(Gophersports.com) - The University of Minnesota volleyball team defeated Illinois in three sets in the NCAA Regional Semifinals on Friday night. The Gophers swept the Illini 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 to advance to the Elite Eight and improve to 29-4 on the season. The win marks the first time in school history that the Gophers have swept a team to advance to the Elite Eight.

Minnesota is making its sixth appearance in the Regional Final, most recently accomplished in 2012.

"We're very pleased with our performance tonight I believe that we were very steady," head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "Illinois had a very good plan against us and forced us to do some different things and it was a tough match. I was very proud of our athletes I thought they kept their composure and stayed with the battle the whole time. We were able to do things down the stretch that allowed us to have the best possible chance of winning the points and that was good for us."

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