FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Box Score

Sept. 23, 2008 -- The North Central College volleyball team opened its home schedule by taking on the fifth-ranked team in NCAA Division III on Tuesday, and hung with the undefeated Carthage College Lady Reds until ultimately falling, 3-0, at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (10-6, 1-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) held a 21-20 lead late in the first set before Carthage rallied and closed it out, 25-23. The Lady Reds then put together a 9-2 run midway through the second set before winning it as well, 25-16.

Carthage (10-0, 2-0 CCIW) trailed the Cardinals, 22-20, late in the third set, but went on a 5-1 surge which enabled the visitors to secure the match with a 25-23 win.

Crystal Wright (Fr., Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) led all attackers with 12 kills, while Amy Bruns (Jr., Addison, Ill./Addison Trail) added eight for North Central. Stephanie Ryding (Jr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the hosts with 31 assists and 12 digs, and Wright and Jamie Drozd (Fr., Palos Park, Ill./Stagg) each ended the night with 11 digs.

Rachel Swoboda led Carthage with 10 kills and Katie Lundgren totaled 15 digs.

The Cardinals travel to the Concordia University (Ill.) Triangular on Saturday. North Central plays the University of Chicago at 10 a.m., then faces Concordia at noon.