Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
(Written by Allysson Schellhase, Student Sports Information Assistant)
Box Score
PLYMOUTH, Wis. (Feb. 17, 2018) – Coming off a win against Marian University the previous day, the North Central College men's volleyball team extended their stay in Wisconsin to set a single-game high hitting percentage against Lakeland University (4-8) on Saturday to win the match 3-0.
Both teams battled for the first set with strong offenses and kept the score tied 10-10. A kill from middle hitter Casey Hiller gave the Cardinals control of the ball and sparked a four-point run with a service ace from outside hitter Jake Braceros and a kill from outside hitter Nick Lilley, pulling the Cardinals ahead,18-15. The Cardinals' lead did not last long as the Muskies accumulated six kills to knot the score once again at 21-21 but Braceros took some initiative by tallying three kills to close the first set 25-21.
North Central's offense continued to be aggressive in the second set with kills from outside hitter Bozhidar Kolev and middle hitter Anthony Kluzak to give the Cardinals a 3-7 advantage. Lakeland's defense was no match for the Cardinals as three more kills and two Muskie attacking errors widened North Central's lead at 12-5. Lakeland did not have a chance to catch up as five more Cardinal attacks from Lilley, Kolev, Braceros, and Kulzak maintained the lead before a kill from Hiller sealed the deal for the second set, 25-11.
Going into the third set 2-0, the Cardinals played with confidence and continued to dominate offensively. Setter Michael Trunzo assisted in kills from Braceros and Hiller to give the North Central an early six-point lead. Lakeland suffered five attacking errors and a service error while the Cardinals continued to challenge the Muskies defense with ten attacks which resulted in kills. The Cardinals finished off the set similarly to the previous two with a kill from outside hitter Mateo Gonzalez, taking the third set 25-16 leading to a 3-0 victory.
North Central set a single-game high hitting percentage at .537 with a total of 49 kills. The Cardinal offense had a stellar showing with Kolev, Hiller, Braceros, and Kluzak all with .554, .625, .611, .611 hitting percentages respectively. Trunzo accumulated 40 assists, playing a vital role in today's recording-breaking match.
The Cardinals (7-6) start Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) play on Wednesday, Feb. 28, hosting No. 3 Carthage College at 7 p.m. at Gregory Arena. A link for live in-match coverage can be found HERE.
