McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team is set to host No. 15 North Park University on Wednesday night, Oct. 2, at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill. The match will begin at 6 p.m.

The Titans, currently holding a record of 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), are hoping for a large turnout from fans for beach theme night. Tropical Smoothie Cafe will offer $5 cash-only smoothies to attendees, with opportunities to win free smoothies through various contests, including a "best dressed" competition for those in beach attire.

Key players for Illinois Wesleyan include juniors Taylor French and Hannah Tellor. French leads the team with 210 kills and averages 4.12 kills per set, ranking her 22nd nationally. She has accumulated 251 points this season, placing her 27th in Division III, while her average of 4.92 points per set ranks 14th nationally. Tellor follows with 116 kills and a .376 attack percentage that leads the conference and ranks her 20th nationally.

Freshman Alex Bardouniotis is third on the team with 99 kills. French and Bardouniotis also lead in aces with French having served up 33 and Bardouniotis contributing 22. Sophomore Sophia Feeney adds another dimension to the offense with her team-high of 225 assists.

Defensively, junior Kannyn Boyd has recorded a team-high of 172 digs, averaging 4.53 per set. French is close behind with an average of 3.04 digs per set totaling to155 digs this season. Freshman Alysa Lawton has added depth to the defense with97 digs in her first collegiate season.

Sophomore Eleanor Palmer has been strong at the net defense for Illinois Wesleyan, leading the team with39 blocks this season which includes six solo blocks.Tellor follows closely behindwith30 blocksand senior Morgan Harrington rounds outthe top threewith18blocks.

Illinois Wesleyan holds a historical advantage over North Park University with an all-time record of36-4 dating backto1994.The Titans looktosnap athree-game losing streak againstthe Vikingswhohavea10-2overall recordand1-0in CCIW play.North Park defeatedIllinois Wesleyanin theirlast encounter duringtheCCIW Tournament Semifinalon Nov9 last yearbefore goingonto claimthetournament championship.French ledthatmatchwitha15-kill26-dig double-double performancewhilePierce orchestratedthemajorityofthe Titanoffense finishingwith26assists.NPU entersWednesday’s match offa three-set lossto fourth-rankedHopeCollegeon Sept25

Fans can followthe action live via stream hosted bymen's volleyball players Vince DiCosolaandHayden Warfield.Live statsarealso available online.