UChicago Volleyball Splits Matches at Illinois Wesleyan Tournament
Bloomington, Illinois – The University of Chicago’s volleyball team had a dynamic day at the Illinois Wesleyan Tournament, concluding with a record of 2-1 over the weekend. In their early match, the Maroons pulled off a remarkable comeback against Earlham College but faced a tough challenge against the No. 19 Illinois Wesleyan in the afternoon.
Morning Match Recap: UChicago vs. Earlham
UChicago 3, Earlham 2
The Maroons demonstrated resilience by rallying from two sets down to secure a thrilling five-set victory against Earlham, ending with set scores of 26-28, 18-25, 25-19, 25-23, and 16-14. After stumbling in the initial two sets, UChicago regrouped to dominate the remaining sets.
Senior outside hitter Diya Mishra was pivotal in this comeback, achieving a career-high with 23 kills. Olivia Ip contributed significantly as well, adding 14 kills. Ellie Maxwell, the setter, fueled the attack with 22 assists, alongside an impressive tally of 7 service aces and 12 digs.
On the defensive front, Thalita Marangon excelled with a match-high of 30 digs while Olivia Zamis fortified the block with 5 total rejections. The Maroons also showcased their serving prowess with a total of 11 service aces throughout the match.
Afternoon Match Recap: UChicago vs. Illinois Wesleyan
Illinois Wesleyan 3, UChicago 0
In their afternoon face-off against host team, No. 19 ranked Illinois Wesleyan, the Maroons displayed commendable effort yet ultimately fell short in straight sets with scores of 28-26, 25-19, and 25-21. The match was tightly contested, although UChicago struggled to find their offensive rhythm.
Mishra once again led the scoring with 11 kills, followed closely by Ip with 9 kills. Marangon contributed with 5 kills and 3 aces. Senior libero Klaudia Barbarossa was notable on defense, securing 15 digs, while Grace Xu recorded a double-double, accumulating 12 assists and 11 digs.
Despite hitting only .119 overall, the Maroons showcased improvements, particularly in the third set, maintaining competitiveness across kills, digs, and blocks.
Acknowledgments and Looking Ahead
Following her outstanding performances over the weekend, Diya Mishra was recognized with a place on the 2025 IWU All-Tournament Team, along with standout freshman Ellie Maxwell, who also received All-Tournament Team honors.
With a weekend record of 2-1, the UChicago volleyball team will be preparing to host the Rosalie Resch Invitational next weekend. Their first challenge will be another top-25 matchup against the No. 22 UW-Eau Claire on Friday night at 7 p.m.
