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

Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. (Oct. 23, 2012) - The North Central College volleyball team was denied in its quest to claim the program's first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship since 1992 on Tuesday, as the Cardinals lost by a 3-0 count to ninth-ranked Elmhurst College at R.A. Faganel Hall.

The Cardinals (22-7, 5-2 CCIW) entered the match needing a win to share the conference title with the Bluejays and secure the inside track on homecourt advantage in the upcoming CCIW Tournament. Elmhurst (26-7, 7-0 CCIW) instead secured its first unblemished conference finish since 2002 and was presented the championship trophy.

The Bluejays charged ahead early and claimed the first set, 25-16. North Central led throughout much of the second set, but yielded a 6-0 run late and came out on the short end of a 25-22 score. Elmhurst closed out the match with a 25-12 third-set win, scoring eight of the final nine points.

Jenae Harner led North Central with eight kills, while Amanda Hilmer and Kayla Murphy each totaled seven. Sarah Eggert tallied 10 digs and Laura Kluk finished with 27 assists. 

Kaitlyn Wilks paced the Bluejays with a match-high 13 kills, hitting .722. Megan Reynolds put up seven kills and four total blocks.

North Central will compete in the Benedictine University Invitational on Friday and Saturday before hosting a CCIW Tournament Play-In Match against an opponent to be determined on Tuesday.