BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team is set to start its 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin slate with a tough test against Loras College, Tuesday, Feb. 15 inside the Shirk Center with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. The Duhawks are currently receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-15 poll with a record of 9-1. The Green and White enter the CCIW opener with an overall record of 5-5, already having surpassed its win total from a season ago.

The two teams have met twice previously, with the Duhawks earning sweeps in each of the previous matches. IWU and LC last met March 31, 2021 inside of the Shirk Center.

The Titans last competed in the Marian Invite, Saturday, Feb. 12 in Marian, Wis. Illinois Wesleyan competed against St. Norbert College and tournament host Marian University. In the opening match, IWU won in a thrilling five-setter to knock off SNC. The Sabres defeated the Titans in four sets in the night cap.

Loras saw its perfect record snapped, yesterday, Sunday, Feb. 13 at the hands of Trine University in a five-set affair that was played in St. Louis. 

In the team's 10 non-conference matchups, sophomore Michael Eastman (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Ignatius) tops the team with his 128 kills while fellow sophomore KJ Johnson (Saint John, Ind.-Marian Catholic) has notched 82 kills on the season.

Freshman Vince DiCosola (Aurora, Ill.-Oswego East) leads the Titans in the assist category with 163. Sophomore Bradley Benson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont Township) compiled team-leading 82 assists in the team's previous four matches to bring his assist total to 137.

Eastman leads IWU with 24 aces as DiCosola has accumulated 13.

Defensively, Johnson (99 digs), Eastman (58 digs), and DiCosola (53 digs) have collectively earned 210 digs.

Freshman Jake Kougan (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) and sophomore Julian Perez (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) have earned 29 and 23 rejections, respectively.  

Live stats for the match can be found by clicking here while a live video can be found by clicking here.