McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team extended its winning streak to seven matches after securing victories against Wartburg College and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The matches took place on Friday, October 11, at Elmhurst University's R.A. Faganel Hall.

Illinois Wesleyan (14-5) emerged victorious over Wartburg (12-6) in a five-set match, followed by a straight-set win against UW-River Falls (8-13).

In the match against Wartburg, junior Taylor French achieved a significant milestone by becoming the eighth player in program history to surpass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. "French finished the match with 11 digs and a match-high 19 kills on a .214 clip," while also contributing three aces.

Senior Morgan Harrington recorded 13 kills with a .273 attacking percentage, and freshman Alex Bardouniotis added twelve kills. Senior Abby Erdman provided 26 assists as part of her double-double performance, which included 12 digs. Sophomore Sophia Feeney contributed 19 assists and three aces.

Defensively, junior Kannyn Boyd led with 26 digs and nine assists. The Titans' defense was bolstered by junior Hannah Tellor and sophomore Eleanor Palmer with four and three blocks respectively.

Overall, Illinois Wesleyan posted a .204 hitting percentage compared to Wartburg's .146. IWU held advantages in several categories: kills (63-49), assists (59-46), aces (9-5), digs (75-66), and blocks (8-6).

The Titans dominated set two with an impressive attacking percentage of .406 compared to Wartburg's .111. A kill from sophomore Cailin Shannon helped extend their lead early on in the set.

Despite losing sets three and four to Wartburg, Illinois Wesleyan secured victory in the fifth set thanks to key plays from Bardouniotis and strong defensive efforts from Boyd and Palmer.

In their final match of the day against UW-River Falls, Illinois Wesleyan won decisively in straight sets. The Titans hit .181 with 35 kills while limiting UWRF to -0.034 hitting percentage due to errors.

French once again led her team with a double-double performance of 13 kills and ten digs. Feeney topped the assist chart for IWU with seventeen while Boyd paced defensively gathering thirteen digs throughout this game too.

After these successful outings at Elmhurst University's venue last week now awaits another challenge ahead: College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin competition next Wednesday night when they face North Central College away from home starting promptly at seven o'clock p.m., marking another opportunity towards extending current momentum further into future contests still yet remaining within season schedule ahead overall moving forward together collectively unitedly onward bound always striving toward excellence continuously improving steadily step-by-step gradually but surely ultimately reaching goals set forth initially upon embarking journey undertaken originally embarked upon thus far accomplished already so much achieved collectively collaboratively working harmoniously side-by-side alongside each other hand-in-hand supporting one another every step along way encouraging inspiring motivating uplifting positively impacting everyone involved directly indirectly tangentially 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