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

Box Score
  
Sept. 16, 2010 - Victimized by sustained scoring rallies late in the final three sets, the North Central College volleyball team was denied a win in its 2010 home opener, losing by a 3-1 count to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin rival Millikin University at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (6-4, 0-1 CCIW) led through most of the first set and secured a 25-23 victory in the opening frame, and held a 10-6 lead in the second set before the Big Blue posted 10 of the next 11 points. North Central trailed, 20-13, and staged a rally on the serve of Kristina Antle to narrow the gap to 21-19, but the visitors pulled away and leveled the match with a 25-21 win.

Trailing, 19-16, late in the third set, Millikin (6-2, 1-0 CCIW) put together a 6-1 run to move in front, 22-20. The Cardinals battled back once again and threatened to put away the match on two set points, but surrendered the final three points and came out on the short end of a 27-25 score.

The hosts erased an early deficit in the fourth set to tie the score at 14-14, but a run of six straight points, including three service aces by libero Erin Reed, put the Big Blue in front for good, as it closed out the match with a 25-18 victory.

North Central's Jenae Harner finished with team highs of 11 kills and 14 digs, while Antle recorded five service aces and Ryan Lally finished with 32 assists. Alli Briner contributed four total blocks, giving her 113 for her career and moving her into 10th place in school history.

Millikin was paced by Kelsy England's 17 kills and 14 assists. Kylee Brown added 12 kills and four blocks.

The Cardinals travel to the Lake Forest College Triangular on Saturday for matches against Lake Forest and Benedictine University. Play is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.