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

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2017 – Redeeming a three-set loss to Benedictine University earlier this season, the North Central College men's volleyball team faced a 2-0 deficit on Tuesday night but rallied to win the final three sets in a Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) match inside Gregory Arena.

North Central (8-5, 4-3 MCVL) came out slow over the first two sets, falling by scores of 25-20 and 25-16, respectively, hitting just .036 in the second set.

The Cardinals did not lose confidence however, rebounding to take a quick 8-3 lead in the third set as a kill from Bozhidar Kolev and a Benedictine attack error forced an Eagle timeout early in the set.

Benedictine (6-8, 5-5 MCVL) clawed back to knot the score at 19-all late, but a huge block from Anthony Kluzak and Raymond Kraus, followed by another Benedictine attack error regained the lead 21-19 in favor of North Central.

The Eagles did not go down quietly in the third set, pulling within one point of the lead late, but Jacob Zemba sent home the set-winning kill, set up from Kraus, sealing the 25-23 third-set win.

In set four, North Central once again jumped out to a lead midway through the set, as another kill from Zemba and an Eagle attack error gave the Cardinals a 15-10 advantage while forcing a Benedictine timeout.

Just like set three, Benedictine rallied back to even the score 22-22, however North Central was not to be denied again, as a kill from Zemba and a block from Kolev and Brendan Crawford forced set point upon the Eagles, where an attack error clinched the win 25-22 to force a fifth and final set.

North Central carried the momentum into the final set, taking an early 6-3 lead to force a Benedictine timeout.  The two teams traded points until North Central held a 12-10 advantage, when Zemba put down a pair of kills over the next three points, setting up match point for North Central and forcing the final Eagle timeout.

After a Benedictine kill cut the Cardinal lead to 14-12 following the timeout, Crawford sent home a perfect set from Kraus for the match-winning kill as North Central hit .522 in the fifth set, finishing with 13 kills to just one attack error.

Zemba finished with 17 kills to lead the Cardinal attack, including 14 over the final three sets.  Crawford added 14 kills on the evening, leading all players with a .650 hitting percentage, while Jake Braceros also finished in double digit kills with 11.  Kraus paced the Cardinal offense with 40 assists, while Michael Trunzo added 13.

Defensively, Kevin Messer led the way with 20 digs, while Braceros and Kraus each added 12.  Kluzak led the Cardinal block with six total, while Braceros finished with four and Kraus three.

Sterling Glover and Nick Malak each finished with 13 kills to lead the Benedictine attack, while Markus Reimer dished out a match-high 47 assists and recorded a team-leading 18 digs.

North Central is back in action on Friday, Mar. 3, continuing MCVL play at Lakeland College with match time slated for 7 p.m. inside Woltzen Gymnasium.