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

KENOSHA, Wis. (Oct. 18, 2023) - Coming out on the wrong side of a tightly contested College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin match, the North Central College women's volleyball team fell 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 to Carthage College on Wednesday night inside Tarble Arena.

Abbi Barickman led the Cardinals with nine kills on the night with Amber Vande Hei and Riley Clarkk tallying six each. Maddi Barickman dished out 27 assists. Demi Carpio totaled 10 digs with Vande Hei racking up a match-leading four total blocks in the match. North Central hit .190 to the Firebirds' .290 hitting percentage.

A block from Vande Hei and M. Barickman put the Cardinals ahead 5-2 before Carthage tied the opening set at 5-5. The teams traded points as a kill from Lauren Benson put the score at 11-11. A five-point swing from the Firebirds allowed Carthage to close out set one, 25-17.

Taylor O'Malley served up an ace to tie set two at 4-4. Again the teams went back and forth as Katie Little's kill kept North Central in front, 13-12. After another Vande Hei and A. Barickman block, the Firebirds opened a 22-17 lead. Hoping to create a late rally, Clark tallied a kill off of the assist from M. Barickman but Carthage held on for a 25-20 win in the second set.

A block followed by a kill from Clark evened the third set at 8-8. North Central used a 4-0 run to go ahead 12-8 before Carthage answered with a run of their own to knot the contest at 14-14. With the score at 20-20, the Firebirds scored four straight points to serve up match point. A kill from A. Barickman and an ace from Benson wasn't enough as Carthage picked up a 25-22 win in set three.

North Central returns home to Gregory Arena on Friday night to take on Illinois College. The Cardinals and the Lady Blues are set to begin at 7 p.m. in Naperville.

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