GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University volleyball team improved to 19-4 this season after collecting a pair of wins on Friday in the first day of the Panther Invitational hosted by Davenport (Mich.) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Indiana Wesleyan began the day with a five set victory over Trinity Christian (Ill.). Both Indiana Wesleyan and Trinity Christian are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll. IWU finished the day with a 3-0 win over Saint Ambrose (Iowa).

"I appreciate the energy and focus the team showed today," said IWU head coach Candace Moats. "In our first match of the day the never quit after trailing throughout the five set match. I was encouraged at how they were determinted to finish each match. We came out in the second match determined, focused, and disciplined. That attitude propelled us to a 3-0 match. The girls never gave up and it makes us all proud to be Wildcats."

In the first match of the day, Indiana Wesleyan defeated Trinity Christian by scores of 25-27, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12. TCC is now 17-7 on the season.

Freshman Morgan Miller (FR/Goshen, Ind.) collected a match-best 18 kills with a .292 hitting percentage while Bianca Cifaldi (SO/Itasca, Ill.) tallied 16 kills. Katey Holler (JR/Marion, Ohio) assisted on 35 kills while Emily Workman (FR/Tinley Park, Ill.) had 17. The Wildcats served eight aces and were led by Banner Rodgers (FR/Carrollton, Texas) with three aces and Miller with two.

Ashlen Buck (SO/Brazil, Ind.) totaled 24 digs while Holler finished with 11 and Cypher and Rodgers each had 10. Indiana Wesleyan totaled 13 total blocks and was led by Kylie Portera (SO/Lake in the Hills, Ill.) with one solo and six block assists while Remy Bucknor (SO/Euless, Texas) had one solo and four block assists.

Indiana Wesleyan defeated Saint Ambrose in three sets in the final match on Friday. IWU won by scores of 25-17, 27-25, 25-23. Saint Ambrose falls to 12-13 after the loss.

Cifaldi led the Wildcats with 12 kills in the victory while Miller had 10 and Bucknor earned eight. Holler earned assists on 41 Wildcat attacks. Sam Elkin (SO/Ebensburg, Pa.) and Rodgers each served two aces as the Wildcats had six total.

Buck tallied 17 digs while Miller added 12 and Rodgers had 11. Indiana Wesleyan blocked six Saint Ambrose shots on Friday. Portera earned two solo and one block assists while Bucknor had one solo and two block assists.

Indiana Wesleyan plays two more matches tomorrow at the Panther Invitational. IWU opens Saturday with a contest against #RV Saint Thomas (Fla.) at 12 p.m. and then battle No. 7-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) at 2 p.m.