Illinois Wesleyan University Women's Volleyball Team to Host Final Home Tournament of the Season

Strategic Insights -

The sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team will host the third and final home tournament of the season, the IWU Tournament III, on October 31-November 1. The Titans will face off against top-ranked opponents, including No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, No. 5 Juniata College, and Millikin University.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team will host the IWU Tournament III on October 31-November 1, featuring top-ranked opponents such as No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and No. 5 Juniata College.
  • The Titans have claimed their second straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Championship outright, marking the first time in program history that the team has defended their title.
  • Senior Taylor French has become the program's all-time kills leader, surpassing now-assistant coach Tyler White (nee Brown) with her 1778th kill.
  • The team will begin the tournament facing UW-Oshkosh on Friday night, October 31, at 7 p.m., followed by a matchup against Juniata on Saturday, November 1 at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate Senior Day.
  • The IWU offense, led by French with 310 kills, averages 13.75 kills per set, ranking seventh-best in Division III.
  • Sophomore Alex Bardouniotis is second on the squad with 233 kills, followed by Hannah Tellor's 157 kills.
  • French also leads the team in aces with 60, while her average of 0.76 per set ranks 18th nationally.
  • The team's defense is led by Kannyn Boyd with 329 digs, an average of 4.51 per set.
  • Junior Sophia Feeney and freshman Lauren O'Brien have orchestrated the offense, leading the Green and White to an average of 12.49 assists per set, the ninth-best mark in the country.

Statistics:

  • 1778: Taylor French's new all-time kills record.
  • 13.75: IWU's seventh-best kills per set average in Division III.
  • 310: Taylor French's total kills.
  • 60: Taylor French's total aces, ranking 18th nationally.
  • 1774: Taylor French's kills per set, averaging 3.92 per set.
  • 329: Kannyn Boyd's total digs, averaging 4.51 per set.
  • 445: Sophia Feeney's assists, averaging 5.63 per set.
  • 412: Lauren O'Brien's assists, averaging 5.22 per set.

Sources:

  • Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics news release, October 31, 2023.