NAPERVILLE — Top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan and second-seeded Carthage each earned straight-set victories in Thursday’s College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinals, setting up a final between the league’s top two teams. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan swept No. 4 seed Wheaton to extend its undefeated home record, while Carthage added a dominant performance against No. 3 seed Millikin, marking both programs’ return to the championship stage on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. inside IWU’s Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill.
 
IWU will be aiming for its second consecutive CCIW Tournament title and its fourth crown since 2018. Carthage is back in the tournament final for the seventh time in the last eight seasons and will be seeking its first championship win since 2019. 
 
Saturday’s matchup will be the first meeting between the Titans and Firebirds in the CCIW postseason since IWU won the 2021 title match in Bloomington in three sets.
 
#1 Illinois Wesleyan def. #4 Wheaton, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14
The Titans, ranked third nationally by the AVCA on Tuesday, improved to 25-2 overall and 13-0 at home with Thursday’s win.
 
The opening set remained close until Illinois Wesleyan used a late surge, highlighted by a kill from Hannah Tellor, to secure a 25-22 decision. The second frame featured multiple ties, including a 13-13 deadlock, after a service ace by Wheaton’s Grace Autry. The Titans regained control behind kills from Taylor French and Alex Bardouniotis and ultimately closed the frame 25-21 following a Wheaton attack error.
 
Illinois Wesleyan separated quickly in the third, using aces from French and Tellor and strong play at the net to seize momentum. The Titans limited Wheaton to 14 points in the final set, securing the match on an attack error. 
 
The Titans hit .307 as a team and held the Thunder to a .111 percentage, while IWU finished with a 57–38 advantage in total points scored. French led IWU with 17 kills, while setters Sophia Feeney and Lauren O’Brien combined for 34 assists. Wheaton’s Jordan Benford totaled 10 kills and 10 digs.
 
#2 Carthage def. #3 Millikin, 25-23, 25-11, 25-20
Carthage reached the 20-win plateau on Thursday. The Firebirds held statistical control throughout the night, highlighted by a .257 attack percentage and a 13–1 advantage in service aces.
 
The first set remained close until the final points, as Millikin rallied to tie the score at 23-23 before Carthage secured the frame on a service ace by Tatum Kebisek. Momentum shifted sharply in the second, where the Firebirds’ pressure proved decisive. Carthage hit .318 in the set and limited Millikin to a -.080 attack percentage while delivering six aces to build a lead.
 
Millikin rallied in the third set, but Carthage maintained control and closed out the match on a kill from Kristina Manojlovic, who finished with a match-high 12 kills. Ava Dettwiler added 20 assists and eight kills for the Firebirds. Millikin was led by eight kills from Addison Oyer. Kylie Ramirez totaled 14 digs.