EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team wrapped up play in the UW-Eau Claire Tournament Saturday, Oct. 16. IWU defeated UW-La Crosse in four sets (26-24, 25-23,15-25, 25-18) and was edged by UW-Eau Claire in four sets (25-16, 23-25, 25-12, 25-21). After today's competition, the Titans' record stands at 14-11.
The Titans and Eagles played a very tight back-and-forth opening set that ultimately ended 26-24 for UWL.
The second set proved to be a nail biter with no team boasting more than a three-point lead. With the score knotted at 23 apiece, the Green and White converted on back-to-back plays to escape the second set with a 25-23 victory. A freshman Morgan Harrington (Plainfield, Ill. - Plainfield East) kill and a setting error from the Eagles proved to be the difference.
In the third set, UW-La Crosse battled to defeat the Titans with a comfortable cushion of 25-15 to advance the match to a fourth set.
IWU would not be denied in the fourth set as it led 5-1 early and would extend the lead to 13-6 thanks to kills by Lily Summers (Plainfield, Ill. - Plainfield North) and freshman Ava Porada (Frankfort, Ill. - Lincoln-Way East). With the score being 21-18, in favor of the Green and White, the team would end the match on a four point run to take the set 25-18 and to win the match 3-1.
Senior Madi Corey (Frankfort, Ill. - Lincoln-Way East) produced a double-double with 16 assists and 11 digs. Porada finished the match with 15 assists.
The Green and White led in blocks (8-4) while the Eagles led in kills (48-46), aces (7-2), and assists (47-42).
Senior Jessica McCall (Wayne, Ill. - Wheaton St. Francis) led the Titans with 11 kills. Senior Courtney McAuliffe (Lemont, Ill. - Lemont) and sophomore Taylor Babec (Joliet, Ill. - Plainfield Central) had 10 and six kills, respectively.
Sophomore Faith Washko (Springfield, Ill. - Sacred Heart-Griffin) produced a match-high 15 digs.
In the night cap, Illinois Wesleyan gave UW-Eau Claire all that it could handle, but ultimately came up just short.
The only set that the Green and White could muster occurred in the second set after the 12th-ranked Bluegolds claimed the opener 25-16. After trading points early, a Corey kill tied the set at 22 all. An attacking error from Eau Claire and a McCall kill gave the Titans a 24-22 advantage. With the score 24-23, a Blugold attack error gave IWU a 25-23 victory.
Eau Claire went on to win the next two sets in commanding fashion to end Illinois Wesleyan's upset bid 25-12 and 25-21.
McCall put up a double-double performance with her team-leading 12 kills that accompanied her 14 digs.
Senior Dana Kiszkowski (Schaumburg, Ill. - Schaumburg) accumulated nine kills while McAuliffe added eight.
The setting duo of Porada and Corey totaled 36 assists for the match. Porada led with 19 and Corey added 17.
Wasko tallied a match high 19 digs for the Titan defense.
Illinois Wesleyan led the match in aces (6-2). The Blugolds enjoyed advantages in kills (52-42), blocks (9-4), assists (47-39), and digs (63-53).
IWU will return home to the Shirk Center to host the annual Holiday Inn Express Classic over a two day period, Oct. 22-23. The Titans will battle with College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponent Augustana College Vikings Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The team will take on two non-conference opponents Saturday, Oct. 23 in Alma College at 10:30 a.m., followed by UW-Stevens Point at 1 p.m.
