BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team hosts No. 19 Dominican University Thursday night, Feb. 6. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Shirk Center.
The Titans (7-2) look to get back in the win column after falling to Trine University Saturday, Feb. 1 in straight sets. Sophomore Bryce Williams (Chicago, Ill.-Whitney M. Young) led the team with 12 kills, while fellow sophomore Brenden Reutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) posted a team-high 21 assists. Junior Jace Milka (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Plainfield East) led the defense with seven digs.
Freshman Gavin Rohlwing (Tower Lake, Ill.-Barrington) has made an immediate impact, leading the team with 69 kills, an average of 2.30 per set, doing so on an efficient .395 attack percentage, the 22nd-best mark in Division III. Williams closely follows with 68 kills, averaging 2.96 per set, and freshman Trey Marek (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) rounds out the top three with 46. Reutter has recorded a team-best 10 aces, followed by Williams with eight, and Rohlwing with six. As a team, Illinois Wesleyan ranks 27th in the nation in kills per set, averaging 11.88.
The duo of Reutter and senior Vince DiCosola (Aurora, Ill.-Oswego East) have orchestrated the majority of the offense. Reutter leads the way with 143, averaging 4.61 per set, while DiCosola closely sits behind with 137, an average of 4.42 per set.
The reigning College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week, Rohlwing leads the Titans in blocks with 31, an average of 1.03 per set. The mark not only leads the conference but also ranks 18th nationally. Senior Jake Kougan (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) is second with 21 rejections, averaging 0.91 per set, and Reutter is third with 19. The trio has helped IWU average a CCIW-leading 2.23 blocks per set, ranking 13th nationally. Milka leads the back row with 69 digs, averaging 2.16 per set, followed by Williams' 48 and freshman Ben Zima (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) with 34.
IWU will meet Dominican (2-3) on the court for the fourth time, with the Stars having won the last three outings. Most recently, DU swept the Titans Feb. 20, 2024. Now-assistant coach Mike Eastman led the offense with 14 kills and two aces, while DiCosola accrued 17 assists, and Milka led the team with eight digs. DU comes to town off a tough loss to the defending National Champions California Lutheran University, falling in five sets Thursday, Jan. 30. The Titans will see a somewhat familiar face on the other side of the net, as Kougan's twin brother, Jason Kougan, plays for the Stars.
A live stream of the match, featuring Matt Sosler and IWU women's volleyball player Alex Bardouniotis on the air, can be found here, while live stats can be accessed by clicking here.
