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

Box Score

WAUKESHA, Wis. (Oct. 18, 2016) – Plagued by errors on the defensive end, the North Central College women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision at Carroll University on Tuesday, as the Cardinals are still in search of their first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) victory.
 
The Cardinals (13-11, 0-4 CCIW) committed nine reception errors on defense while not recording a single service ace on the offensive end, which proved to be the difference in the match as North Central led the margin in kills, attack percentage, assists and digs over the Pioneers (7-17, 1-5 CCIW).
 
Trailing by just one, 22-21 late in the opening set, the Cardinals failed to mount a late comeback as two Carroll kills and a setting error on North Central quickly ended the first set 25-21 in favor of the Pioneers.
 
North Central held the score close the entire second set, but were unable to overcome the Carroll lead established from the opening point, eventually falling 25-19.
 
Staring at a 21-16 deficit late in set three, six-straight Cardinal points, highlighted by a pair of kills from Cara Howell and Sarah Geosling, turned the tables to give North Central a 22-21 lead.  That lead did not last long however, as the Pioneers rebounded to score four of the set's final five points en route to a 25-23 final set win.
 
Howell finished with a match-high 12 kills, while Geosling added 11, committing only two errors to finish with a .529 attack percentage.  Val Hunt led all players with 21 assists, while Olivia Hanley finished with a team-leading 11 digs on defense.
 
Kylie Mueller led the Pioneer attack with 10 kills, while Jennilyn Joy Cave dished out a team-high 19 assists.  Rachel Harn recorded 19 digs, while tying Mueller for the team lead with three service aces.
 
North Central continues CCIW play on Thursday, heading to 16^th-ranked Elmhurst College at 7 p.m. inside R.A. Faganel Hall.