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

Box Score

Feb. 12, 2016 – Falling behind by two sets, the North Central College men's volleyball team's comeback attempt stalled, as the Cardinals dropped a 3-1 decision at the hands of Loras College on Friday evening inside Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (2-8, 1-2 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League) won the first meeting of the season 3-2 over the Duhawks (6-6, 1-2 MCVL), but struggled early and never quite recovered.  Loras claimed the opening set 25-19, hitting .368 as a team to North Central's .067, while finishing with 10 kills to just three errors.

The second set was much like the first for North Central, as the attack could not find its groove, committing nine attack errors to finish with a -.065 attack percentage.  The Duhawks countered with 15 kills on their offensive attack to seven errors, good for a .229 attack percentage.

The Cardinal attack finally found its rhythm in the third set, jumping out to a commanding 17-10 lead midway through, thanks in part to four straight kills.  The run was highlighted by a pair from Bozhidar Kolev, while Jacob Zemba and Max Lawrence also added kills over the four point run.

Loras pulled to within two-points of the lead late in the third set, but three Duhawk attack errors down the stretch sealed the win for North Central, 25-20.  The Cardinals hit a much improved .323 in the third set, finishing with 13 kills to just three errors, while the Duhawks stumped to the tune of a .083 attack percentage.

The Cardinals held a 5-3 lead early in the fourth, but four straight Loras points quickly turned the score around 7-5 in favor of the Duhawks.  Despite holding tight down the stretch, the Cardinals never overcame the Loras lead and were done in by six service errors, eventually falling 25-20.

North Central committed 16 service errors on the evening and a team attack percentage of .152.  The attack was led by Lawrence's math-high 13 kills, while Zemba also finished in double-figures with 12.  Raymond Kraus turned in a match-high 35 assist, to go along with six digs and two solo blocks.

Dylan Ross led the Duhawk attack with 11 kills on the evening, while Danny Krasich handed out 24 assists and Shayne Marquez added 16.  Defensively, Ross led the team with three solo blocks, while Blair Anderson finished with a match-high 10 digs.

North Central continues MCVL play on Friday, Feb. 19, heading to 15^th-ranked Milwaukee School of Engineering with the match slated to begin at 7 p.m.  Links to live coverage are available HERE.