CCIW Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - For the first time since April 3, 2023, and the fourth time in program history, an Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball player was named a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week. Freshman Gavin Rohlwing (Tower Lake, Ill.-Barrington) was named the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week after four outstanding matches, the league announced Monday, Feb. 3. 

Rohlwing earns the first honor of his career, and joins Vince DiCosola (defense/setter, April 3, 2023), Mike Eastman (offense, Jan. 24, 2022), and KJ Johnson (defense/setter, Jan. 31, 2022) as Titans to receive the weekly accolade. Prior to the 2024 season, the conference separated defense and setter, increasing the Player of the Week award to three categories.

Rohlwing was dominant on both sides for the Titans, helping IWU extend its program-best start to 7-2 overall with a 3-1 week. Across four matches, Rohlwing posted 44 kills on an impressive .413 attack percentage, an average of 2.93 per set. He also totaled a whopping 20 blocks, averaging 1.33 per set, en route to breaking an individual and team block record on the week. Rohlwing also added seven digs, five assists, and an ace, averaging 3.80 points per set.

Rohlwing opened the week with a career-high 17 kills on a .419 attack percentage, along with a then-personal-best seven blocks, tied for second-most in a match, and five digs in the reverse sweep over Marian University Tuesday, Jan. 28. His seven blocks helped the Titans break the program record for most blocks in a match, as the Green and White finished with 15. The freshman followed the performance with a career-best nine blocks, breaking the three-set match record and ranks second-most all-time, along with five kills and three assists in the sweep of Concordia University Chicago Thursday night, Jan. 30. 

Rohlwing put on a show Saturday, Feb. 1, as he accrued 12 kills on an incredible .647 clip, along with two blocks, an assist, and an ace in the four-set victory over Illinois Institute of Technology. His 12 kills contributed to IWU breaking the four-set kills record, and tying for the most in any match in program history, as the Titans finished with 62 in the contest. The Tower Lake, Ill. native finished the week with 10 kills on a .400 attack percentage, two blocks, and an assist in the three-set loss to Trine University to close out the week. 

With an average of 1.033 blocks per set on the season, Rohlwing leads the CCIW and ranks 16th in Division III, while his .395 attack percentage is second in the conference and 23rd nationally. 

Rohlwing and the Titans remain home, and host 18th-ranked Dominican University inside Shirk Center Thursday night, Feb. 6. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.