In a riveting match at Gregory Arena on Tuesday night, October 3, the Illinois Wesleyan University women’s volleyball team clinched victory against North Central College. The Titans secured the win in four sets (25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 29-27), propelling their overall record to 7-8 and maintaining a solid 3-1 standing in league play.
The Titans showcased a formidable offense, tallying 62 kills compared to North Central’s 50, holding a crucial attacking advantage with .219 to .187. Star performances from Taylor French and Morgan Harrington, coupled with Jordan Pierce’s pivotal role as the primary distributor, were instrumental. French notched a career-high 26 kills with 16 digs, securing a double-double. Harrington contributed 12 kills with a .280 attacking percentage. Pierce led with 30 assists, nine digs, five kills, two aces, and a block.
Defensively, the Titans excelled, boasting superior numbers in both digs (79-65) and blocks (9-5). Faith Washko led with 25 digs, accompanied by seven assists, an ace, and a kill. Freshman Sophia Feeney contributed 11 digs and achieved a double-double with 15 assists.
Freshman Eleanor Palmer and senior Taylor Babec made significant contributions on the defensive end, accumulating four and three blocks, respectively.
The match’s initiation saw the Titans assert dominance with a powerful attack, winning the first set 25-19 with a .243 hitting clip compared to North Central’s .051. Overcoming a 12-7 deficit in the second set, the Titans executed a 4-0 run, ultimately winning 25-22. Despite a spirited comeback attempt in the third set, Illinois Wesleyan succumbed 25-21, leading to a closely contested fourth set.
The fourth set unfolded as a thrilling exchange, with North Central mounting a comeback to tie the score at 18. Faith Washko’s pivotal play, involving a diving dig-turned-kill, set the stage for a series of trading points. Lily Summers secured a crucial kill off the Cardinal block, bringing IWU to match point multiple times. The Titans sealed the 29-27 victory with a decisive Pierce kill, concluding a dramatic rally.
Looking ahead, the Green and White will continue their road trip with a match against Millikin University in Decatur on Friday night, October 6. The game is scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. inside the Griswold Center.