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

UW-Platteville Box Score

Concordia Chicago Box Score

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Sept. 26, 2015) – The North Central College women's volleyball team split a pair of non-conference matches at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Triangular on Saturday, dropping the opening match to the host Pioneers, 3-0 before rebounding with a 3-0 victory over Concordia University Chicago in the nightcap.
 
In the first set against UW-Platteville, the Cardinals (13-3) held a 16-14 lead midway through, but the Pioneers rallied to score nine of the next 11 points to quickly turn the tables and take a 23-19 lead, eventually winning the set 25-22.
 
In set number two, North Central jumped out to a 8-5 lead behind a pair of service aces from Olivia Hanley, but once again the Pioneers responded scoring the next four points to take a 9-8 lead.
 
The two teams traded leads throughout the set until UW-Platteville rallied off three straight points to take a 19-16 lead and would retain its lead down the stretch, claiming the second set 25-21.
 
Set three was all Pioneers (8-8), opening up a 20-12 advantage down the stretch, eventually clinching the match with a 25-20 set victory.
 
Julie Laugel led the Cardinal attack with nine kills in the opener, while Cara Howell and Amanda Walker each added seven.  Laura Kluk finished with 19 assists, while defensively, Jill Galovic turned in 27 digs.
 
Squaring off against Concordia Chicago for the second time this season, the Cardinals are now 2-0 against the Cougars (5-8), winning in three sets on each occasion. 
 
Despite surrendering the set's first four points to the Cougars, North Central rallied back to knot the score 12-12 and would close the set on a 13-3 run, highlighted by three kills from Howell and a pair each from Kluk and Anna Billman.
 
Set number two was back-and-forth throughout, until North Central rallied off five straight points late to take a 23-19 lead, but that lead quickly shrunk to 23-22 as the Cougars responded with three straight points of its own.
 
After an attack error gave the Cardinals set point, Kluk put home the set-winning kill two points later, giving North Central the 25-23 win.
 
Tied 16-16 midway through set three, the Cardinals caught fire and ended the match on a 9-1 run, highlighted by a pair of services aces from each of Kluk and Walker, while Billman also added a pair of kills during the rally.
 
Howell paced the Cardinal attack with nine kills in the nightcap, while Billman added seven off the bench.  Kluk finished with a match-high 29 assists to go along with three service aces, while Walker led all players with four aces. 
 
North Central opens College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.  Links to live in-game statistics and video are available HERE.