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

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Sept. 3, 2011) - The North Central College volleyball team found the going much tougher in the second day of competition at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Invitational, losing both of its matches to finish with a 2-2 record in the opening weekend of the 2011 season.

The Cardinals dropped a 3-2 decision to the University of Minnesota-Morris in their first match of the day, then were beaten, 3-0, by the College of St. Catherine (Minn.) to close the weekend.

North Central played from behind for much of its first match, losing the opening set, 25-14. The Cardinals rallied to post a 25-17 second-set win, then lost by the same score before leveling the match again with a 25-18 win in the fourth set. Minnesota-Morris (2-1) made off with the victory after claiming the fifth set, 17-15.

Crystal Wright once again led the Cardinals' attacking efforts, posting 16 kills, and her 19 digs ranked second on the team only to Joelle Lusson's total of 21. Amber Ladwig added 10 kills, while Alli Briner posted three total blocks and Ryan Lally finished with 33 assists.

North Central was never able to get untracked against St. Catherine's losing in straight sets by scores of 25-21, 25-12 and 25-20. Jenae Harner's five kills were a team high for the Cardinals, while Briner totaled four blocks and Jessie Fiala turned in seven digs.

The Cardinals travel to Chicago for the North Park University Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Action is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday.