Box Score The Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team dropped a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin decision at No. 9-ranked Carthage, 3-0, on Oct. 20.

Carthage (22-3 overall, 6-0 CCIW) swept the Titans by scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-17 in a match that lasted 58 minutes. Carthage clinched at least a share of the conference title as well as the top seed in the CCIW volleyball tournament. Carthage has won a league-record 43 straight conference matches dating back to 2003.

"We struggled passing tonight which did not allow for offense to get going," said IWU coach Kim Nelson-Brown. "Besides the passing issue, we struggled with chemistry since we had so many sick and injured players. Hopefully we can get healthy this week and regain some momentum for next week's conference match."

Junior Lori Johnson led IWU (now 16-13 overall and 4-2 CCIW) with five kills and two service aces. Senior Jackie Wrobel had 12 defensive digs and senior Amy VanDerVoorn added eight. Sophomore Stacy Hassinger had eight assists as the Titans only made 13 kills and had a -.148 hitting percentage.

In the first set, Carthage led 11-4 before IWU scored five straight points to close to within 11-9. The Lady Reds closed out the set on a 14-3 run to win by 13. In set two, Carthage trailed, 5-3, before taking off on a 10-1 run to take a 13-6 lead. Illinois Wesleyan closed to within three, 13-10, but the Lady Reds closed out the set with a 12-4 run to win by 11 points. In the third set, Carthage opened up a 9-2 lead before the Titans closed to within three, 13-10. The set was a four-point affair, 18-14, before Carthage closed things out on a 7-3 run to win by eight.

The Titans play next against North Park in Chicago at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.