United Center. Quintrell Thomas added 13 points for UNLV, which won despite getting only two points from leading scorer Chace Stanback.

The cold-shooting Illini (10-1) were led by 19 points from D.J. Richardson. Illinois shot 25.4% (16 for 63) and had 15 turnovers. The Illini went only 7 of 25 from 3-point range.

NCAA SATURDAY Top-25 Men's Basketball  (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
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#1 Syracuse Orange 88, North Carolina State Wolfpack 72
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes 74, South Carolina Gamecocks 66
#3 Kentucky Wildcats 87, Chattanooga Mocs 62
#4 Louisville Cardinals 95, Memphis Tigers 87
#6 North Carolina Tar Heels 97, Appalachian State Mountaineers 82
#7 Baylor Bears 86, BYU Cougars 83
#11 Marquette Golden Eagles 93, Northern Colorado Bears 72
#13 Florida Gators 84, #22 Texas A&M Aggies 64
#14 Pittsburgh Panthers 69, South Carolina State Bulldogs 55
#16 Mississippi State Bulldogs 80, Detroit Titans 75
#17 Georgetown Hoyas 81, American University Eagles 55
#18 Michigan Wolverines 87, Alabama A&M Bulldogs 57
#20 Indiana Hoosiers 69, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 58
Kansas State Wildcats 71, #21 Alabama Crimson Tide 58  (at Kansas City, MO)
#23 Michigan State Spartans 74, Bowling Green Falcons 60
#24 Creighton Bluejays 97, Houston Baptist Huskies 62
Indiana State Sycamores 61, #25 Vanderbilt Commodores 55

NCAA SUNDAY Top-25 Men's Basketball  (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
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#8 Missouri Tigers 94, William & Mary Tribe 56
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 64, #9 Xavier Musketeers 42
#10 Connecticut Huskies 77, Holy Cross Crusaders 40 

>>#19 Illini Hit The Hardwood

(Champaign, IL)  --  The 19th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini hit the hardwood this evening as they host Cornell at Assembly Hall in Champaign.  The Illini suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday in a 64-48 setback to UNLV to fall to 10-and-1.

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