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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

Oct. 9, 2012 - The North Central College volleyball team saw its five-match unbeaten streak come to an end on Tuesday, as the Cardinals lost a 3-1 decision to 24th-ranked Carthage College at Gregory Arena.

North Central (18-5, 4-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) owned an early lead, taking the first set, 25-21, before the defending CCIW champions bounced back and cruised to wins in the next two sets by scores of 25-12 and 25-18. The Lady Reds closed out the match by fighting off a late Cardinal rally and winning the fourth set, 26-24.

Carthage (16-9, 3-2 CCIW) led early in the opening set before the hosts rallied, eventually taking the lead at 22-21 before scoring the final three points on kills from Kedryn Orrison, Jenae Harner and Kayla Murphy to score the win. 

The Lady Reds turned up the defensive pressure in the second set, recording five blocks, and served up four aces in evening up the match. Carthage scored seven straight points midway through the third set on the serve of sophomore setter Hannah Cahoon to take control and maintained the advantage through the end of the set.

North Central threatened to send the match to a fifth set with a spirited effort in the fourth, battling back and forth in a contest which was tied 16 times, the last of which occurred at 24-24. A pair of Cardinal miscues on the final two points, however, wound up sealing the match.

Murphy finished with a team-high 11 kills for North Central, while Harner and Amanda Hilmer each had nine. Laura Kluk added 37 assists, while Sarah Eggert put up 22 digs and Amanda Walker totaled a season-high seven total blocks.

Emily Heuermann recorded 14 kills and Angelica Walinski had 11 for the Lady reds.

North Central hosts the Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament at Gregory Arena on Friday and Saturday.