Lisle, Ill. - The Wheaton volleyball team took the short trip to Lisle, Illinois on Wednesday night for a non-conference match against Benedictine. The Eagles won three-consecutive matches to top the Thunder 3-1. Wheaton won the first set 25-21. Benedictine tied the match with a 25-18 victory in the second set. The hosts won a back-and-forth third set 25-23 as the set had seven lead changes and 11 ties. Benedictine battled to a 26-24 victory in the decisive fourth set.

Colleen Smith and Audrey Gerze (PICTURED ABOVE) each tallied a team-high 12 kills for the Thunder. Briley Brogan had nine kills for the guests. Marlee Anderson distributed a team-high 22 assists and Mia Staub added 15 for the Thunder. Allie high led the Thunder with 26 digs.

Wheaton never trailed in winning the first set 25-21. Wheaton jumped out to an 7-2 lead and continued it to 18-11. The Eagles trimmed Wheaton's lead to three at 24-21, but a Gerze kill gave Wheaton its 25th point and the victory in the set. Gerze had five kills in the set and Anderson distributed six assists, with eight digs for High.

Benedictine tied the match score with a 25-18 victory in the second set. The set was tied 3-3 when the Eagles scored four-consecutive points to take a 7-3 lead and the hosts never trailed following the run. Benedictine built its lead up to 10 points at 19-9 en route to the 25-18 victory. 

Benedictine won the third set 25-23 as the set had seven lead changes with 11 ties. The set was tied 6-6 when Wheaton out-scored the Eagles 4-1 to take a 10-7 lead. Benedictine battled back to tie the set at 15-15. Wheaton gradually built up a two-point lead at 23-21. The Eagles scored the final four points of the set to earn the 25-23 victory.  Gerze and Smith each had three kills in the set. Staub had five assists and Anderson distributed four. High had seven digs.

Benedictine rallied to win the fourth set 26-24. Wheaton jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the set. The Thunder continued to lead at 12-7, however, the Eagles battled back to tie the set at 15-15. The Thunder out-scored the Eagles to take a 22-18 lead. The Eagles scored four-consecutive points to tie the set at 22-22. A kill by Smith gave Wheaton a 23-22 lead. Benedictine scored to tie the set at 23-23, however, Gerze registered a kill to give the guests a 24-23 lead. Benedictine scored three-consecutive points to gain the 26-24 victory in the set and the 3-1 victory in the match. Brogan had a team-high five kills in the set and Smith added four. Anderson distributed nine assists and High tallied eight digs.

Wheaton travels to Iowa to compete in the Cornell College Tournament. The Thunder open the event on Friday night with a match against Gustavus Adolphus College at 8 a.m. Wheaton will face Coe and Cornell in matches on Saturday afternoon.