McLean County Times

For the second time in its history, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball program has seen one of its athletes receive All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) honors. Gavin Rohlwing, a freshman from Tower Lake, Illinois, earned the Second Team All-CCIW accolade following an impressive debut collegiate season, according to an announcement on April 8 by the league office.

Rohlwing is only the second player from Illinois Wesleyan to earn this distinction, following in the footsteps of Mike Eastman, now an assistant coach. Eastman also earned Second Team All-CCIW honors in the previous season.

In the past conference season, Rohlwing appeared in 21 sets over four matches, leading the CCIW in blocks per set, with an average of 1.10. His record includes 23 blocks with six solo efforts and 17 assisted. Additionally, Rohlwing recorded a .295 hitting efficiency in conference contests, collecting 43 kills and averaging 2.05 per set. He also contributed two service aces and seven digs, with a total of 59.5 points, averaging 2.83 per set.

Throughout the season, Rohlwing was named CCIW Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions, on February 3, February 10, and March 3, marking the highest recognition of this kind for a Titan. He also featured in the Inside Volleyball Hitter 10 Freshman to Watch list at the season's start on January 10.

Rohlwing ended the season with a total of 81 blocks, setting a new single-season record for the program, surpassing the former record of 51 rejections only 13 games into the schedule.

The Illinois Wesleyan men's volleyball team concludes the season with a 12-12 overall record and a share of the fourth position in the CCIW standings at 2-8. Head Coach Brandon Mueller is set to return 15 of the team's players for the next season.

The conference has also announced the CCIW Student-Athletes of the Year awards. Corey Mayotte from Loras was named Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, Max Sellers from Augustana received Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year, Ryan Morey from Carthage was honored as Setter Student-Athlete of the Year, and Evan Dziadkowiec from Loras was awarded First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year. The Coach of the Year title was given to JW Kieckhefer from Carthage.

The All-CCIW First Team includes Max Sellers from Augustana, Ryan Cholewinski, Ben Heise, Ryan Morey, and Owen Otto from Carthage, Evan Dziadkowiec and Corey Mayotte from Loras, and Tyler Donovan from North Central. The All-CCIW Second Team features players like Ben Schultz from Augustana, Owen Hendricks, and Zack Noland from Carthage, Gavin Rohlwing from Illinois Wesleyan, and others.

The CCIW RESPECT Award recipient from Illinois Wesleyan was Jake Kougan, alongside several other honorees from different universities within the conference.