2018 CCIW Volleyball Tournament Website

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The No. 12-ranked Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team took a four-set decision over Millikin University on Friday, Nov. 2, to advance to the title game of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin postseason tournament.

The Titans, who won by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 21-25, 25-19, got their 19th straight win and improved to 24-5. The last Titan team to hit 24 wins was in 2006, which was also the last year for Illinois Wesleyan to play in the CCIW tournament title game. In only six other seasons have IWU teams won more than 24 games - 1995 (25), 2003 and 1997 (26 wins), 1996 and 1994 (27 wins) and 30 (1989).

IWU will face Carthage (21-9) at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Shirk Center for the title. The winner gets the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament with pairings announced at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, at NCAA.com.

Against Millikin, senior Rachel Burkman had 17 kills and 10 digs, senior Tyler Brown had 14 kills and a team-high 23 digs and senior Maddie Williams had seven kills and six blocks.

Freshman libero Amber Juarez had 20 digs while senior Leah Seielstad had 25 assists and freshman Madi Corey made 19. Sophomore Jessica McCall had four total blocks and senior Heidi Dague made two.

The Big Blue season ended with a 16-19 mark. Marie Gerbasi and Marissa McElroy led the Big Blue's attack with 10 kills apiece. Rose Syversen had 35 set assists and 16 digs and Alyssa Vignos added 19 digs.