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Like in many other games throughout the year, junior Rachael Kidder was the Bruins’ go-to hitter, leading the team with 20 kills despite being defended by Illinois’ 6-foot-6 outside hitter Liz McMahon throughout the evening. Kidder led the Bruins with a team-high 22.5 points.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves pounds a spike toward the Illinois block. Reeves had a strong all-around performance Saturday night, tallying seven kills, two assists, 16 digs and three blocks.

Senior libero Lainey Gera led the Bruins with 19 digs and added four assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves (left) and senior libero Lainey Gera celebrate one of 28 Bruin blocks on the night, a key statistic given Illinois’ height advantage in the frontcourt.

Sophomore middle blocker Mariana Aquino (front) and junior outside hitter Tabi Love (behind) combine for a block in the first set.

The last time the Bruins won an NCAA women’s volleyball title was 20 years ago in 1991, under the direction of coach Andy Banachowski.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder unleashes one of a team-high 71 shots in the first set.

Senior setter Lauren Van Orden watches as an Illini spike lands in Bruin territory.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder fires a spike over the Illinois block.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder (left) and freshman middle blocker Zoë Nightingale glance up at the scoreboard prior to the Illini serve.

llinois defensive specialist Rachel Feldman lays out for a dig in the first set.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves bumps the ball to keep it in play. Reeves ended the night with 16 digs.

Illinois senior outside hitter Michelle Bartsch led the Illini with 24.5 points, accounting for nearly one-third of Illinois’ 74.5 points.

Senior setter Lauren Van Orden celebrates a point with teammates. Van Orden was responsible for 53 of 62 total Bruin assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves racked up three block assists against the Illini.

A group of faithful fans made the trek from Long Beach to cheer the Bruins on to victory in their first women’s volleyball national title since 1991.

Two-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh attended Saturday’s game to cheer on both teams. Walsh traveled to San Antonio to help promote the Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships in addition to attending the games.

Junior outside hitter Tabi Love is unable to connect on a block. Love had 14 kills and three blocks on the night.

Junior outside hitter Tabi Love sends the ball sailing past Illinois defenders. Love scored 15.5 points against the Illini.

Junior outside hitter Bojana Todorovic dodges a ball headed out-of-bounds. Todorovic had 18 digs and scored one point on the night.

Freshman middle blocker Zoë Nightingale stops Illinois senior outside hitter Colleen Ward at the net.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder tallied one of two service aces against the Fighting Illini.

Junior outside hitter Tabi Love connects with the net on a block. Love had 34 total attacks for 14 kills, second only to junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves scored 9.5 of 81 total Bruin points against Illinois.

Senior libero Lainey Gera watches as a ball flies out of bounds.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves (left) embraces junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder after defeating the Illini 3-1.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves (left) celebrates with teammates Lainey Gera (front), Rachael Kidder (back) and Priscilla Duke-Ezeji (right).

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves (left), senior libero Lainey Gera and coach Michael Sealy accept the 2011 NCAA women’s volleyball national championship trophy at the conclusion of Saturday night’s game.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder takes a moment to read the words inscribed on the trophy: “national champion.”

The UCLA women’s volleyball team poses for cameras after felling Illinois to become the 2011 women’s volleyball national champions.

Surrounded by teammates, senior libero Lainey Gera hoists the gold-plated 2011 NCAA women’s volleyball national championship trophy.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder (left) and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves (right) cut down the net with coach Michael Sealy after their 3-1 victory over the University of Illinois in the NCAA women’s volleyball championship game. The victory marks UCLA’s 108th NCAA championship.

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder (left) and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Reeves cut a piece of the game-net to keep as a memento of their hard-earned victory.

San Antonio’s Alamodome played host to the 2011 NCAA women’s volleyball semifinal and championship games. There were 13,747 fans at Saturday night’s championship game, making it the fourth highest-attended NCAA women’s volleyball championship game in the past six seasons.