Titan Duo Collects CCIW Weekly Awards

Lawton takes defensive, Bardouniotis named offensive

11/2/2026 3:00:00 PM

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - For the fourth time this season, the top-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team snagged two-of-three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin weekly awards, announced Nov. 2. Junior Alysa Lawton (Elmhurst, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) was named the conference's defensive player of the week for the sixth time this season, while classmate Alex Bardouniotis' (St. Charles, Ill.-St.Charles North) big week propelled her to CCIW Offensive Player of the Week rights for the second time this year. The pair was named to the IWU Tournament III All-Tournament team for their play over the weekend.

With the honor, Lawton ties for the most CCIW weekly awards all-time in a single season by a Titan, joining Taylor French who was named CCIW Offensive Player of the Week six times in 2023. Her four straight weekly honors are the most consecutive since French did so from Oct. 16-Nov. 7, 2023. Bardouniotis corralled her second conference weekly honor of the season and fourth of her career.

Lawton's week consisted of 5.27 digs per set, falling just shy of 80 at 79 over the four-match stretch. She was incredible in the sweep over No. 14 UW-Eau Claire with 30 digs in three sets. Her 30 scoops are the most in a three-set match since the game transitioned to 25 points in 2008. Additionally, they are the second-most all time in a three setter, tying Ashley Reed who posted the same number Sept. 25, 2007.

Lawton began her week with a 16-dig, eight-assist performance in the four-set win over North Central College. She returned to the Shirk Center Friday, Oct. 30, and put up 14 digs and two assists against UC Santa Cruz before her historic performance against the Blugolds. Along with her 30 assists, she dished out a career-high 10 assists for her first career double-double. She ended the weekend with 19 digs and eight assists in the five-set match against WashU. Lawton, along with the rest of the Illinois Wesleyan defense, held opponents to hit .169 over the four matches.

On the offensive side, Bardouniotis was the fuel for the IWU attack. With 63 kills in four matches, the junior managed 4.20 kills per set, and attacked at a .294 clip. The junior's strong week started with the first of four double-doubles over the stretch, with a 10-kill, 12-dig performance at NCC. She was valuable from the service line with four aces against the Cardinals and followed with five at the expense of UCSC. Against the Banana Slugs, Bardouniotis posted her best attacking percentage of the season at .429 with 15 kills on 28 attempts.

The final two matches of the weekend for Bardouniotis began with UW-Eau Claire, where she tallied another 15 strikes and 11 digs. She hit .275 with an ace against the Blugolds and followed it up with a career-high 23 kills on 54 attacks against WashU. She ended the weekend with another 18 scoops against the Bears and her fourth double-double of the week.

The duo, and the rest of the Titans, gear up for their third consecutive nationally-ranked opponent with No. 17 University of Chicago Wednesday, Nov. 4. First serve from the Ratner Athletic Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Windy City.

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