Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

Oct. 20, 2015 – Closing out its home schedule, the North Central College women's volleyball team fought tough but ultimately dropped a 3-1 decision to 15^th-ranked Elmhurst College on Senior Night inside Gregory Arena.
 
The turning point in set number one came with the score tied 17-17, as the Bluejays (21-8, 4-1 CCIW) rattled off three straight points on three kills from Hannah Nimrick to take a 20-17 lead.   That lead was too much for North Central (18-11, 2-3 CCIW) to overcome down the stretch, succumbing the set 25-20.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead in the second set, as a 7-2 run gave North Central a 17-11 lead.  North Central seemed to be in command late holding a 24-19 late, but Elmhurst staved off four-straight set points to quickly pull within a point of the Cardinal lead.  The Cardinals were not to be denied however, regaining control as Cara Howell put home the set-winning kill off an assist from Laura Kluk to even the match 1-1.
 
Elmhurst led throughout much of the third set, taking a 19-12 lead midway through and never surrendered the lead down the stretch to win the set 25-19.
 
Looking to force a fifth and final set, the Cardinals trailed 21-19 late but three straight Bluejay attack errors and a kill from Anna Billman quickly turned the tables to give North Central a 23-21 lead. 
 
After consecutive Elmhurst points, another kill from Billman gave the Cardinals set point 24-23, but North Central couldn't close out the set, dropping the final three points to suffer a heartbreaking 26-24 loss.
 
 
Howell led all players with a match-high 15 kills, while Amanda Walker added nine kills and a team-high three total blocks.  Kluk finished with a match-high 37 assists and 21 digs, while Jill Galovic added 15 digs.
 
North Central continues CCIW play on Tuesday, Oct. 27, heading to Illinois Wesleyan University with the match slated for 7 p.m.  Links to live in-game statistics and video are available HERE.