Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director,  630-637-5302

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sep. 1, 2021) - Opening their 2021 fall campaign at home, the North Central College women's volleyball team outlasted Concordia University Chicago (CUC) in a five-set thriller as they have now defeated the Cougars in 24 straight matches.

After a back-and-forth first set, a kill from Abbi Barickman pushed the Cardinals lead to two, 9-7. CUC answered with two points of their own as there were 12 ties throughout the first set. North Central closed the set on an 8-1 run as a kill by Claudia Huston secured the first set victory. The Cardinals held the Cougars to a -0.65 attacking percentage in the set.

In set two, neither team had more than a two-point advantage until the Cougars found themselves up 18-15 late in the set. CUC took the second set 25-19 to knot the match at one set apiece. The third set proved to be another close contest as there were 11 ties and five lead changes in the set. Maddi Barickman used an ace to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead early on. A kill from Isabelle Guerrero, assisted by M. Barickman balanced the score at 9-9. Later in the set, the Cardinals used a 5-0 run to force a CUC timeout. Both teams went back-and-forth, but North Central prevailed to take the third set, 25-22.

In the next set, the Cougars went ahead 11-7, forcing the Cardinals to use their first timeout. Despite North Central's effort in the rest of the fourth set, CUC won 25-20 and the match moved into the fifth and final set. The Cardinals raced out to a 6-3 lead after A. Barickman recorded her first kill of the set. The Cougars then went on a 5-0 run of their own to hold an 8-6 advantage. Following more back-and-forth play, North Central used their final timeout, finding themselves down 11-9. They knotted the contest at 12-12 after two Cardinal kills. Guerrero posted another kill followed by M. Barickman who finished off the Cougars with two consecutive aces as North Central won the final set 15-12.

Guerrero led the Cardinals with 15 kills while A. Barickman tallied 12. M. Barickman racked up 24 assists and Anna Gawron added 19 as well. As a team, North Central hit .200 and totaled seven service aces. The Cougars were led by Alyssa Henline who recorded 21 kills. Isabelle Vernengo posted 41 assists on the match for CUC.

The Cardinals face Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. The first serve is set for 2:00 PM at Keating Sports Center. Click here for full in-game coverage of the match.

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