BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The No. 23-ranked Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team split its two matches on Saturday, Oct. 31, losing to Hiram College before defeating Concordia University (Wis.) at the Shirk Center in the Barker Classic IV.

The Titans, now 22-8 overall, lost to Hiram in five sets, 20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19, 10-15, and handled the Falcons in three sets, 25-14, 25-13, 28-26.

"After a disappointing performance in our first match, I was pleased to see us recover and play with purpose," said IWU head coach Kim Nelson-Brown. "We did a better job controlling the tempo in the second match which allowed our hitters to be effective."

Freshman Tyler Brown was the lone Illinois Wesleyan representative on the all-tournament team. She was joined by Faith Rolwes, DePauw; Mary Claire Tuohy, Chicago; Stephanie Korbakes, Carthage; Lindsey Casper, Concordia-Wis.; and Lidsay Brewer, Hiram.

Against Hiram, Brown led the team with 19 kills and had 13 digs. Freshman Rachel Burkman had 16 kills and freshman Heidi Dague had eight kills and tied sophomore Maisy Bowden with a team-high four blocks.
Sophomore Kyleigh Block had four service aces, 12 digs and added three blocks while freshman Leah Seielstad had 24 set assists and junior Colleen Rynne made 23. Senior Mary Rankin provided a team-best 18 defensive digs.

In the match against Concordia, Brown again led the Titans with 12 kills and had 15 digs. Sophomore Anne Cummings made eight kills and Block had seven kills with 16 digs.
Seielstad made 21 assists and Rynne added 10 while Rankin again led IWU with 21 digs.

NOTES: With 22 wins, Illinois Wesleyan has its highest victory total since the 2006 team won 24 matches. IWU is at 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 single season record for wins is 30, set in 1989 (30-12)…IWU finished with a 13-1 record in Barker Chevrolet Classic games at the Shirk Center this season…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.

WHAT'S NEXT? 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.