During the middle of the second set Saturday against No. 12 Illinois, Michigan volleyball libero Sloane Donhoff took a line-drive kill off her left cheek that reverberated all the way to the Cliff Keen Arena press box.

The monstrous blast left the Louisville, Ky. native stumbling backwards but she shook off the hit and helped the sixth-ranked Wolverines defeat the Fighting Illini 25-22 in the frame to give the team a commanding 2-0 advantage heading into the intermission.

“We knew coming in that it was going to be one of those matches where there wasn’t going to be much room for error,” Michigan coach Mark Rosen said. “The first two games, we played exceptional. We played hard on defense and we seemed to find ways to dig balls and create scoring opportunities off those.”

But after the 12-minute break, Michigan stumbled on its offensive opportunities. According to Rosen, the Wolverines “got a little too comfortable” and sat back in the late stages of the match.

The relaxed state and inability to cash in on the offensive attack cost the team as Illinois came from behind and defeated Michigan (3-1 Big Ten, 15-2 overall) in a heartbreaking five-set match.

“We played well tonight, and that is why it stings,” senior right side hitter Megan Bower said. “When you play against good teams and the caliber of our conference — it is the little things that matter and that is what bit us tonight.”

Because the Wolverines weren’t at their prime offensively against the Illini (2-2, 10-3), it’s hard not to look at this match as purely a heartbreaking defeat.

Bower and Donhoff — the two leaders in digs on the team — displayed why they are two of the best defensive specialists in the Big Ten.

The two had 18 digs each in the losing effort. Both players showcased their grittiness by keeping balls alive at the net, diving on the floor and getting hit in the face every now and then, as Donhoff did.

Donhoff is attempting to replace libero Kerry Hance, who graduated last year, and she is filling the position well. The sophomore is currently No. 2 in the Big Ten with 4.40 digs per set.

“(Sloane) is a defensive libero,” Rosen said. “Kerry Hance was a much more passing libero. That was her strength and she played good defense, but passing was when she was really going to do her work. Sloane does both.”

But despite the hard-nosed efforts by the two players, the offense just wasn't there, hitting at a .163 clip. The offensive attack will need to resurface as Michigan takes the road this upcoming weekend to face Iowa and Wisconsin.

“When you’re playing well enough to win a match, and it slips away, there is nothing more frustrating for an athlete," Rosen said. "We don’t want this to create a mentality that is, ‘Oh my god, the sky is falling.’ We didn’t do enough to win a match and next time out, we have to finish it.”