PICTURED ABOVE: Lindsay Stein (left) made nine total blocks with eight kills and Megan McKinley (right) made 15 kills.

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton volleyball team lost a hard-fought five-set match at home against Millikin University on Tuesday night in King Arena.

The Big Blue defeated the Thunder 3-2 as Millikin opened with a 25-20 win in the first set. Wheaton took a 2-1 lead by winning the next two sets by identical scores of 25-18. Millikin rallied to win the critical fourth set 25-20 and the Big Blue closed out the victory with a 15-13 victory in the decisive fifth set.

Wheaton will remain in conference play for its next match when the Thunder will travel to North Central on October 4 in a 7 PM match against the Cardinals.

Freshman Megan McKinley led the Thunder with 15 kills and she added 13 digs. Hannah Velling tallied 10 kills and Emily Buyse added nine kills with eight total blocks. Freshman Lindsay Stein recorded eight kills with nine total blocks. Senior Jenna McCallister distibuted 37 assists and added 19 digs, with five total blocks. Kaitlyn Graham Novosad had a team-high 25 digs and Cassie Murphy added 19 digs.