AURORA, Ill. (Sept. 6, 2008) -- For the second straight day the North Central College women's volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Jim Coleman Memorial Tournament hosted by Aurora University. North Central swept Beloit College (Wis.), 3-0, before falling to Saint Norbert College (Wis.), 3-2, in the team's final game of the tournament.

The Cardinals (6-2) opened up Saturday morning with a convincing win over the Buccaneers, winning the opening set 25-14. Beloit would keep it close in the second-set with North Central pulling out the narrow 28-26 win before sealing the match with a 25-20 win in the third set. Christy Hermann (Jr., Washington, Ill./Illinois Central CC) and Jessica Eggert (Sr., Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) led the offensive attack, each amassing 10 kills with Stephanie Ryding (Jr., Naperville, Ill./Central) dishing out 33 assists. Crystal Wright (Fr., Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) led the defensive effort with 15 digs while teammate Anna Wirtz (So., Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) tallied 13. Wright also recorded two service aces in the match. Amy Bruns (Jr., Addison, Ill./Addison Trail) and Stacie Mokros (Jr., Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) each chalked up a pair of blocks in the match, with each getting a solo and an assist.

In North Central's final match of the tournament, the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead before the Green Knights would rally, winning the final three sets to take the 3-2 win. The Cardinals won the opening two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-21 before falling 16-25, 17-25 and 7-15 in the final three. Eggert and Hermann once again led the offensive charge with Eggert tallying 13 kills with Hermann getting 11. Ryding served up 49 assists while on defense Wirtz, Wright and Jamie Drozd (Fr., Palos Park, Ill./Stagg), chalked up 29, 17 and 14 digs respectively. 

The Cardinals return to the court on Saturday, September 13, when they travel to Lisle, Ill. for the Benedictine University Triangular. North Central will take on the host Benedictine Eagles on Saturday at 10 a.m. and face Lake Forest College at noon. North Central makes their home debut at Merner Field House on Tuesday, September 23 against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Carthage College. Game time is 7:30 p.m.