BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- No. 21-ranked Illinois Wesleyan swept a pair of volleyball matches against Iowa schools and improved to 6-1 on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the second day of the Barker Chevrolet Classic I.

Winners of six straight matches, Illinois Wesleyan defeated Simpson College, 25-12, 25-11, 25-22, in the morning and then came back to down Coe College, 27-25, 27-25, 25-22 in the afternoon.

Sophomores Tyler Brown and Rachel Burkman were selected to the all-tournament team along with Hanna Reese, Coe; Gabi Razma, Rose-Hulman; Jessica Jensen, William Woods; and Kristina Billie, Benedictine.

"This weekend we were challenged in many ways, especially offensively, due to the incredible defense by our opponents," said IWU head coach Kim Nelson-Brown. "To see the team fight back in every match is showing such great team character."

Against Simpson, Brown led the way with 10 kills and had seven digs and three blocks with junior Kyleigh Block contributing five kills with a team-high 10 digs. Freshman Kira Jackson led the team with 14 assists and senior Colleen Rynne had 12. Sophomore Heidi Dague paced the Titans with four total blocks.

In the three-set win over Coe, Brown had 16 kills and Block added 12 with seven coming from junior Anne Cummings. Junior Maisy Bowden led IWU with four total blocks and Alexa Cornish was the team leader with 14 digs while Block had 11.

Jackson had 26 assists and Rynne had 18.
 
The 2016 Titans are 6-1 for the first time since the 2013 team started with a 6-1 mark. Other quick starts for IWU teams:
2006 - 8-1
2001 - 5-0, then 6-1
2013 - 6-1
1996- 14-2
2009 - 11-2
2015, 1989 -10-2
1999, 2000 - 7-2

What's Next?
The Titans travel to face the University of Chicago in a 7 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Maroons have won two straight and are 3-3.