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Box Score

MILWAUKEE, WIS. (Jan. 31, 2020) - Despite taking the first two sets of the match, the North Central College men's volleyball team fell just short of their second win on the season on Friday, with the Raiders from Millwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) besting them in five sets.

The Cardinals were able to jump out to a first-set lead thanks to Ben Williams and Jason Eslinger, with the duo having five and four kills in the first frame, respectively, as the Cardinals took the set 25-23. The second set was just as competitive, with North Central seemingly in command of the match with a 25-22 win. Justin Curtis got in on the action in the second for the Cardinals, tying with Jason Eslinger for the team lead in kills in the set with three a piece.

The Raiders would not quit despite their backs being up against the wall though, pulling out a 25-20 third-set victory thanks to a 5-0 run late in the frame to put them up 20-16, with the Cardinals not able to answer back. The Raiders took that momentum and got off to a fast start in the fourth, taking a 4-0 lead to begin the set. The Cardinals recovered and at a few points took the lead but could not come out victorious in a set that saw big runs by both squads. The fifth and final set would determine things for the two evenly matched teams.

Once again MSOE came out firing on all cylinders in the fifth, taking a 5-0 lead and seemingly gaining all the momentum. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals went on a run of their own, as Jared Moser recorded two service aces and Ben Williams had two kills to lead the charge, as the Cardinals went on a 5-1 run to get themselves back into it. The Raiders would not allow the Cardinals to regain the lead though, finishing out the set with a 15-13 final tally.

Ben Williams had the best game of his young career for the Cardinals thus far, recording 13 kills, one ace, and seven digs to lead the way for North Central. Eslinger also had 11 kills to go along with a team-high 12 digs. Michael Trunzo recorded 37 assists for the Cardinals, pacing them in the department. 

The Cardinals (1-2) come back home for a match against Illinois Institute of Technology tomorrow afternoon, with match time set for 1:30 pm inside Merner Fieldhouse. Click HERE for live stats and HERE for live video of the match.