Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 22, 2022) - The North Central College men's volleyball team dominated the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) on Saturday in a three-set sweep to claim their first victory of the 2022 season. 

North Central battled early in first set with back-and-fouth points until a six-point rally put the Cardinals up 23-15. IIT came back with two more points before a bad set sent North Central into set two leading 1-0 with a 25-17 win. 

The Cardinals produced five-consecutive unanswered points in the second set to bring the score to 18-13. Tallying 10 kills and an ace from Matt Nealon, the Cardinals prevailed yet again in set two, 25-20. 

Looking for the 3-0 sweep on opening night, the Cardinals had some making up to do early in the third set. Falling 3-9 early on, North Central responded with a four-point run to bring the score to 7-9. The Cardinals maintained momentum to finish out the third set with 13 kills, and a couple aces by Ben Williams and Ben Pluskota for a third set victory, 25-22.

Jared Moser led the team with eight kills on the evening with Jeremy Cardenas just behind with seven. Williams and Jake Miller tallied five kills each, while Miller also had eight digs to secure the win. 

IIT was led on offense by Michal Markevych and Riley Laite with six kills each.

North Central travels to River Forest, Ill. to take on the Concordia University Chicago Cougars on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Geiseman Gymnasium. 

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