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

Box Score
  
Sept. 28, 2010 - After being denied a straight-sets victory, the North Central College volleyball team rallied and fought off a strong challenge from Illinois Wesleyan University on Tuesday, eventually collecting a 3-2 victory at Gregory Arena for the Cardinals' first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory of the season.

The Cardinals (10-8, 1-2 CCIW) dominated play in the early going, hitting .333 and scoring eight of the final nine points of the first set en route to a 25-14 win. The hosts kept the heat on in the second set, rolling to a 7-1 lead and staying in front throughout a 25-21 victory.

North Central led by as many as seven points in the third set and were poised to close out the match before the Titans (7-10, 0-3) erased a 24-23 deficit by scoring the final three points and claiming the win, 26-24. The fourth set saw five ties and three lead changes, and was tied at 16-16 before a 6-0 run on the serve of setter Stacy Hassinger put Illinois Wesleyan in front for good. The visitors held on for a 25-21 win to force a fifth set.

After surrendering the first point in the final set, North Central got a kill from Kelly Ator to spark a 5-0 rally that included two service aces from Crystal Wright. The surge proved to be enough to put the Cardinals in front for good, as they never trailed again and won, 15-10.

Jenae Harner put up a career-best 20 kills in the contest, while Amber Ladwig put up a season-best 11 kills to go with three blocks. Ryan Lally also established a new career high with 56 assists, while Wright tied her collegiate best with 23 digs. Jamie Drozd served up five of North Central's 15 service aces, while Wright had four and Lally had three.

North Central will return to competition Tuesday, Oct. 5, hosting North Park University at 7 p.m.