Dupage Policy Journal

Millikin University and Wheaton College advanced to the semifinals of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Volleyball Championship following their quarterfinal victories on Tuesday night.

Millikin, seeded third, secured a straight-sets win over Augustana with scores of 25-20, 25-16, and 25-20 at the Griswold Center. This marks Millikin's 16th consecutive appearance in the CCIW semifinals. The Big Blue improved their record to 15-13, outperforming Augustana in several key statistics including kills (38-28), blocks (9-4), digs (51-41), and hitting percentage (.240 compared to .034). Alyssa Frederking and Delaney Higgins were instrumental in overcoming an early deficit in the first set. In the third set, Augustana briefly led after two kills by Carmela Carbone, but Millikin regained control with contributions from Kylie Ramirez and a block by Carothers and Addison Oyer. Delaney Higgins finished with a match-high 16 kills and 20.5 points; Carothers recorded six blocks.

In the other quarterfinal match, fourth-seeded Wheaton defeated Carroll in five sets: 21-25, 25-15, 26-24, 23-25, and 15-11 at King Arena. This was Wheaton’s first victory in the CCIW Tournament since 2012. Carroll started strong behind Bronwyn Rowse and setter Payton Depies but Wheaton responded with a decisive second set win powered by Katherine Adkison and Jordan Benford. The teams traded sets until Wheaton took control in the fifth set with a .474 hitting percentage. Benford contributed both a kill and an ace early on; Mary Hamann’s late kill put Wheaton at match point before a Carroll setting error ended it. Benford led all players with 19 kills and 21 points; Lacey Higgins added 57 assists for Wheaton. Rowse had 17 kills and 23 points for Carroll.

With these results, Millikin will face second-seeded Carthage while Wheaton will play top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan in Thursday’s semifinal matches scheduled for 7 p.m. The winners will advance to Saturday’s championship match.

"Millikin punched its ticket to the semifinals for the 16th consecutive season with a commanding sweep (25-20, 25-16, 25-20) of  Augustana at the Griswold Center."

"The Big Blue (15-13) controlled the match from start to finish, outpacing the Vikings (14-15) in kills (38-28), blocks (9-4), digs (51-41) and hitting percentage (.240 to .034)."

"After a brief deficit in the opening set, Millikin settled in quickly behind strong play from Alyssa Frederking and Delaney Higgins."

"The Big Blue surged ahead and used defensive pressure to close out the set 25-20 before cruising through the second, 25-16."

"Augustana made its best push in the third set, hitting .226 and leading 14-12 after back-to-back kills by Carmela Carbone."

"But Millikin responded with a late surge — highlighted by points from Kylie Ramirez and a block from Carothers and Addison Oyer — to seal the 25-20 win and the sweep."

"Higgins powered the offense with a match-high 16 kills and 20.5 points, while Carothers led the front line with six blocks."

"Fourth-seeded Wheaton outlasted No. 5 Carroll in a five-set battle (21-25, 25-15, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11) at King Arena."

"The win marked Wheaton’s first CCIW Tournament victory since 2012."

"Carroll opened strong, hitting .324 in the first set behind Bronwyn Rowse and setter Payton Depies to claim a 25-21 decision."

"Wheaton responded decisively in the second, rolling to a 25-15 win with a .300 hitting mark and a late surge fueled by kills from Katherine Adkison and Jordan Benford."

"The third set was the tightest of the match, with the Thunder edging Carroll 26-24."

"Carroll forced a fifth set by taking the fourth, 25-23."

"The decisive fifth set belonged to Wheaton, which hit .474 and controlled the tempo from the start."

"Benford delivered a kill and an ace to help build a 7-4 lead, and Mary Hamann’s late kill pushed the Thunder to match point before a Carroll setting error ended it, 15–11.”

“Benford led all players with nineteen kills and twenty-one points while setter Lacey Higgins tallied fifty-seven assists.”

“Rowse paced Carroll with seventeen kills and twenty-three points in defeat.”