HOLLAND, Mich. — The Big Blue women’s volleyball team advanced to the round of 16 with an upset victory over Cornell College, earning the right to play another day at the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament in Holland, Michigan on Friday, November 22. In a rematch with the University of Dubuque from earlier this season, Millikin pulled off another sweep to advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

In the 3-0 win, the Big Blue won 25-23 in the first set, 25-19 in set two, then, after falling behind in the third set, came from behind to win 26-24 and take the sweep to secure.

Kailee Itzenhuiser led the way in kills with 15 and 24 digs. Addison Oyer scored 11. Kyra Carothers recorded five service aces. Alyssa Frederking and Gracie Shaffer each added 19 assists.

Millikin defeated the Spartans 62-44 in the match.

The Big Blue jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the first set, but Dubuque stormed back to pull within two points, then tied the match at 16 on an error by Millikin. Kills by Sophia Gibbs and Elle Richards helped the Big Blue go on a 4-0 run and take a 20-16 lead. Dubuque again tied the score at 22 apiece, but kills by Addison Oyer and Itzenhuiser gave MU a two-point lead before capping off the set win with a kill by Carothers.

In the second set, the Big Blue took an impressive 18-13 lead. A block from Carothers and Oyer wrapped up the set and gave MU momentum heading into the third set.

In the third set, the Big Blue fell behind 14-18 after a back and forth start to the set. They opened up a lead of two, but Dubuque’s offense extended the lead to five. A 4-0 run with kills from Richards, Carothers, Itzenhuiser and a block from Carothers and Itzenhuiser brought MU within one at 20-21. The Big Blue continued to claw away and three straight kills by Carothers, Higgins and Oyer sealed the deal for the Big Blue to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Big Blue will meet host, top seed in the region Hope College, in a matchup starting at 7:00 PM ET on Saturday, November 23 in Holland, Michigan for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight in Salem, Virginia.

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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently serves nine member institutions, including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Illinois), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois), Millikin University (Decatur, Illinois), North Central College (Naperville, Illinois), North Park University (Chicago, Illinois) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois).