Aurora, Ill. - Despite Illinois Tech women's volleyball giving Aurora University all they could handle in their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) semifinal match Thursday night at Thornton Gymnasium in Aurora, the #2 seed Spartans (22-8) proved too much to overcome on this evening, defeating the # 7 seed Scarlet Hawks in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-21). 

Illinois Tech concluded their 2025 season with a 13-15 overall record, advancing to the NACC semifinals for the second time in program history. The Scarlet Hawks finished the regular season winning 9 of the final 12 matches to earn the #7 seed in the conference post-season tournament. 

How It Happened
The first set began with back-and-forth action between Illinois Tech and Aurora, as both teams exchanged early points. Aurora gained an advantage with a 7-3 run, highlighted by kills from Izabella Kowalczyk and Peyton Darguzis. Illinois Tech responded with a series of plays, including three consecutive service aces by Karla Trautmann Mendez, narrowing the gap to 15-14. However, Aurora maintained their lead with a combination of effective attacks and Scarlet Hawks errors, ultimately closing the set 25-20 after a final attack error by Sydney Wilson. 

Trautmann Mendez contributed significantly for Illinois Tech with multiple kills and blocks early in the second set, helping her team gain an early advantage. However, Kowalczyk and Samantha Torres responded with effective kills, aided by Trinity Nelson's assists, to level the score. Midway through the set, Aurora capitalized on Illinois Tech's miscues, including a service error, to take control. Torres emerged as a key player in the latter part of the set with consecutive kills, extending Aurora's lead. The set concluded with an attack error by Trautmann Mendez, sealing a 25-17 victory for Aurora.

Aurora started strong in the third set, quickly securing a 5-0 lead with a service ace from Katie Brisk and a kill by Kowalczyk. Illinois Tech responded with a series of points, with London Francis and Trautmann Mendez contributing key kills, narrowing the score to 8-6. The Scarlet Hawks mounted a significant comeback later in the set, spurred by consecutive attacking errors from Aurora and an 8-0 service run by Maya Zinkiewicz, including a service ace, tying the score at 20-20. However, Aurora regained control with decisive kills by Riley Moreno and Katelyn Ruse, ultimately clinching the final set 25-21.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Karla Trautmann Mendez  
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- 14 kills  
- 4 service aces  
- 8 digs  
- 3 total blocks  
- 20 points

Sydney Wilson 
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- 7 kills  
- 6 digs  

Maya Zinkiewicz  
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- 1.000 service percentage on 10 serves
- 1 service ace   

Rowan Midgette  
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- 14 assists  
- 1.000 hitting percentage

Brooke Rifkin  
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- 9 digs 

Aurora Top Performers

Katelyn Ruse
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- 12.5 points
- 10 kills
- 7 digs
- 3 total blocks

Meredith Milz
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- 14.5 points
- 12 kills
- 10 digs
- 2 service aces

Trinity Nelson
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- 33 assists
- 14 digs

Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech is now 0-9 lifetime against Aurora, dating back to 2014. In that time, the Scarlet Hawks have only won 2 sets over 9 matches.
- The Scarlet Hawks recorded eight service aces in the match.