Wheaton College Athletics

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder volleyball team (9-17, 2-4 CCIW) hosted Elmhurst University (14-8, 3-2 CCIW) on Friday evening in King Arena. The Bluejays topped the Thunder 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 25-21) in the key CCIW matchup. Tonight was "Senior Night" for the Thunder as the program honored its three seniors: Paris Griffin, Sydney Overweg, and Cat Wilhite (PICTURED AT RIGHT).

Mary Patrick continued her strong play with 14 kills in posting a .370 attack percentage (14-4-27). Freshman Chelsea Poskocil also had 14 kills as she added eight digs, and two service aces.
Setter Karalyn Osborne had 38 assists for the Thunder. Avery Nance had 11 digs to lead the Wheaton defensive effort and Heidi Horan added three service aces. Overweg had a team-high four total blocks.

Elmhurst won the first set 25-22. Wheaton opened the set with a 4-1 lead as Horan and Patrick each had two kills. Wheaton remained in the lead until Elmhurst tied the set at 9-9. The two squads continued to battle as the set was tied at 20-20 when the guests closed it out with a 5-2 run for the 25-22 victory. Patrick had five kills in the set and Poskocil added three. Osborne had nine assists for the hosts.

Wheaton won the second set 25-19. The Bluejays led for much of the match as the guests had a 17-12 lead when the Thunder responded with an outstanding run. Wheaton scored 11-consecutive points 23-17 lead. Poskocil had three kills in the impressive Wheaton run and Patrick had the final kill of the set as Wheaton won 25-19. Poskocil had five kills in the set and Patrick had four. Osborne had 12 assists and Overweg tallied three total blocks.

Elmhurst rallied to win the third set 27-25. Elmhurst jumped out to an 8-4 lead and Wheaton rallied with a 7-2 run as the Thunder took an 11-10 lead. The Thunder led 14-13 and used another run, a 6-1 surge to give the hosts a 20-14 lead. However, Elmhurst countered with eight-consecutive points to take a 22-20 lead. Wheaton tied the set at 23-23 in a run that concluded with a block by Patrick and Overweg. In the plays that followed Overweg and Patrick had kills as Wheaton lead 25-24. The Bluejays closed out the set with three-consecutive points to rally for the critical 27-25 victory. The set was tied 11 times and had five lead changes. Poskocil led Wheaton with four kills in the set, while Katherine Adkison and Patrick each added three. Osborne had 11 assists and Horan tallied two service aces.

Elmhurst never trailed in winning the fourth set 25-21.

Wheaton returns to conference play next Wednesday with a matchup at North Park.