The Aurora University women's volleyball team hosted a non-conference match on Friday night in Thornton Gymnasium, welcoming the Titans of Illinois Wesleyan University. The Spartans proved victorious over the Titans in five exciting sets in front of a loud AU home crowd.

MATCH SCORE: Aurora University 3, Illinois Wesleyan University 2 (20-25, 25-15, 25-22, 17-25, 15-10)
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORD: Aurora University 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the NACC
GAME BOX SCORE: view here

OUTSIDE THE BOX
- The AU win is the third straight for the Spartans over the Titans.
- Numerous members of the Spartan 2018 Regional Championship team were in attendance for the game.

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
- After leading the opening set early, three IWU aces midway through the set found the Spartans trail and eventually fall 25-20.
- The second set was a complete reversal with IWU leading early before the Spartans picked up the attack and ran away with the set winning 25-15 to even the match.
- Sydnei Avery led with six kills as AU hit .281 in the second set.
- The third set saw both teams have leads and late the score was tied 22-22, which marked the eighth tie score of the set.
- A kill from Addy Gruse won the third set and set the AU crowd into a frenzy as the Spartans led 2-1..
- AU never led in the fourth set with the set being tied 9-9 before IWU took control to win 25-17 and send the teams to a winner take all fifth set.
- The Spartans dominated the fifth set, jumping out to a 7-2 lead which would grow to 12-4.
- AU hit a match high /312 in the set to win 15-10 and win the match 3-2.

TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS
- Sydnei Avery had a match-high 19 kills and three aces.
- Kaitlyn Beebe had 37 assists.
- Kate Poellmann had 10 kills and four digs.
 
SPARTAN LEADERS:
KILLS: Sydnei Avery (19) and Kate Poellman (10)
ASSISTS: Kaitlyn Beebe (37)
DIGS: Dani Lauer (20), Kaycie Wenzel (18) and Vanessa Brown (12)
BLOCKS: Addy Gruse (4)
ACES: Kaycie Wenzel (4) and Sydnei Avery (3)

UP NEXT: 
Next action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes on Tuesday, September 21 when they travel to Dominican University. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m. in River Forest, Illinois.