Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Oct. 28, 2015) – The North Central College women's volleyball dropped a 3-0 match at the hands of 23
rd-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday night, falling to 2-4 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play.
North Central (18-12, 2-4 CCIW) held a slim 9-8 lead midway through the first set, but a six-point run by the Titans quickly turned the Cardinal lead into a 14-9 deficit. Illinois Wesleyan (20-7, 5-2 CCIW) increased its lead 18-10 to force a North Central timeout, and its lead would prove insurmountable eventually capturing the first set 25-19.
The Cardinals held an early 8-7 advantage in set number two, but two straight attack errors followed by back-to-back Titan service aces once again turned the lead in favor of Illinois Wesleyan. Facing a 17-12 deficit, the Cardinals battled back to score four straight points highlighted by a block from
Cara Howell and a kill from
Amanda Walker to pull within one, 17-16, but the Titans responded right back scoring five of the next six points to take back its five-point lead 22-17 and eventually claim the set 25-19.
Holding a 15-8 lead in the third set, the Cardinals seemed to be in control until the Titans rattled off seven straight points to quickly knot the score at 15. With the Titans holding a one-point lead 20-19, the Cardinals surrendered five of the set's final six points, dropping the set 25-20.
Claire Vrabec led the North Central attack with eight kills, while Howell and
Anna Billman each finished with six.
Laura Kluk finished with a match-high 26 assists, while defensively
Jill Galovic led the way with 17 digs.
North Central takes the short trip down the road to Benedictine University this weekend for the Eagle Classic, squaring off against Aurora University at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, following by Milwaukee School of Engineering at 6 p.m.
