Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 14, 2022) - Taking on their second ranked opponent of the season, the North Central College women's volleyball team fell to the hands of No. 5 Calvin University on Friday afternoon on day one of the 2022 Calvin Midwest Invitational.

Early in the opening set, the teams traded points until a kill from Aidan Brown gave the Cardinals their first lead, 6-5. After the Knights retook and extended the lead, North Central used a 4-1 run to tie the contest at 17. Another 4-1 rally from the Cardinals wasn't enough as Calvin prevailed with a 25-22 victory in set one.

A kill from Kendra Battle brought the Cardinals back within two before the Knights took a 10-5 lead. Brown and Battle each posted kills to put the score at 15-11 before Calvin closed the second set on a 10-2 rally to take the set, 25-13.

Trinity Evans' service ace opened an 8-0 run for North Central in the third set. Calvin responded but an Abbi Barickman kill pushed the Cardinals' lead to five, 13-8. A 10-2 run gave the Knights the lead. A late 4-0 rally capped off by a kill from Satah Elischer knotted the set at 21. Despite North Central taking a 24-23 advantage, Calvin scored the final three points to take the set, 26-24, and the match, 3-0.

Brown led the Cardinals in kills with 15 while Maddi Barickman tallied 27 assists over the three sets. Emily Stallmann recorded 22 digs with Amber Vande Hei and Battle posting three blocks each.

The Cardinals take on another ranked opponent tomorrow as they square off with No. 14 Hope College for the first time since 2010. That match is set for 11 AM (ET) in Hoogenboom Gym on the campus of Calvin.

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