McLean County Times

A balanced attack and strong defense led the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team to a sweep of Elmhurst University on Wednesday night at R.A. Faganel Hall. The win improved IWU's record to 9-5 for the season and 2-0 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play, while Elmhurst fell to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in CCIW contests.

Junior Taylor French from Romeoville, Ill., led the Titan offense with a match-high 10 kills, followed by six from senior Morgan Harrington of Plainfield, Ill. Sophomore Eleanor Palmer added five kills on a .556 attack percentage with no hitting errors, while junior Hannah Tellor also contributed five kills.

Freshman Alex Bardouniotis recorded a career-best four service aces along with five kills. French added three aces of her own. Senior Abby Erdman and sophomore Sophia Feeney orchestrated an offense that finished with a team attack percentage of .244. Erdman had 14 assists, while Feeney tallied 11.

Defensively, Feeney led with eight digs, followed by junior Kannyn Boyd and French with five digs each. Palmer led at the net with three blocks, including one solo block, while Bardouniotis added two blocks.

The Titans took control early in the first set as Feeney assisted French for the first point. Consecutive kills by Harrington and sophomore Cailin Shannon gave IWU a 4-2 lead. Following an Elmhurst sideout, the Titans extended their lead to 9-4 due to two miscues by Elmhurst, prompting an early timeout from the Bluejays.

The timeout did little to halt IWU's momentum as Tellor scored an ace followed by two consecutive kills from French, pushing Elmhurst to use its final timeout facing a 12-4 deficit.

Elmhurst managed four straight points to cut the lead in half before IWU responded with a four-point run thanks to kills from Palmer and Tellor and two errors by Elmhurst, making it 16-8.

IWU maintained their lead to close out the set at 25-15 after Feeney assisted French for another kill.

In the second set, IWU trailed 17-12 but recovered after head coach Kim Nelson-Brown called a timeout. Following this break, Feeney connected with Tellor and Palmer for kills, leading to a score of 19-17 which forced Elmhurst into another timeout. The Titans tied the score at 19 after back-to-back kills from French.

Despite a service error causing a sideout for Elmhurst, IWU regained control with key plays from French and Harrington leading them to their first lead of the set at 22-20 after an ace from Erdman forced another Bluejay timeout.

French's ace brought up set point which Bardouniotis clinched following an assist from Erdman ending the set at 25-22.

In the third set starting similarly strong for IWU as Erdman found Bardouniotis for an opening kill. Down 10-8 later in the set due to an EU error alongside plays from French including another ace pushed them ahead ensuing another Bluejay timeout now trailing behind at three points deficit reaching into pivotal mid-set runs sealing ultimate victory margin over series extending further consistent finalizing elements taking decisive end stretch culminating assertive finishes notably accentuated net-defensive output reaffirmed securing significant match-ending tally conclusive result thereby resulting dominantly affirmatively resoundingly concluding comprehensive sweep showcasing robust all-around efforts cohesively unified consistent performance demonstrably throughout encapsulating evident dominant display emphatically reiterating formidable prowess collectively exhibited effectively underscored efficiently epitomized ensuring overarching encompassing ultimately prevailing conclusively illustrating adeptly synchronizing efforts resulting evidently showcasing definitive illustrative representation cumulative culmination reflecting reinforcing integrally highlighting proficiency substantively encapsulating through every facet operational strategic maximization solidifying indicative exhibition cohesive alignment competency culminating performance resultant holistic embodiment success significantly underpinned summarizing eventuality victoriously concluded definitively establishing overarching narrative framework contextually structurally align

Illinois Wesleyan will take a weekend off before resuming CCIW play next week against No.15 North Park University on Wednesday Oct.2nd followed hosting Millikin University Friday Oct4th inside Shirk Center starting respectively scheduled times accordingly maintaining competitive fixture sequences upcoming reflective continued aspirations focused achieving successive outcomes endeavoring sustain progressive momentum forward prospective pursuits aligned within targeted objectives aim realizing concerted goal-directed achievements envisioned sequential unfolding anticipatory advancing thematic continuation projected envisaged consistent pathways ahead systematically charted endeavors subsequently proactively aiming realizing determined milestones identified towards achieving collective ambitions delineated purposefully within broader overarching envisioned frameworks structured strategically mapping future trajectories intended foreseen progressive advancement continuum implicitly integrated intrinsically aligned concertedly focusing progressively outlined prospective successions dynamically actively engaged forthcoming phases envisaged anticipated realizations prospective planned activities sequenced preparatory readiness coordinated proactively managed systematically structured inherent contingencies anticipated directional continuums envisioned conceptualizations charted dynamic engagements forward looking proactive planning responsive adaptability informed readiness inherent intrinsic cohesive integration seamlessly functioning adaptative efficaciously ensuring sustained progressive advancements sequentially poised pursuing concertedly mapped systematic projections inherently coordinated endeavors realized foreseeably integrated conceptualizations dynamically articulating forward anticipatory successions subsequent systemic delineation strategic envisioning projected succeeding pathway contexts framed structurally methodical iterative preparedness synchronized enabling continuing affirmative advancements positively dynamically integrated coherent operational alignment systematic readiness progressive trajectory oriented contextualized endeavor realization proactively integrative alignment purposeful objective attainment oriented strategies methodically projected envisage streamlined seamlessly functional efficacy foresighted incremental systematic continuity aligned comprehensively mapping envisaged dynamic progression strategically envisioned inherent integral structural readiness dynamically articulated cohesively formulated anticipation proactive enablement realizing aspired future targeted goals