Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Box Score

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (Feb. 16, 2018) – In the first of two matches slated for the weekend, the North Central College men's volleyball team defeated Marian University on Friday, claiming its second 3-0 win against the Sabres this season.

North Central opened the first set with a 6-4 lead after a kill from Casey Hiller and a string of errors from the Sabres' offense. Marian's Jacob DeGroot cut the deficit to one with a kill off of a Cardinal blocking error, but Michael Trunzo would find Kevin Messer and Nick Lilley and set both us for two kills that would lead to North Central going on a five-point run to extend the lead, 11-5. The Cardinals continued to control the first set with kills from Brendan Crawford, Bozhidar Kolev, and Lilley and took a 24-14 lead, looking to end the set. The Sabres answered back with four points, but a kill from Kolev would end the set and give the Cardinals a 25-18 win.

Looking to come back from the first set loss, Marian opened the second set with a 2-0 lead off of a kill from Jon Smallpage and service ace from Joey Dittman, but North Central would tie it up following a kill from Lilley off the hands of Messer and an ace from Crawford. Both teams continued to battle, keeping the score close throughout the remainder of the match, but the Sabres capitalized on a setting error on Samuel Kharash and took away North Central's momentum, taking a 17-15 lead. Determined to not let the set slip away, Jake Braceros and Jacob Zemba went to work with the help of Raymond Kraus, tallying two kills and a service ace to go on a four point run and take a 22-20 lead. Despite best efforts, the Sabres could not close the set with a win as a kill from Lilley off the hands of Kharasch would give North Central the 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead going into the third set.

The Cardinals began the third set with a kill from Hiller and jumped ahead with a 6-3 lead following kills from Crawford and Kolev. A kill from Smallpage would bring the Sabres within one, but North Central would go on a five-point run with kills from Lilley, Kolev, and Braceros to put the Cardinals ahead 14-8. Marian found some momentum after a kill from Tyler Barnett and an ace from Ben Walter, but would commit errors that helped the Cardinals pull ahead, 17-11. As the Cardinals approached match point, the Sabres turned up the heat, going on a four-point run to pressure North Central and cut the score 22-19, but suffered two critical errors that helped North Central to a 25-19 victory and defeat the Sabres in three sets.

Lilley has another outstanding performance, leading the team with ten kills, six blocks, and seven digs. Kolev also tallied ten kills and two aces while Trunzo accumulated 27 assists and Hiller came up big defensively with six blocks.  

North Central (6-6) continue competition in Wisconsin, playing Lakeland University on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. A link to live in-game coverage can be found HERE.