CCIW Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - For the first time in program history, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team had a member land on the loaded All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams. Senior Michael Eastman (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Ignatius) earned Second Team All-CCIW honors after a strong senior campaign, announced by the league's office Tuesday, April 9. 

A member of the inaugural team in 2021, Eastman has been a key component of the program since his arrival on campus. In CCIW action, Eastman ranked sixth in the league with 102 kills in 32 sets, an average of 3.19 kills per set, on a .210 attack percentage. The senior was also sixth in points per game, averaging 3.66 per set, after collecting 117 throughout conference action. His 10 aces and 0.31 aces per set average tied for seventh in the CCIW. Eastman also added 49 digs, an average of 1.53 per set, eight blocks, and three assists. 

The 2024 season saw Eastman eclipse the 1000 career point mark, as he accomplished the feat with a kill against Augustana College on Senior Day Sunday, March 24, becoming the first in program history to do so. Finishing with 256 kills for the season, Eastman broke his own record for most kills in a single season, while his 3.28 kills per set average also broke the program's single-season record that he set in 2023. 

Fellow senior Bradley Benson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont Township) was named IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient. 

CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Corey Mayotte, Loras

CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Max Sellers, Augustana

CCIW Setter Co-Student-Athletes of the Year
Gene McNulty, Carthage
Joe Horn, Loras

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Owen Otto, Carthage

CCIW Coach of the Year
Dylan Ross, Loras

All-CCIW First Team
Aidan Bolen, Augustana
Max Sellers, Augustana
Ryan Cholewinski, Carthage
Gene McNulty, Carthage
Owen Otto, Carthage
Dorian Fiorenza, Loras
Joe Horn, Loras
Corey Mayotte, Loras

All-CCIW Second Team
Ty Heater, Augustana
Benjamin Schultz, Augustana
Ben Heise, Carthage
Michael Eastman, Illinois Wesleyan
Tyler Donovan, North Central
Cooper Lundal, North Central
Jared Moser, North Central
Kaleb Patrick, North Park

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Zach Moreano, Augustana
Keegan Brumitt, Carthage
Bradley Benson, Illinois Wesleyan
Brady Oberfoel, Loras
Karson Eggert, North Central
Christian Ayar, North Park