BLOOMINGTON, ILL.- Looking to secure a berth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin postseason tournament, the No. 23-nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team swept North Central in three sets at the Shirk Center on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Scores of the match were 25-19, 25-19 and 25-20.

With the victory, IWU improves to 20-7 overall and 5-2 in the CCIW, clinching a berth in next weekend's CCIW tournament while the Cardinals fell to 18-12 and 2-4 in the CCIW.

The Titans used a balance attack, led by sophomore Kyleigh Block with nine kills and seven defensive digs. Freshmen Rachel Burkman and Tyler Brown had eight and seven kills each while Leah Seielstad finished with 19 set assists. Lone senior Mary Rankin led all players with 17 digs and was one of four Titans with two service aces (Block, Burkman, junior Colleen Rynne).

Illinois Wesleyan had a .248 hitting percentage in the match, making 41 total kills in 105 attempts with 15 attack errors while holding the Cardinals to a .112 attack mark with 28 kills, 17 errors and 98 attempts.

NOTES: For the first time since 2007, the Titans will play in the CCIW postseason tournament, which will be hosted by Millikin University in Decatur on Nov. 6-7. Times and opponents will be determined after games of Nov. 4. Illinois Wesleyan will be the tournament's No. 2 seed ... The CCIW moved to a four-team tournament format during the 2005 season. From 1992-2004, the CCIW Tournament included all eight teams competing in pool play. From 1986-1991, the CCIW Tournament was a double-elimination bracketed tournament ... If Wheaton defeats Millikin on Nov. 3, the Titans would get a share of the CCIW championship ... IWU's previous conference championships were in 1991 and 1997 ... On four occasions this season, Illinois Wesleyan has knocked off a nationally-ranked team.
• Sept. 12, IWU def. No. 23 Coe, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-7)
• Sept. 16, IWU def. No. 13 Chicago, 3-2 (25-18, 30-28, 23-25, 18-25, 15-8)
• Oct. 14, IWU def. No. 16 Elmhurst, 3-2 (26-24, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 17-15)
• Oct. 24, IWU def. No. 13 Carthage, 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11).
Illinois Wesleyan has reached the 20-win plateau for the second straight year and for the 16th time in the 41-year history of varsity volleyball at the school. The school record for wins is 30, set in 1989 (30-12).

WHAT'S NEXT?
IWU head coach Kim Nelson-Brown will look to win her 400th career match as the Titans play DePauw in the Barker Chevrolet Classic IV on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Her current career record is 399-300 in her 20th season.