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09212022 web story
Kodiak Creative
3
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 8-2,2-0 CCIW
1
Carthage CARTH 9-3,1-1 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
8-2,2-0 CCIW
3
Final
1
Carthage CARTH
9-3,1-1 CCIW
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 18 25 25 25 (3)
Carthage CARTH 25 23 22 21 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Titans Upend Firebirds to Stay Unbeaten In CCIW

Riding a six-game win streak entering Homecoming weekend

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team picked up a four-set victory over Carthage College today, Sept. 21, to stay unbeaten in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. This marks the sixth straight win for the Green and White (8-2, 2-0 CCIW), and third straight win over the Firebirds (9-3, 1-1 CCIW). 

The Titans jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set of the match, but could not fend off the Firebirds who knotted things up at nine all. A trio of Titans recorded kills to even the set at 17, but Carthage took control after and walked away with a 25-18 first set win. 

In the second set, the Firebirds jumped out to a 7-0 advantage. The Titans capitalized on multiple Carthage mistakes, and with the help of key kills from senior Dana Kiszkowski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) and freshman Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East), along with aces from junior Faith Washko (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) and French, the Titans were back in control, 11-10. IWU stayed in command the rest of the set, winning 25-23 and tying the match at one apiece. 

The third set proved to be another nailbiter, but IWU came out on top with a 25-22 victory to go ahead two sets to one. Trailing 10-5, head coach Kim Nelson-Brown called a crucial timeout to regroup. From there, the Titans used a 10-point run to jump ahead 20-14 and never looked back. A late Carthage run put some pressure on IWU, but French closed it out with an ace.

Illinois Wesleyan controlled the final set early, before holding off a Carthage rally to complete the comeback, 25-21 to hit the road with the win.

On offense, French led the way with 18 kills. Sophomore Abby Erdman (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) assisted in 30 of the Titans 49 kills in the match, tying her career-best. Junior Jordan Pierce (Bonfield, Ill.-Herscher) stepped in as the Titans' second setter, walking away with a season-high 10 assists and a career-best two aces.

Defensively, Washko recorded 22 digs for the Green and White. French and Erdman added 11 apiece, leading each to a double-double performance. 

The Titans return to action on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. for a battle with No. 6 Washington University in St. Louis on the first day of the second Illinois Wesleyan Classic. The tournament will feature five teams, Sept. 23-24, and be part of a full slate of Homecoming festivities on the IWU camps. More information on the tournament can be found here.
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