NAPERVILLE — Six teams will vie for the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Volleyball Tournament title beginning Tuesday. The event opens with a pair of quarterfinal matches hosted by #3 Millikin and #4 Wheaton, with the winners advancing to Thursday’s semifinal round at top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan and second-seeded Carthage. 
 
The tournament champion, to be crowned on Saturday, will receive the CCIW’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.
 
#1 Illinois Wesleyan
2025 Record: 24-2, 8-0 CCIW (1st)
2025 NPI Ranking: 4
Last Season: Won championship
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: 2024
 
Illinois Wesleyan, the nation’s fourth-ranked squad according to the AVCA poll and the most recent NCAA NPI rankings, enters the CCIW postseason as the top seed after completing an unbeaten 8-0 run through conference play. IWU will be in search of its second consecutive CCIW Tournament championship.
 
The Titans led the league in nearly every major statistical category, including points (18.27 per set), kills (14.00), assists (12.54), service aces (2.85), hitting percentage (.278) and digs (15.81). They also held opponents to the lowest hitting percentage in the CCIW at .102.
 
Senior outside hitter Taylor French was named CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year on Monday. She has been the conference’s top offensive performer, averaging 4.67 points and 3.77 kills per set. IWU placed seven student-athletes on the All-CCIW Team on Monday, including the Setter of the Year award for Sophia Feeney and the Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
With a first-round bye secured, Illinois Wesleyan will host the winner of the Wheaton–Carroll quarterfinal in a semifinal on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
#2 Carthage
2025 Record: 24-10, 5-3 CCIW (T-2nd)
2025 NPI Ranking: 66
Last Season: Lost semifinal
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: 2016
 
Carthage claimed the No. 2 seed with a 5-3 conference mark and will also advance directly to the semifinals. The Firebirds have been particularly effective at the net, leading the CCIW with 1.97 blocks per set while ranking second in both points (15.87) and kills (12.26).
 
Jenna Damon was voted CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year on Monday. She averaged 4.35 per set to lead all CCIW defenders in conference play. Kristina Manojlovic has also been a key contributor for Carthage, standing fourth in the league in both points (3.85) and kills (3.48) per set. 
 
The Firebirds, who have advanced to the tournament final in six of the last seven seasons, will play host to the winner of the Millikin–Augustana quarterfinal on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Tarble Arena.
 
#3 Millikin
2025 Record: 14-13, 5-3 CCIW (T-2nd)
2025 NPI Ranking: 84
Last Season: Lost championship
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: 2019
 
Millikin earned the third seed in this year’s championship with a 5-3 record and will open tournament play Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Augustana in the quarterfinal round. The Big Blue won the regular-season matchup with the Vikings in five sets on Oct. 15 in Rock Island.
 
MU is seeking a return to the CCIW Tournament final after dropping last season’s title match at Illinois Wesleyan. This fall, the Big Blue have been among the league’s most efficient attacking teams, posting a .205 hitting percentage to rank second in the CCIW. They also sit third in overall scoring at 15.53 points per set.
 
Middle hitter Kyra Carothers leads all CCIW players with a .405 hitting percentage, while Delaney Higgins averages 3.00 kills and 3.55 points per set.
 
#4 Wheaton
2025 Record: 21-9, 4-4 CCIW (4th)
2025 NPI Ranking: 106
Last Season: Did not qualify
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: None
 
Wheaton, one of three teams in the 2025 field seeking their first CCIW Tournament championship, will host Carroll in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. WC is aiming to avenge a three-set loss to the Pioneers on Oct. 24.
 
The Thunder enter the event as the fourth seed following a 4-4 conference campaign. WC will rely on a balanced lineup that has shown strength in defense and serve receive. Wheaton ranks fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.183) and fifth in digs (14.63 per set).
 
Offensively, Jordan Benford provides consistency on the outside with 3.25 kills per set, ranking fifth in the conference, while setter Lacey Higgins averages 7.09 assists per set.
 
#5 Carroll
2025 Record: 16-15, 3-5 CCIW (T-5th)
2025 NPI Ranking: 134
Last Season: Did not qualify
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: None
 
Carroll earned the fifth position in the standings with a 3-5 record and will travel to Wheaton for its opening-round contest. CU is hoping for a repeat of its three-set sweep of the Thunder on Oct. 24 in Waukesha. The Pioneers have won four of the last five in the series with Wheaton since 2021.
 
The Pioneers are one of the conference’s stronger blocking units, ranking second in the league with 1.86 blocks per set. Bronwyn Rowse has been Carroll’s primary scoring option, sitting second in the CCIW in both kills (3.71) and points (4.00) per set. Setter Payton Depies ranks third in assists at 8.86 per set.
 
#6 Augustana
2025 Record: 14-14, 3-5 CCIW (T-5th)
2025 NPI Ranking: 169
Last Season: Lost quarterfinal
Most Recent CCIW Tournament Championship: None
 
Augustana, the road team in Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchup at Millikin, rounds out the tournament field as the No. 6 seed after a 3-5 finish in league play. The Vikings have shown balance in their attack, ranking fifth in both kills (11.52 per set) and service aces (2.00). They also rank fourth in digs (14.79 per set).
 
Offensively, Grace Gustafson ranks among the top hitters in the CCIW with a .350 percentage, third overall. The Vikings, in search of their first CCIW Tournament win since 2022, won three of their final four matches overall this season and two of their final three league matchups.