MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Fourth-seeded Illinois College saw its 2025 season come to a close on Friday evening, falling 3–0 to top-seeded and host Cornell College in the opening round of the Midwest Conference Tournament. The Lady Blues put together strong stretches throughout the match but ultimately dropped sets 25–19, 25–10, and 25–16.
Illinois College finishes the 2025 season with a 10–21 record and a 5–3 mark in conference play, reaching the MWC Tournament for the second straight year.
Illinois College opened the match with one of its most competitive frames, totaling 14 kills in the first set behind early swings from Riley Drake and Haylie Orton. Drake finished with six kills and a team-high 12 digs, while Orton matched her with six kills, seven digs, and a service ace.
Senior Laura Kaiser closed out her career with an efficient five kills on a .333 hitting percentage along with three digs. Setter Summer Brandis directed the offense with 14 assists and added four digs defensively.
Cornell, the undefeated MWC regular-season champion, applied steady pressure at the net and from the service line throughout the night. Despite trailing in each set, the Lady Blues continued to battle, pulling within two points midway through the third before Cornell used a late run to close out the match.
