McLean County Times

After a successful weekend at the Southwestern University Invitational, two members of the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team have been recognized by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) as Players of the Week. The announcement was made by the conference on Monday, September 8.

Senior Taylor French from Romeoville, Illinois, was named CCIW Hitter of the Week. Sophomore Alysa Lawton from Elmhurst, Illinois, received CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honors. Both athletes contributed to three consecutive wins for Illinois Wesleyan during matches held Friday and Saturday, September 5-6. These victories improved the team's record to 6-0, marking the best start in program history.

"French earns her 10th CCIW Hitter of the Week honor, having last earned the accolade Oct. 7, 2024. Lawton collects her second weekly award, notching her first Sept. 17, 2024. The two join senior Kannyn Boyd (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.-Mt. Pleasant) as Titans to receive the conference honor, as Boyd was named the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 2. It is IWU's first multi-awardee week since Oct. 7, 2024, when the Titans swept all three honors. French was the league's hitter of the week, while Body earned defensive honors, and then-sophomore Sophia Feeney (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) got the nod as setter of the week."

French was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after recording 36 kills with a .276 attack percentage over nine sets—averaging four kills per set—and adding six aces and 30 digs to her performance. She scored a total of 42.5 points for Illinois Wesleyan and maintained an attack percentage above .200 in each match.

In Friday’s sweep against Texas Lutheran University on September 5, French led with nine kills on a .296 hitting percentage and added nine digs and five aces. The team finished that match with a total of 18 aces—tied for most in a three-set match in program history and tied for second-most all time. On Saturday against University of Puget Sound, she had a double-double with 17 kills and 13 digs while hitting .268 and recording one block. In their final match against Southwestern University later that day, French posted ten kills on a .267 attack percentage along with eight digs and an ace.

Lawton appeared in seven sets throughout the week and recorded a total of 38 digs—an average of more than five per set—and five assists while helping limit opponents to a .130 attack percentage as Illinois Wesleyan hit .240 overall.

"After only appearing in one set, recording one dig, in the sweep of Texas Lutheran University Friday, Sept. 5, Lawton stepped in and took over as Illinois Wesleyan's libero in the two matches Saturday, Sept. 6. The sophomore finished with 18 digs and three assists to lead the Titans to a sweep of University of Puget Sound to begin the day. Taking on Southwestern, Lawton notched 19 digs and two assists in the sweep of the home team to close out the week."

Illinois Wesleyan will play next at DePauw University on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.