To continue their best start in program history, the IWU men’s volleyball team brought their record to 15-4 after defeating the Loras College Duhawks in the fourth conference match of the season. The Titans took down the nationally ranked No. 11 team for the first time ever on the Duhawk’s home court on March 4, 2026, which also happens to be “Duhawk Day.”
The Titans took Loras to five sets, taking the first in extra points 30-28. IWU dropped the second and third sets but came back with a vengeance to best Loras 25-19 in the fourth and 15-11 in the fifth.
Sophomore setter Ethan Kuziela led the team offensively, with 25 assists and 23 kills apiece. Kuziela’s 23 kills set a career best and tied the program’s record for kills in a five-set match. The sophomore powerhouse also leads the nation in triple-doubles with four, and ranks in the top 10 in the CCIW for five stat categories: hitting percentage, kills, assists, service aces and digs.
Backing up Kuziela was junior Brenden Reutter, who tied Kuziela’s 25 assists.
When Kuziela or Reutter weren’t spiking the ball, it was getting passed off to outside hitters Bryce Williams and Aydin Provost who walked away with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.
Williams said that while they were facing a ranked team, strategy was business as usual.
“My mindset was focused on making sure I was going into the game and executing like normal,” Williams said.
Sophomore libero Ben Zima, who runs gameplay on the defensive end, helped out with a team-high 12 digs. Zima said the team has been solid in-game and in practice recently, and mindset has a lot to do with it.
“We’ve had the mentality all season that if we focus on our side and control what we can control, we can play with anybody in the country,” Zima said.
Sophomore Gavin Rohlwing had Zima’s back on defense, leading the team in blocks with four. Provost and Kuziela followed close behind with three each.
After beating No. 19 Milwaukee School of Engineering in February, the Duhawk defeat marks the Titans second ranked win and highest so far this season. It also set Illinois Wesleyan at second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin under Carthage College.
Along with their team ranking, the Titans have three players sitting in three different CCIW stat columns. First-year phenom Provost leads the conference in kills with 229, and Zima leads in digs with 196. First-year Dylan Quinn takes third in blocks, with 43.
With more wins now than the team had all of last season, the Titans are building off of last year’s foundations with their new team.
“I think the biggest difference has probably been the mindset. Last season was definitely a springboard for us. This season has been all about carrying that momentum forward and going into every game, believing in each other, ourselves, and trusting that the results will follow,” Zima said.
Williams said the key to this year’s success has been in the team’s gameplay.
“The biggest difference this season is having a spread offense and building better defense,” Williams said.
IWU is set to host more conference action on Wednesday, March 11 when Augustana College comes to town. When the Titans took on the Vikings earlier this season, IWU was able to down Augustana in four sets. The match will begin at 7p.m. on the Shirk Center court.
