Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, tkgallisath@noctrl.edu

Mar. 22, 2023 - The seventh-ranked North Central College men's volleyball team maintained its undefeated status in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play Wednesday night as they took down the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans 3-1 inside Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals hold a 16-3, 6-0 CCIW record on the season after defeating Illinois Wesleyan (9-12, 0-6 CCIW) in four sets where Ben Williams led the charge with 15 kills, two service aces, and three blocks on the night. Tyler Donovan totaled 40 assists while Connor Davis picked up four blocks. Parker Nelson led the team with 14 digs.

The Cardinals found themselves behind 11-5 early in set one until Luke Schmidt sparked a four-point run to bring North Central back within two. Despite trailing for much of the set, the Cardinals managed five-consecutive points to pull ahead at 22-21. Three Titan attacking errors gave North Central its final three points to take set one 25-22.

Set two featured seven tied scores with Illinois Wesleyan never giving up its lead. The Cardinals struggled with only one and two-point possessions as the Titans managed to secure the 25-21 set win and tie the match at one-all. 

Illinois Wesleyan got a two-point lead in the third set but the Cardinals quickly took control turning in four-straight points to take the 8-5 lead. Scott turned in back-to-back kills before teaming up with Jeremy Cardenas for a block assist that gave North Central the 18-12 advantage. A kill by Williams and a service ace by Donovan ended set three, 25-15. 

Williams set the tone for the fourth and final set totaling four kills, one ace, and one block. Two of Williams's kills came in a three-point series that put the Cardinals up 22-14. The Titans managed two points while North Central idled at match point until Luke Schmidt knocked down a kill dished out by Parker Nelson to complete the set, 25-17.

The Cardinals will host two CCIW matches this weekend in Gregory Arena as they face the Loras College Duhawks (15-3, 4-2 CCIW) on Saturday, March 25 at 3 p.m. and the Augustana College Vikings (10-8, 1-4 CCIW) on Sunday, March 26 at 1 p.m. 

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