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

Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. (Oct. 3, 2017) – Falling behind early, the North Central College women's volleyball team played catch-up all night against a tough 15th-ranked Millikin University on Tuesday, dropping a 3-0 decision inside the Griswold Center.
 
The opening set could not have started much worse for North Central, as Millikin (13-4, 3-0 CCIW) scored the first 11 points of the set, but the Cardinals did not go down without a fight, clawing back to within four of the Big Blue lead late.  Kills from Cara Howell and Rachel Elshoff sparked the rally, while Julie Laugel followed with a service ace.
 
Continuing a 6-0 Cardinal run, back-to-back kills from Howell and Sarah Geosling, as well as another kill from Geosling following a Millikin timeout drew the Cardinals to within four, 19-15.  That was as close as North Central would come to the lead however, as Millikin closed out the set 25-17, hitting at a .234 clip.
 
The Millikin attack continued to be a force to be reckoned with over the final two sets, as the Big Blue racked up 15 kills in each, hitting .387 and 286, respectively, en route to the three-set win.
 
North Central finished the match hitting .091 while the Big Blue offense finished hitting .292, as the Cardinals were paced by Laugel's eight kills.  Alexa Zimbelman led the team with 16 assists, while Elshoff and Olivia Hanley each recorded 11 digs on defense.
 
Alora Goodey and Emily Seegmiller each finished with 11 kills to lead the Millikin offense, while Emily Milhalkanin dished out 29 assists. 
 
North Central (8-4, 1-2 CCIW) is null until next Tuesday, Oct. 10, hosting Augustana College at 7 p.m. inside Merner Fieldhouse.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.