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

Box Score

Oct. 17, 2017 – Jumping out to a 2-0 lead on Tuesday, the North Central College women's volleyball team hit a road block in the third set and never recovered, dropping the final three sets to fall 3-2 to Elmhurst College inside Merner Fieldhouse.

North Central (11-5, 2-3 CCIW) recorded 14 kills in each of the first two sets to take a commanding 2-0 lead, as the Cardinals held a 21-20 lead late and broke it open after a kill from Julie Laugel followed by a Bluejay attack error a 23-21 advantage.  After Elmhurst trimmed the lead back to one late, Laugel finished off the set with a kill off an assist from Alexa Zimbelman to seal the 25-23 first set win.

Set number two was back-and-forth the whole way and went down to the wire as North Central held a 24-21 lead, but Elmhurst was able to stave off three straight set points to even the score at 24.  After holding off two more set points, it was the Bluejays who clawed back after consecutive kills, now holding their own set point 28-27.

With a chance to close out the set, Elmhurst committed a costly service error to even the score once again and the Cardinals took full advantage, as another Bluejay attack error followed by a kill from Anna Billman closed out the set 30-28 in favor of North Central.

The Cardinals momentum halted quickly after that however, as the offense suddenly failed to regain its rhythm, committing more attack errors than kills over the final three sets.  The Cardinals totaled 24 kills over the first two sets but managed just 23 the rest of the way, hitting less than .050 in all three of the final sets.

While the Cardinal offense struggled to immensely, the Bluejay offense suddenly caught fire, finishing the match with 28 kills to just eight errors over the last three sets, winning by scores of 25-15, 25-16 and 15-8, while the Cardinals led for just three points after the opening two sets.

Laugel led the Cardinals with 15 kills on the evening, while Billman also finished in double figures with 10.  Four Cardinals finished with double digit digs, led by 28 from Olivia Hanley, while Claire Vrabec finished with 20 and Cara Howell and Laugel each added 15.  Zimbelman handed out 36 assists to lead all players, while Vrabec recorded four service aces.

Elmhurst (9-14, 5-1 CCIW) was led offensively by Hannah Davis' 17 kills, while Taylor Zurliene added 11 and four service aces.  Taylor Nirchi dished out 35 assists, while the Bluejay defense was led by Amy Schryver's 35 digs.

North Central closes out a five-match home stretch on Friday, Oct. 20, playing host to Carroll University at 7 p.m.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.