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men's volleyball team huddle
Dave Naprstek
3
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1-5,0-2 CCIW
2
Rockford Rock 0-2,0-1 NACC
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
1-5,0-2 CCIW
3
Final
2
Rockford Rock
0-2,0-1 NACC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 25 24 24 25 15 (3)
Rockford Rock 20 26 26 21 6 (2)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball |

Men's Volleyball Tops Rockford, Wins First Match in Program History

Titans won by set scores of 25-20, 24-26, 24-26, 25-21, and 15-6

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team made history Monday night, Feb. 22, with a thrilling five-set win at Rockford University for the first win in program history. 

Illinois Wesleyan won the first set 25-20, but dropped the second and third sets by scores of 26-24. IWU came back with a gritty 25-21 win in set four to force a fifth set, where the Titans overpowered the Regents, 15-6. With the win Illinois Wesleyan improves to 1-5 overall, while Rockford falls to 0-2.

Career-highs all-around paved the way for the Titans in the victory. Michael Eastman (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Ignatius) led the way with 19 kills on 44 attempts (.227 attacking percentage), eight digs, two aces, and a pair of blocks. Also finishing with double-digit kills were KJ Johnson (Saint John, Ind.-Marian Central) and Julian Perez (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg). Johnson tallied 12 kills and 10 digs for the first double-double in program history, while Perez finished with a career-high 10 kills on just 15 attempts (.533). 

Bradley Benson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) racked up a career-high 30 assists, while sharing the setting duties with Dominic Bennett (Lockport, Ill.-Plainfield Central). Bennett finished the day with 18 assists and four digs.

Defensively, Adam Blackmore (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) tied Johnson for the team-lead with 10 digs. Eastman added eight and Ethan Scott (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) chipped in seven. Scott also notched seven kills and four blocks, while Alec Mucha (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) led IWU with five blocks.

As a team, the Titans hit a season-high .237 with 57 kills on 131 attempts, while the Regents finished with 46 kills and a .160 clip. Illinois Wesleyan held advantages in assists, 53-42, and digs, 46-39. Rockford had the upperhand in blocks 14-9 and aces 6-5.

IWU continues non-conference play Wednesday, Feb. 25, when Fontbonne visits the Shirk Center for a 7 p.m. first serve.


 
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