ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan rolled to wins by convincing margins in the first two games on its way to a four-set victory over Augustana at Carver Center Wednesday. The Vikings dropped to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in the CCIW, while the Titans improved to 2-2 on the season and in the conference.
 
The visitors claimed the first two sets by identical 25-13 scores.
 
A Courtney McAulfiffe kill broke the final tie (4-4) in game one, as IWU took control by winning seven straight points. Augustana would get no closer than six the rest of the way and set point came on a Viking error.
 
McAuliffe and Maddie Dryfhout each had a pair of kills as the Titans jumped on top 6-1 in game two. Augustana got as close as 6-3 on a Jaden Julius (Lena-Winslow HS, Winslow, Ill.) kill, but Wesleyan gradually pulled away, getting set point on an Evy Makris kill.
 
The hosts bounced back to take the third game by a score of 25-20. An Emily Schipper (Fulton HS, Fulton, Ill.) kill broke the final tie (11-11) and another gave the Vikings their biggest lead at 22-16. A Schipper ace provided set point.
 
Augustana battled back from a 18-12 deficit in game four, outscoring the Titans 7-1 behind kills from Ja'Nya Davis (Narbonne HS, Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jenny Dunder (Skyline HS, Longmont, Colo.) to pull even at 19-all. After falling behind again 22-19, the Vikings took three straight points to tie it at 22-all on an Evey Gervase (Marian Catholic HS, Griffith, Ind.) service ace. However, a Dryfhout kill broke a 23-all deadlock and match point came on an Augustana error.
 
Freshmen Brook Fieldman (Plainfield East HS, Plainfields, Ill.) and Schipper led Coach Kelly Bethke's club with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) recorded 30 assists and freshman Grace Vranicar (Kaneland HS, Sugar Grove, Ill.), with 14, led four Vikings with double-digit digs. Davis was in on three blocks.
 
McAuliffe and Dryfhout led the Titans with 13 and 11 kills, respectively.