Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder volleyball team closed out its stretch of four home matches in a five-match span on Wednesday as Aurora University visited King Arena. Aurora, receiving votes in this week's AVCA Division III Coaches Poll, defeated the Thunder 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-11).
 
Senior Katie Rohrer (PICTURED ABOVE) led the Thunder with nine kills on 14 attempts as she tallied an impressive .571 attack percentage. Madeline Moore registered eight kills, compiling a .333 attack percentage. Audrey Irwin and Ellie Brown each collected four kills. Brown had an impressive .500 attack percentage.

Junior setter Kelly Thornton had a team-high 16 assists for the Thunder. Junior libero Jessica Bosse registered a team-high 10 digs.

Aurora won the opening set 25-7. The set was tied 4-4 when the Spartans put together a 12-2 run to gain a 16-6 lead and the guests earned the victory.

Wheaton led 5-1 early in the second set. Aurora out-scored the Thunder 6-2 to tie the match at 7-7. The score was tied 10-10 when a kill by Aurora's Imani Freeman gave the guests an 11-10 lead that the Spartans never relinquished. Rohrer had a sensational second set with six kills on eight attempts, posting a .625 attack percentage. Moore added four kills in the second set, Thornton had eight assists and Bosse contributed six digs.

In the third set, a kill by Aurora's Rachel Martens broke a 4-4 tie as the Spartans gained a 5-4 advantage. Aurora never trailed in the set after that point as the guests out-scored Wheaton 11-2 on a run sparked by Martens' kill.

Freeman led the Spartans with 11 kills and Emily Lines had 31 assists for the guests. Katie Vondra had a team-high 10 digs for Aurora and Lindsey Simpson registered five total kills.

Wheaton returns to conference action Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a match at Elmhurst College. The Thunder will face Otterbein College on Saturday at noon at Elmhurst's R.A. Faganel Hall.