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

Sept. 5, 2023 - Taking home two of the three first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Player of the Week awards, Maddi Barickman and Aleesa Zebold earned the honors for their performance at the WashU Bear Invite.

The Cardinals defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2017 in their 3-1 weekend in St. Louis. They knocked off No. 23 Otterbein University in three sets while alos earning wins over Webster University and Hendrix College.

Barickman won the CCIW's new Setter of the Week award by racking up 151 assists on the weekend, averaging 9.44 per set. That mark is tops in the CCIW by over one assist per set. On top of that, Barickman tallied 45 digs, 12 service aces, and 11 blocks. The team hit .210 over the four matches with two coming against ranked opponents.

Zebold claimed the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honor with 5.0 digs per set (80 total), which leads the CCIW after one week of play. She also recorded eight assists, seven service aces, and a kill. Her 80 digs rank 15th in all of NCAA Division III women's volleyball.

North Central will be live in Gregory Arena for the first time this season on Friday evening with a 7 p.m. matchup against Nebraska Wesleyan University.

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