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

ELMHURST, Ill. (Oct. 4, 2024) - Earning their first win over Elmhurst University since 2009, the North Central College women's volleyball team battled to a 3-2 victory over the Bluejays on Friday night inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

The Bluejays jumped out to a 10-5 lead early in the opening set. Kills from Abby Buban and Abbi Barickman kept the Cardinals in reach before a kill from Amber Vande Hei brought the Cardinals within three, 20-17. Elmhurst scored the set's final four points to take a 25-18 win.

Much like in set one, Elmhurst started set two ahead 10-5, but North Central responded as a block from Lauren Benson and A. Barickman evened the contest at 14-14. Following two quick timeouts from the Bluejays, Maddi Barickman set up A. Barickman to cap off an 8-0 run which put North Central ahead 17-14. Both teams traded points until A. Barickman secured the 25-21 victory for the Cardinals.

A 9-0 run for North Central which included three aces from Bailey Houlihan put the Cardinals in front, 9-2 in set three. A Riley Clark kill stopped a Bluejay rally to keep the visitors ahead, 13-8. Elmhurst used a 5-0 run to take a lead before a block from Vande Hei and M. Barickaman cut the deficit to two, 22-20. The Bluejays scored the final last three points to win set three 25-22.

Both teams went back and forth as a kill from Clark knotted set four at 13-13. The Cardinals used a four-point swing to take a 19-15 edge before Elmhurst evened the contest at 23-23. Down to their last point, 25-24, North Central used a Bluejay error, a kill from Clark and a block from Benson and Abby Buban to clinch a 27-25 victory and force a fifth and final set.

North Central kept the momentum on their side by taking a 5-1 lead on a kill from A. Barickman. Two kills from Clark followed by a kill from Buban put the Cardinals ahead, 9-3. A Houlihan ace sealed set five, 15-8 as North Central never trailed in the final set to earn a 3-2 victory.

Clark and A. Barickman tied for the match-high 13 kills while Houlihan served up five aces on the night. Both Vande Hei and Benson notched a season-best seven blocks. M. Barickman racked up 33 assists as well. The Cardinals hit .171 while keeping the Bluejays to a .165 hitting percentage.

North Central (12-5, 2-1 CCIW) takes a break from league play to host the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (11-5, 1-2 WIAC) Saturday for a 1 p.m. first serve inside of Gregory Arena.

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