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

Benedictine Box Score
Lake Forest Box Score

Sept. 17, 2011 - The North Central College volleyball team claimed its first home win of 2011 on Saturday in the Red/Black Triangular at Gregory Arena, but wound up coming away with a split as the Cardinals were defeated in their second contest of the day.

North Central defeated Benedictine University, 3-1, then suffered a 3-0 setback to Lake Forest College. The Cardinals' record now stands at 6-5 this season.

The Cardinals emerged victorious, 25-23, after a hard-fought first set against Benedictine (6-5), but the Eagles bounced back and dominated the second set, 25-11. North Central's Joelle Lusson opened the third set with a series of three straight service aces to get the home team rolling, and the Cardinals led throughout a 25-21 win. 

North Central fell behind early in the fourth set, but a 6-2 scoring run that featured three straight service aces by Jenae Harner moved the hosts in front. The Eagles battled back and tied the score at 19-19, but North Central put up the next thre points and held on for a 25-23 victory. 

Harner finished with a team-high 10 kills for the Cardinals, while Amber Ladwig added nine. Jessie Fiala totaled a team-best 18 digs and Lauren Pool put up six total blocks.

The Cardinals were turned away in their second match by Lake Forest, 25-22, 26-24, 25-22. The first set was tied at 21-21 before the Foresters (4-7) scored four of the final five points. The pattern repeated itself in the second set, as Lake Forest broke a 23-23 tie with three of the final four points.

Ladwig finished with 11 kills, while Lusson totaled 10 digs and Kedryn Orrison recorded four total blocks.

The Cardinals resume College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on Tuesday, traveling to face Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 p.m.