BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team gave No. 20 Hope College all it could handle at the Shirk Center Friday night, Sept. 20, but fell in a five-set heartbreaker to open play at the Holiday Inn Express Classic II.
 
The Titans shook off a 25-22 opening set loss and went on to claim set two 25-21 and set three 25-19 to go up 2-1 in the match. Hope forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-13 win, before completing the comeback with a 15-9 win in set five.
 
A trio of Titans registered double-doubles in the match. Junior Jessica McCall (Wayne, Ill.-Wheaton St. Francis) notched a game-high 17 kills, while hitting at a .216 clip, to go along with 15 digs. Freshman Grace Sanders (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington HS) contributed 14 kills and 11 digs, while sophomore Madi Corey (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) chipped in 19 assists and 13 digs. Corey split setting duties with junior Caitlin Meyer (Manteno, Ill.-Manteno), who tallied a career-high 19 assists.
 
Defensively, sophomore Amber Juarez (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal U High) added 18 digs. Freshman Evy Makris (Orland Park, Ill.-Sandburg) posted a career-high five blocks, while freshman Riley Epperson (Payson, Ill.-Payson Seymour) and sophomore Dana Kiszkowski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) added four apiece.
 
The Titans return to the court tomorrow, Sept. 21, for matches against Earlham and Aurora. IWU begins the day with a 10 a.m. clash with Earlham, before wrapping up the day with a 3 p.m. first serve against Aurora.