On October 17, the women’s volleyball team at Illinois Wesleyan University delivered a thrilling victory in a five-set clash against Elmhurst University at the Shirk Center. With a current record of 8-12 overall and 4-3 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play, the Titans clinched the win with set scores of 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 24-26, and 15-9 against the Bluejays (11-7, 1-4 CCIW).
Sophomore Taylor French, reigning CCIW Player of the Week, stole the spotlight by setting a program record with 33.5 points. French’s outstanding performance featured a career-high 27 kills with a .368 attacking percentage, accompanied by 17 digs, four aces, and four blocks. Senior Jordan Pierce also played a key role, securing a double-double with 26 assists and a dozen digs.
On the defensive front, sophomore Raegan Watts led with 21 digs, while freshmen Eleanor Palmer and senior Taylor Babec contributed six and five blocks, respectively. Junior Morgan Harrington showcased her skills with four blocks and ranked second on the team with nine kills.
Despite a slim lead in kills (58-57), the Titans maintained dominance in attacking percentage (.190 to .179), aces (8-6), blocks (12-7), and digs (72-64).
The narrative of the match saw IWU fending off Elmhurst’s comeback attempts in the first and second sets, securing victories with scores of 25-20 and 26-24. Elmhurst staged a comeback in the third set, winning 25-23, but IWU regained control in the fourth and fifth sets, ultimately securing the match.
Looking forward, Illinois Wesleyan is gearing up for a fall break trip to Maine on October 20-21, taking a temporary hiatus from conference play. The team is scheduled to face Bowdoin on October 20 before participating in the Colby College Tournament, where they will compete against Colby and Endicott on October 21.