BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team will hit the road for the first time in 10 days to battle Aurora University Friday, Sept. 16. First serve between the Titans (6-2, 1-0 CCIW) and Spartans (5-3, 1-0 NACC) is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The Titans are coming off a win at home Wednesday, Sept. 14, where they swept Carroll University in their Conference College of Illinois and Wisconsin opener, while Aurora is also coming off a midweek victory. The Spartans made quick work of Benedictine University, sweeping their conference opener in straight sets (25-10, 25-13, and 25-15). 

The Titans and Spartans have met 14 times previously, with IWU holding a 9-5 edge in the all-time series. Despite Illinois Wesleyan success against the Spartans all-time, AU has won the past three meetings. Aurora most recently spurned the Titans in five sets Sept. 17, 2021 (20-25, 25-15, 25-22, 17-25, 15-10). The Green and White are in search of its first win over the Spartans since a three-set sweep Sept. 8, 2018.

The takedown of the Pioneers (4-5, 0-1 CCIW) on Wednesday marked the fourth straight win for the Green and White, all of which took place in the Shirk Center over a span of six days. Freshman Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) continued her dominant freshman season, as she posted 15 kills on a .324 hitting percentage. Senior Dana Kiszkowski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) helped in IWU's attack against the Pioneers, posting eight kills on 21 attacks. 

For the season, French leads the team with 100 kills, averaging 3.33 kills per set, and racking up a team-high 4.25 points per set. With her three aces in the win over Carroll, French now leads the CCIW in aces per set with an average of 0.67. Sophomore Abby Erdman (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) and Freshman Katie Gund (Pewaukee, Wis.-Pewaukee) have orchestrated the attack with 143 and 132 assists, respectively. 

On the defensive side, Faith Washko (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) has helped keep rallies alive with a team-leading 161 digs, giving her the most digs per set in the CCIW with 5.37. Junior Taylor Babec (Joliet, Ill.-Plainfield Central) leads the Green and White with 23 blocks, eight of those being solo. Senior Evy Makris (Orland Park, Ill.-Sandburg) is right behind her, posting 22 rejections with six solo blocks. 

The match will be live streamed, which can be accessed here. Live stats will be available, which can be found here.