Box Score

Oct. 14, 2008 – The North Central College volleyball team assured itself of an improvement in its standing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin on Tuesday, improving to 4-2 in CCIW play with a 3-1 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (17-9), who finished 3-4 in league play a year ago, handed Illinois Wesleyan its first CCIW loss this season.

Tuesday's first two sets were the most dominant that North Central has put together to date, posting a scorching .510 attacking percentage. The hosts went on a 9-3 run to pull away late in the first set for a 25-14 victory, , then scored eight of the final 10 points in the second en route to a 25-17 win and a commanding 2-0 advantage.

The Titans (14-12, 4-1 CCIW) opened the third set with a flourish, racing to a 10-1 lead. North Central scrapped its away back into contention, trailing by just a 17-14 count, before an 8-1 run helped Illinois Wesleyan to a 25-15 win and kept the visitors in the match.

IWU threatened to take the fourth set as well, leading most of the way, before the Cardinals mustered a match-clinching 8-2 rally. North Central got three kills from Stacie Mokros (Jr., Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) in the final surge, including the one that ended the match.

Jessica Eggert (Sr., Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) led all attackers with 13 kills, with Crystal Wright (Fr., Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) adding 10. Stephanie Ryding (Jr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) tallied 37 assists and 21 digs, while Anna Wirtz (So., Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) put up 17 digs and four service aces. Amy Bruns (Jr., Addison, Ill./Addison Trail) added five block assists.

The Cardinals are off until Tuesday, Oct. 21, when they conclude CCIW regular-season play by hosting North Park University. Play is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.