Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Sept. 22, 2023) - Taking on Simpson College for the first time since 2011, the North Central College women's volleyball team swept the Storm before falling to the host No. 20 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the nightcap of the Pointer Invitational.
The Cardinals jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set against the Storm thanks to a kill from Riley Clark, set up by Maddi Barickman. Kills from Lauren Benson, Kendal Franklin, and Clark extended the lead to seven, 16-9. After another kill from Clark, which forced Simpson to take their final timeout, the Cardinals secured a 25-12 victory.
Back-to-back service aces from M. Barickman opened the second set before another ace from Katie Little doubled up the score, 10-5. Keeping the success going from the service line, Aleesa Zebold delivered back-to-back aces to push the Cardinal advantage to six, 13-7. The teams traded points until a kill from Danni Moser kept North Central's lead in check as the Cardinals claimed a 25-18 win in set two.
After Simpson jumped out to a 3-1 lead, a kill from Kendra Battle evened the contest at 7-7. A kill from Franklin began an 8-1 rally for the Cardinals who controlled the third set to secure a 25-16 win to complete their fifth sweep of the season.
The Cardinals hit .291 on the match while holding the Storm to a .000 hitting percentage for the day. Moser led the team with eight kills while Clark and Benson tallied six. M. Barickman dished out 29 assists and racked up four aces.
Taking on their third ranked team of the season, A. Barickman tied the opening set at four with her first kill of the match. Both teams went back-and-forth as a kill from Clark brought the Cardinals within one, 12-11. The Pointers closed the set on an 11-1 run to win 25-14. Aidan Brown's ace put North Central within two, 9-7 in the second set of play. A kill from Amber Vande Hei kept the Cardinals' offense going but again UW-Stevens Point maintained control to earn a 25-17 win in set two.
Clark's kill gave the Cardinals an early 4-3 advantage before a 9-2 rally from the Pointers allowed UW-Stevens Point to retake the lead. Little sent home a kill late in the set but it wasn't enough as the Pointers won 25-14 to win the match. A. Barickman totaled eight kills on the night to pace North Central.
North Central takes on their second ranked opponent in as many days to begin day two of the Pointer Invitational by facing No. 3 UW-Oshkosh at 11 a.m. before wrapping up the invite against Lakeland University at 4 p.m.
Download the free North Central Cardinals app for iOS and Android devices to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores, and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
