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

Sept. 11, 2023 - For the second straight week, North Central College women's volleyball has been featured in the Conference's Player of the Week awards as Lauren Benson and Maddi Barickman captured the honor with their performance in the Cardinals' 3-0 week.

The Cardinals swept Nebraska Wesleyan University, Greenville University, and Monmouth College to improve to 6-1 on the season, the program's best start since 2017.

Benson earned the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week award by leading the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin this week with 14 blocks (1.75 per set). That mark also led the North Central Invitational field. Benson was named to the All-Tournament team for her performance. Beyond blocking, Benson tallied 18 kills, three service aces, and eight digs. She hit .225 on the week.

Barickman led the CCIW in assists per set with 11.38 while ranking second in the conference in blocks per set with 1.50 (12 total blocks). She currently ranks 13th in Division III in assists per set at 10.08. Also this weekend, Barickman totaled three aces and 23 digs. As a team, the Cardinals hit .294 on the week. Barickman joined Benson and teammate Aleesa Zebold on the All-Tournament team.

This is Benson's first CCIW weekly award and Barickman's third. She won the first-ever CCIW Setter of the Week award after the conference split Defense and Setter into their own categories prior to this season. This marks 39 weekly CCIW awards in program history.

The Cardinals open CCIW action on Wednesday as they take on reigning CCIW Tournament champions, North Park University. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. in Chicago.

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