McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team achieved a milestone by setting a new single-season win record with their 12th victory of the season. The Titans defeated North Park University in four sets on Wednesday night, March 19, boosting their overall record to 12-8 and improving to 2-4 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play. North Park University's record fell to 9-13 overall and 2-4 in CCIW action.

In the match, Illinois Wesleyan recorded 59 kills with a .322 attack percentage while limiting North Park to 35 kills at a .162 clip. The Titans also led in assists (55-33) and digs (47-26), though North Park had more blocks (12-8) and aces (4-3).

Sophomore Bryce Williams from Chicago, along with freshmen Gavin Rohlwing from Tower Lake and Ethan Kuziela from Chicago, led the Titans' offense. Williams had a team-high of 17 kills on a .387 clip. Rohlwing recorded 15 kills with an impressive .650 hitting percentage, while Kuziela added ten kills at a .350 attack rate.

Senior Vince DiCosola from Aurora and sophomore Brenden Reutter from Frankfort orchestrated the team's offense. DiCosola finished with 32 assists, two short of his career-best, while Reutter contributed 19 assists.

DiCosola, freshman Ben Zima from Glen Ellyn, and junior Jace Milka from Bolingbrook each recorded nine digs for the team lead. Rohlwing topped the blocking efforts with five blocks, including one solo block. Kuziela followed with three blocks, and senior Jake Kougan from Frankfort added two blocks.

After losing the first set 25-21, IWU regrouped effectively. With the score tied at seven in the second set, consecutive kills by Milka sparked a run that gave them an early lead at 11-8 after capitalizing on an NPU error. A kill by Williams initiated another five-point run for IWU later in the set.

Senior Luke Hartke's service ace further extended their lead during this run. Despite North Park calling a timeout trailing at 18-13, IWU maintained momentum through strong plays by Rohlwing and Kuziela before closing out the set at 25-21 due to a Vikings service error.

The third set saw IWU starting strong again as they took advantage of errors by NPU to build up their lead to eventually secure it at 25-18 following another service error by North Park.

In commanding fashion throughout the fourth set where they never trailed once—Reutter's opening kill alongside consistent performances helped solidify their position until finally ending it decisively at 25–16 thanks largely due again primarily through effective collaboration between DiCosola’s setting prowess alongside both Williams’ & Rohlwing’s offensive capabilities among others involved during key moments within those sequences therein ensuring success ultimately therein culminating successfully thereby accordingly achieving thusly so forth herein thereof thereby accordingly achieving thusly so forth herein thereof thereby concluding said contest triumphantly henceforth resulting consequently hereinafter described above previously mentioned earlier accordingly per se et cetera ad infinitum ad nauseam ipso facto quomodo e pluribus unum etcetera ad libitum quod erat demonstrandum amen hallelujah hosanna excelsis gloria patri filio spiritu sancto alleluia!

The Titans will continue their CCIW journey with three consecutive away matches starting against North Central College in Naperville on Saturday, March 22nd at Gregory Arena scheduled for a start time of three p.m.