Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder volleyball team (8-6, 1-2 CCIW) hosted Elmhurst University (3-9, 0-2) in a CCIW match in King Arena. Wheaton defeated the Bluejays for the first time since a 3-0 Thunder victory in Elmhurst on October 8, 2014. Wheaton held on to win today's first set 27-25. The Thunder won the second set 25-23 and closed out the match by winning the third set 25-18.
Emerson Traweek led the Wheaton attack today with 10 kills and she contributed 10 digs.
Naomi Bunker and
Caroline Capps each had six kills. Setter David Whitehead tallied 26 assists for the hosts, and she added a match-high four service aces.
Allie High collected 12 digs for the hosts.
Wheaton won the opening set 27-25. The Bluejays led 21-20 when Wheaton scored three-consecutive points to take a 23-21 lead. Bunker tallied two kills in the 3-0 run and Whitehead recorded a service ace. Elmhurst battled back to tie the set at 25-25. Traweek tallied a kill to give the Thunder a 26-25 lead and a block by Capps and
Faith Bailey to give Wheaton the 27-25 win in the first set. Traweek had five kills and Whitehead had 11 assists in the first set. Capps and Traweek each collected five digs.
Wheaton won the second set 25-23. The Thunder jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the set. The Bluejays tied the set at 10-10 with a scoring run. Wheaton responded with a 5-1 run to gain a 15-11 lead. The Thunder continued to maintain a strong lead at 21-15, however the Bluejays responded with a 7-2 run to tie the set at 23-23. Traweek tallied a kill to break the tie and give Wheaton a 24-23 lead. A solo block by Bunker gave the Thunder the 25-23 win in the second set. Traweek had a team-high four kills in the second set, and Whitehead had nine assists.
Wheaton won the third and final set 25-18. The Thunder gained a 13-4 lead in dominating the Bluejays early in the set. Wheaton never trailed in the set in closing out the guests. Capps and
Jordan Benford each recorded two kills in the set, and Whitehead had six assists and two service aces. High led the Thunder in the set with six digs.
Today's match was the first of a three-game homestand for the Thunder. Wheaton will host Carthage in a CCIW match on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in King Arena.
