McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team concluded its 2024 regular season with a split in their final matches on Saturday, November 9. The Titans faced Centre College and Wisconsin Lutheran College, resulting in a loss to Centre in four sets (25-19, 25-23, 16-25, 25-20) and a win over Wisconsin Lutheran in three straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-23). This victory marked the team's 20th win of the season, bringing their overall record to 20-9. It is the first time since 2018 that they have reached this milestone under head coach Kim Nelson-Brown.

Before the match against Wisconsin Lutheran College, Illinois Wesleyan honored its seniors on Senior Day. The seniors recognized were Abby Erdman from Aurora, Carly Kuehl from St. Louis, Morgan Harrington from Plainfield, Jessie Sariev from Schaumburg, and fifth-year Jordan Pierce from Bonfield. These players have achieved significant success during their tenure with two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Championships in 2021 and 2024, a CCIW Tournament Championship in 2021, and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament that same year.

In their match against Centre College (20-5), Illinois Wesleyan was unable to secure a win despite leading in digs (65-61). The team fell behind in other key areas including kills (52-46), assists (48-42), aces (7-5), blocks (7-6), and had a hitting percentage of .173 compared to Centre's .197. Junior Taylor French led with a double-double performance featuring 16 kills and three aces alongside her team-high of twelve digs. Freshman Alex Bardouniotis matched French's dig count and contributed two aces as well.

Sophomore Sophia Feeney collaborated with Erdman to lead the team's offensive efforts with Feeney contributing twenty-two assists while Erdman added eighteen along with eleven digs for her fourth double-double this season. On defense at the net, Hannah Tellor recorded five blocks.

Against Wisconsin Lutheran College (10-17), all five seniors participated as part of concluding their regular season play positively. Ten different Titans registered kills during this match; Jordan Pierce matched Taylor French's ten kills each—Pierce achieving hers at a career-high .533 attack rate.

Erdman led setting duties again recording twenty-three assists supported by Feeney’s eleven assists contribution while Paige Boyd led defensively securing twenty-three digs closely followed by Bardouniotis who collected ten more along side nine contributed by Erdman too which also saw Palmer lead blocking efforts collecting four throughout it backed up by three apiece coming courtesy both Bardouniotis & Pierce respectively!

Looking ahead into postseason play having secured top seed status within CCIW tournament due going undefeated through conference games culminating perfect eight wins zero losses ensuring they will host semifinal round scheduled inside Shirk Center slated Thursday evening November fourteenth where await winner matchup between North Central versus North Park set take place Tuesday night twelfth thus determining whom they'll face next stage competition kicking off seven p.m sharp start time!