BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the first time since 2017, and only the second time in program history, the No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team will host a NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament regional, as IWU earned hosting rights of one of the NCAA's eight pods. Contests will begin Thursday, Nov. 20, with four matches in the opening round, and Friday, Nov. 21, will feature two semifinal contests. The regional championship will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m., with all games taking place in the Shirk Center Arena.
    Illinois Wesleyan, the top seed in the Bloomington regional, will host eighth-seeded Asbury University for a 7 p.m. match Thursday night, Nov. 20.  University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the No. 3 seed, and sixth-seeded Coe College will kick off the tournament at 11:30 a.m. The 2 p.m. match will feature second-seeded Calvin University and No. 7 seed Hanover College. No. 4 seed University of Northwestern-St. Paul and fifth-seeded St. Olaf College will follow at 4:30 p.m.
    The Titans punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament after claiming the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship for the second straight season, defeating Carthage College in straight sets Saturday, Nov. 15. IWU posted its second straight 8-0 CCIW regular season slate en route to back-to-back CCIW titles. Asbury will make its NCAA Tournament debut, as the Eagles won the Collegiate Conference of the South after edging out Maryville College in five sets Saturday, Nov. 15.
    All matches this weekend can be viewed on the NCAA Champs Pass, while live stats can be found on the IWU women's volleyball schedule.

POD IN THE POLLS: The Bloomington regional pod will feature three teams ranked in the top-25 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll, while one is receiving votes. Illinois Wesleyan sits closest to the top, checking in at No. 2. UW-Whitewater is next, coming in at No. 13, while Calvin is ranked 19th. St. Olaf is receicing votes. 

BACK-TO-BACK: For the first time in program history, Illinois Wesleyan claimed back-to-back CCIW regular season and tournament championships, doing so in dominant fashion. IWU made it two straight years of sweeping through CCIW opponents, posting its second straight 8-0 regular season record before going on to win its two contests in the conference tournament. It is the first time a CCIW team has posted back-to-back undefeated conference slates since Carthage did so in 2008 and 2009. The Green and White also won two straight CCIW Tournament Championships for the first time in program history. It is the fifth title, as the Titans have previously won it in 1997, 2018, 2021, and 2024.

BEEN A WHILE: Illinois Wesleyan will meet Asbury on the court for just the second time in program history. In the only previous meeting, the Titans fell to the Eagles in four sets Oct. 11, 2014. Maisy Bowden led the Green and White offense with 10 kills, while Colleen Rynne notched a team-best 21 assists. Now-assistant coach Nicole Bing Eichelberger closely followed with 20 assists in the contest. Maddie Greybar added a team-leading 10 digs to go along with nine kills.

SWEET, SWEET SIXTEEN: In IWU women's volleyball history, the Titans have made it to the NCAA Regional Championship twice, becoming one of the last 16 teams standing. The Green and White made history in 2018, winning its first two rounds to advance to the regional final, securing the best finish in program history. The Titans matched the longest run a season ago, as they went on a run to the Marietta Regional Championship. Entering as the sixth seed in the eight-team pod, Illinois Wesleyan swept Franklin & Marshall before upsetting the host team, Marietta, in straight sets the next day. IWU's underdog run came to a close in the regional final, falling to UW-Oshkosh in three sets.

IWU VS. THE FIELD: Known for always shooting to put together a strong schedule, head coach Kim Nelson-Brown and her squad faced nine teams that made the NCAA Tournament this season, putting together a record of 7-2. Illinois Wesleyan picked up wins over Greenville, Wittenberg, Coe, Cornell, WashU, UW-Oshkosh, and Juniata, while its only two losses on the season came at the hands of Hope and UW-Eau Claire.

CLIMB TO THE TOP: Amid its historic season, Illinois Wesleyan achieved its best ranking in program history, as the Titans have checked in as high as No. 3 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll. Beginning the season ranked 19th in the preseason poll, the Titans used a 13-0 start to catapult into the top-10, in the third weekly poll before moving up to No. 7 the following week, marking the best ranking in history at the time. The Titans did not stop there, as they moved to No. 6 for three straight weeks before checking in at No. 4 in week 10. IWU jumped to No. 3 in week 11, and now currently sits at its best ranking in program history, as the Titans clocked in at No. 2 in the latest poll announced Nov. 18. 

HOW MANY?: After a dominant run in its CCIW slate, Illinois Wesleyan landed a conference-best seven student-athletes on the All-CCIW teams, the most in program history. The Titans placed six on the first team, as seniors Taylor French, Hannah Tellor, and Kannyn Boyd, juniors Eleanor Palmer and Sophia Feeney, and sophomore Alex Bardouniotis were all First Team All-CCIW honorees, while freshman Lauren O'Brien represented IWU on the second team.

BEST IN THE LEAGUE: To go along with the seven All-CCIW honors, the Titans took home three specialty awards. Taylor French earned her third straight CCIW Offensive Player of the Year award, becoming the first to win three specialty awards in CCIW women's volleyball history. Sophia Feeney was named the CCIW Setter of the Year, becoming the first Titan to earn the honor since it began in 2023. IWU's top-tier coaching staff of head coach Kim Nelson-Brown and assistant coaches Tyler White, Tony Gliwa, Ryan Raycraft, Maggie Nelson, and Nicole Bing Eichelberger was named the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year.

30 YEARS OF KNB: Head Coach Kim Nelson-Brown is in her 30th season leading the Green and White, and has accumulated an overall record of 591-399. Nelson-Brown has led the Titans to seven CCIW Regular Season Championships (1997 outright, 2003 outright, 2015 shared, 2018 outright, 2021 outright, 2024 outright, 2025 outright), five CCIW Tournament Championships (1997, 2018, 2021, 2024, 2025), and eight NCAA Tournament Appearances (1997, 1998, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024, 2025). She has coached 16 All-American selections, 24 All-Region honorees, 97 All-CCIW selections, and 10 CCIW "Players of the Year."

NINE NCAA APPEARANCES: The Titans will make their ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having previously made it in 1991, 1997, 1998, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2024. It is the eighth appearance in the national tournament under head coach Kim Nelson-Brown. Illinois Wesleyan claimed its first postseason win in 2015, defeating Dominican University in the opening round of the Grand Rapids Regional. Combined, IWU has posted a record of 6-8 in NCAA Tournament contests.

THE ROAD TO BLOOMINGTON: By securing hosting rights to the NCAA Regional, Illinois Wesleyan will have the opportunity remain at home for the rest of the season, as the Titans were selected to host the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship Dec. 3-6. IWU's last road trip was Oct. 24 at Millikin, where the Titans swept the Big Blue. The Green and Whtie closed the regular season with four straight home contests and played host to the CCIW Tournament.

A REGIONAL MADE FOR THE LAWTON'S: With UW-Whitewater drawing a spot in the Bloomington Regional, the Lawton family will get to see both sisters play in the same arena. Illinois Wesleyan sophomore defensive specialist/libero Alysa Lawton will welcome her little sister to town, as Natalie Lawton is a defensive specialist/libero for the Warhawks, and is amid her freshman season.

DEFINITION OF WEEKLY AWARDS: Illinois Wesleyan reeled in 14 CCIW Player of the Week honors during the 2025 campaign. Taylor French led the way with five CCIW Hitter of the Week honors (Sept. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 13, Nov. 3, and Nov. 11), bringing her career total to 14. Joining French on the weekly accolade list were Alex Bardouniotis (hitter, Oct. 6 and Oct. 27), Sophia Feeney (setter, Oct. 13 and Nov. 3), Kannyn Boyd (defensive, Sept. 2 and Nov. 3), Hannah Tellor (defensive, Oct. 20), Eleanor Palmer (defensive, Oct. 6), and Alysa Lawton (defensive, Sept. 8).

AVCA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK X2: Illinois Wesleyan had two different student-athletes earn AVCA Division III National Player of the Week honors this season, becoming the only team this season to claim two weekly accolades from the AVCA, and the first since UW-Whitewater did so during the 2024 season (Sept. 1 and 15). Kannyn Boyd garnered the nod Sept. 2, becoming the first libero in IWU history to earn the honor. Taylor French earned the national accolade Nov. 4, becoming the first Titan to receive the honor three times. French became the first player in AVCA history to earn the national weekly award in back-to-back weeks, as her previous honors came Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 2023.

1000X3: The Titans celebrated three 1000 milestones this season, all in a different statistical category. Kannyn Boyd eclipsed 1000 digs, Aug. 29, while Sophia Feeney surpassed 1000 career assists, Sept. 6. Hannah Tellor reached the 1000 career kills mark, Oct. 21.

BROKEN RECORDS: Taylor French continues to rewrite the IWU record book, adding three major records to her name this season. French became the program's all-time kills, points, and aces record holder in her stellar senior seaosn. With her 241st ace against Marietta, Sept. 27, she surpassed Tiffany Hamblin's record set from her time donning the Green and White from 1999-2002. French followed by taking two records from now-assistant coach Tyler White (nee Brown), as she registered point number 1,956.5 with a kill against Hope, Sept. 27, surpassing her mentor's mark set from 2015-18. French polished off the last record on her list, as she notched the 1778th kill of her career inside the Shirk Center, Oct. 29. The kill claimed the third set in a four-set win for the Titans over Carroll.

BEST START TO THE SEASON: The Titans opened the 2025 season winning their first 13 matches, smashing the program's best start. The stretch of wins featured eight straight sweeps, as IWU did not drop a set from Aug. 30-Sept. 19.

STEPPING IN, STEPPING UP: Sophomore Hailey Rak made her first start of the season in the CCIW Tournament Semifinal against Wheaton Thursday, Nov. 13, as she stepped in for a sick Eleanor Palmer. Rak made the most of the opportunity, as she led the team with a career-high six blocks, and finishined with five kills on a .500 clip. Rak helped lead the defense to a sweep as IWU secured its spot in its second straight CCIW Tournament Championship.

HOT-HITTING OFFENSE: The Titan offense closed out the regular season with a program record, as IWU hit .521 as a team in the sweep of Augustana Nov. 5. All six hitters for the Titans hit north of .400, with Taylor French tallying a team-high 15 kills on a .542 attack percentage. Alex Bardouniotis hit .440 behind 12 kills, while Hannah Tellor added nine on a .529 clip. Cailin Shannon and freshman Carly Whitaker notched seven kills apiece, hitting .545 and .636, respectively. Eleanor Palmer rounded out the offensive outburst with four kills for a .500 clip.

KILLER CREW: Illinois Wesleyan's offense has dominated all season, as the Titans rank third nationally in kills per set with an average of 14.06. Leading the Green and White offense is Taylor French with 392 kills, while her average of 4.13 kills per set ranks 24th in Division III. Additionally, IWU has five more hitters with 100+ kills this season. Alex Bardouniotis ranks second on the squad with 286 kills, followed by Hannah Tellor (196), Eleanor Palmer (161), freshman Carly Whitaker (140), and junior Cailin Shannon (129). As a team, the Titans are hitting .244, the 18th-best mark nationally.

THANK YOU SETTERS: Illinois Wesleyan's dominant offense would not be made possible without the setter duo of Sophia Feeney and Lauren O'Brien orchestrating the majority of the attack. Together, the pair leads a team that ranks seventh nationally in assists per set with an average of 12.74. Feeney sits atop the team with 552 assists, an average of 5.81 per set, while O'Brien follows with 490 helpers, averaging 5.16 per set in her first year donning the Green and White.

GOOD POKER HANDS: The Illinois Wesleyan offense has forced pressure on its opponents from the service line all season. One of the best servers in the country, Taylor French ranks 17th in Division III, as she is averaging 0.74 aces per set. With 70 on the year, she sits 24th in total aces this season. Lauren O'Brien and Alex Bardouniotis have also added a lot of service pressure, as they have recorded 48 and 46 aces, respectively.

BOYD IN THE BACK ROW: Kannyn Boyd has led Illinois Wesleyan's defense all season, as the senior has recorded 402 digs, an average of 4.52 per set. The Mt. Pleasant, Mich. native has notched nine 20+ dig performances this season, and accumulated a season-best 32 digs in IWU's five-set win over Earlham Aug. 29.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: After becoming one of the most decorated players in program history while playing for her mom, Tyler White (nee Brown) joined the IWU staff prior to the 2020 season. A part of the 2015-18 teams, Brown holds the program record for career digs (1987), and graduated as the program's kills (1777) and points (1955.5) leader, along with many season and match records. White was a three-time AVCA First Team All-American (2016-18), was an All-America Honorable mention in 2015 and was tabbed as the AVCA Freshman of the Year in 2015.

HOMETOWN KIDS: The Titan roster features four Bloomington-Normal natives on the team, and all but one from the state of Illinois. Sophia Feeney, Lauren O'Brien, and junior Paige Peterson are all Bloomington, Ill. natives. O'Brien and Peterson graduated form Central Catholic High School, while Feeney is a Normal Community High School alumnus. Freshman Shelby Sennett is a Normal, Ill. native, and a Normal West High School graduate, the same high school assistant coach Tyler White attended.

ON THE HORIZON: With a win, the Titans would advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinal Friday, Nov. 21. IWU would face the winner of Northwestern-St. Paul and St. Olaf at 7 p.m.