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

Box Score

Oct. 23, 2009 - The North Central College volleyball team posted their sixth straight victory and improved to 6-0 at home for the season on Friday, taking down the Wheaton College Thunder in straight sets, 3-0, at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (27-3) improved to 5-1 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, and have posted the program's highest single-season win total since 2000.

The hosts met with little resistance in the opening set, pulling ahead to a comfortable lead at 11-4 with a 5-0 run midway through the frame. Crystal Wright played a key role in the rally with three straight kills. Leading, 13-7, the Cardinals went on a 12-1 run to close the set, including the final eight points, to post a 25-8 victory. Stacie Mokros turned in six kills as North Central pulled ahead, while Stephanie Ryding and Jamie Drozd# each totaled eight kills to stifle the Thunder offense.

Wheaton (14-13, 2-5 CCIW) bounced back after trailing early in the second set and kept things close, eventually tying the score at 20-20. After turning North Central away on set point, the Thunder served twice for the set before the home team stepped up and claimed a 28-26 win. Wright and Jenae Harner were the Cardinals' top attackers in the second set with four kills apiece, while Ryding tallied 15 digs.

The third set was tied, 6-6, before North Central opened up a lead with a 6-1 surge. The Cardinals led throughout the remainder of the contest and closed the evening out with a 25-17 win. Wright totaled seven kills in the final set, Mokros finished with five, and Ryding added 10 digs.

Wright finished with 16 kills for the match, with Mokros providing 14 and Harner adding 11. Ryding and Drozd led the Cardinals in digs with 33 and 17, respectively, and Ryan Lally totaled 41 assists.

North Central hosts Augustana College (11-15, 2-4) in its final CCIW match of the season on Tuesday, which will also be Senior Night at Gregory Arena. Action is scheduled to get under way at 7 p.m.