Photo Gallery (photos by Claire Hoverson)

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Leading 2-1 after three sets, the Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to Augustana in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener for both teams at the Shirk Center on Tuesday, Sept. 22.  
 
The Titans, who are ranked No. 23 in the Sept. 22 American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, fell to 10-3 while the visiting Vikings improved to 7-4 on the season. A check on polls dating back to 1992 shows this is the first national ranking for an IWU volleyball team. Augustana now lead the overall series with Illinois Wesleyan 29-19 including a 15-14 edge in CCIW matches.
 
IWU lost the first set 25-19 after hitting -0.021 for the set and being forced into 13 attack errors. The Titans responded by winning the second and third sets by a score of 25-21 before dropping the fourth set 27-25. In a winner-take-all fifth set, Augustana outhit the Titans .280-.000 to take the set by a score of 15-8 and win the match.
 
Senior Mary Rankin set a school-record with 44 digs in a match, eclipsing her own record of 40 set vs Ohio Northern earlier this year. Sophomore Kyleigh Block led all players with 23 kills while freshman Tyler Brown had 13 kills and 13 digs. Colleen Rynne led the team with 33 set assists and Leah Seielstad contributed 20.  
 
What's Next?
IWU has a quick turnaround, traveling to St. Louis to take on No. 3-ranked Washington University (Mo.) on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.