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

Wisconsin Lutheran Box Score

Concordia Box Score

Sept. 1, 2009 - For the fourth straight season, the North Central College volleyball team has gotten the year started off with a victory, as the Cardinals swept both of their matches in Tuesday's Cardinal Quad at Gregory Arena.

North Central blanked Wisconsin Lutheran College, 3-0, in the opener, then doubled its pleasure with a 3-1 triumph over Concordia University-Chicago.

The Cardinals fought back and forth with Wisconsin Lutheran in the first set, and trailed, 17-16, before kills by Emily Cardwell and Stacie Mokros helped the hosts pull ahead, 19-17. North Central did not trail again in the opening frame, holding on for a 25-22 win.

The positive momentum propelled the Cardinals to a 10-4 lead early in the second set, though the Warriors (1-1) managed to narrow the gap to 14-13. A 5-0, run, including three straight service aces by Jamie Drozd, provided the home team with some breathing room, and North Central led by as many as 10 points before prevailing, 25-18.

Wisconsin Lutheran grasped control of the third set early and held a 14-10 advantage, but the Cardinals scored seven of the next eight points to pull ahead. With the score tied, 19-19, Christy Hermann and Cardwell notched consecutive kills and Crystal Wright served up an ace, and North Central stayed in front before closing out the match, 25-23.

Cardwell led the hosts with 16 kills, while Wright totaled 13 to go with four service aces. Stephanie Ryding turned in a match-high 22 digs and Ryan Lally recorded 37 assists.

Concordia (1-1) led throughout most of its first set against the Cardinals, and was two points away from victory when North Central surged ahead. The Cardinals leveled the score at 24-24, then claimed the final two points for the 26-24 win. For the second straight match, North Central enjoyed a dominant second set, winning, 25-13.

The Cougars turned the tables in the third set, avoiding a shutout with a 25-22 victory. Concordia led by as many as six points and watched the Cardinals battle back to trail by just a 24-22 count before closing out the win and forcing a fourth set.

With the score tied, 19-19, in the fourth frame, Hermann recorded a kill to spark a 5-0 rally, then added another to secure the 25-21 win and end the match.

Wright led all attackers with 22 kills, as Cardwell added 18. Ryding ended the match with 30 digs, Lally totaled 53 assists, and Hermann finished with four block assists.

North Central travels to Wisconsin Lutheran on Friday and Saturday for a tournament, where it will play a total of four matches.