Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton Thunder volleyball team (6-0, 1-0 CCIW) is hosting the 2021 Marilyn Scribner Invitational this weekend in King Arena. Wheaton opened the tournament on Friday with a pair of victories. The Thunder defeated Carroll 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-22) in a CCIW conference match to begin the tournament. Wheaton and Wisconsin Lutheran closed the night with a dramatic five-set match. Wheaton defeated the Warriors 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-7) rallying from a 2-0 deficit.

In the 3-0 Thunder win against Carroll, Audrey Gerze led the Thunder with nine kills, adding nine digs. Colleen Smith and Briley Brogan each tallied seven kills for the Thunder and Ashton Major added six kills. Brogan had a .467 attack percentage and Major posted a .417 attack percentage. Marlee Anderson recorded 17 assists and Mia Staub had 14 assists. Smith tallied three service aces and recorded seven digs. Libero Allie High recorded a team-high 13 digs. Naomi Bunker had three total blocks, including one solo.

Smith led the Thunder with 18 kills in the dramatic come-from-behind win against Wisconsin Lutheran. Gerze registered 17 kills for the hosts. Anderson led the Thunder with 29 assists and Staub added 18. High had a match-best 34 digs for the Thunder. Smith added 11 digs, while Anderson and Gerze each tallied nine digs. Brogan and Major each registered four total blocks.

The tournament resumes on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Wheaton returns to the court at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon with a match against Albion. The Thunder conclude the tournament at 3:00 p.m. with a match against Benedictine University.