French & Washko Earn Specialty Awards, Three Titans Named All-CCIW

Summers receives CCIW RESPECT Award

11/6/2023 4:00:00 PM

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team was well-represented as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin announced its postseason awards Monday, Nov. 6. Sophomore Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) was named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year with senior Faith Washko (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) garnering CCIW Defensive Player of the Year accolades. French and Washko were also First Team All-CCIW selections, while senior Jordan Pierce (Bonfield, Ill.-Herscher) received Second Team All-CCIW status.

Senior co-captain Lily Summers (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield North) was named IWU's recipient of the CCIW RESPECT Award.

French and Washko are the first Titans in program history to be named the league's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, since the award was split in 2022. Overall, the duo joins Madi Corey (2021), Tyler Brown (2018), Molly May (2004), Beth Crowley (2003), Kellie Schimdt (1999), Amy Rajala (1991), and Kristin Rajala (1989) to be recognized the league's top players as the other seven were named the CCIW's Most Outstanding Student-Athletes.

French, who received first team honors for the second straight season, has been one of the most dangerous players in all of Division III this season. A six-rotation outside hitter, French averaged a league-best 5.40 points per set over eight CCIW matches. She totaled a league-leading 169 kills, 4.83 per set, on a .215 attacking percentage. The sophomore also recorded 15 aces and ranked second on the team with 116 digs. With totals of 27 and 26, French has the top-two single-game kill tallies in league play this year. Overall, she is listed in the top-five four times.

A repeat First Team All-CCIW pick, Washko accrued 124 digs over 21 sets. She led the CCIW with 5.90 digs per set and added five aces. Washko is the only libero in the league to produce 25-or-more digs in a CCIW match this season. Additionally, her 28 digs against Augustana, Sept. 27, are a league-best.

Pierce, hauling in the first postseason accolades of her career, dished out 201 assists in CCIW play. The Bonfield, Ill. native averaged 7.18 assists per set, while also adding nine aces. A multi-tool threat, Pierce hit .282 with 33 kills over six conference matches and posted five double-double performances.

Illinois Wesleyan begins its CCIW Tournament journey tomorrow, Nov. 7, with a 7 p.m. bout against fifth-seeded Augustana College.

CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Faith Washko, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW Setter of the Year
Christina Gatta, North Park

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Meg Rothermel, North Park

CCIW Coach of the Year
Michael Sopocy, North Park

All-CCIW First Team
Emily Schipper, Augustana
Grace Vranicar, Augustana
Jenna Damon, Carthage
Lucy Anderson, Elmhurst
Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan
Faith Washko, Illinois Wesleyan
Sophia Howell, Millikin
Kailee Itzenhuiser, Millikin
Maddi Barickman, North Central
Christina Gatta, North Park
Adriana Rodriguez, North Park
Meg Rothermel, North Park

All-CCIW Second Team
Amelie Baehr-Ross, Augustana
Sydney Krueger, Augustana
Katie Jensen, Carroll
Kristina Manoljovic, Carthage
Aly Reardon, Elmhurst
Jordan Pierce, Illinois Wesleyan
Addison Oyer, Millikin
Abbi Barickman, North Central
Amber Vande Hei, North Central
Shamyia Collier, North Park

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Sarah Sorrell, Augustana
Lindsey Diep, Carroll
Ella Pettinger, Carthage
Keely Larson, Elmhurst
Lily Summers, Illinois Wesleyan
Kaitlyn Skowronski, Millikin
Najwa Williams, North Central
Teiya Alagar, North Park
Faith Bailey, Wheaton

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