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

LISLE, Ill. (Nov. 9, 2024) - Wrapping up the regular season with a win, the North Central College women's volleyball team picked up a 3-1 victory over Benedictine University on Saturday as the Cardinals enter the postseason with a 21-7 record.

An ace from Aleesa Zebold brought North Central within one, 8-7 early in the opening set. A 6-0 run from the Eagles gave Benedictine a seven-point lead before a kill from Lauren Benson put the Cardinals within reach, 14-10. Benedictine scored seven of the final 10 points to win the first set, 25-18.

Danni Moser's second kill of set two sparked a 9-1 rally for North Central, taking an 11-5 lead. Kills from Abby Buban, Riley Clark and Amber Vande Hei kept the Cardinals on top, 14-8. The Eagles battled back to even the score at 18-18. The North Central offense found their groove as Buban and Vande Hei gave the Cardinals the lead before Moser clinched set two with a kill, 25-21.

North Central scored the first four points of the third set before a block from Clark and Benson put the Cardinals up six, 8-2. Two kills from Buban doubled up the Eagles as North Central held a 14-7 advantage. Vande Hei opened a 6-2 run down the stretch as Benson's kill secured the final point giving the Cardinals a 25-18 win in set three.

Benson's third kill of set four pushed the North Central lead to four early on, 7-3. Aces from Sarah Harvey and Zebold paced the Cardinals midway through the set before back-to-back kills from Moser gave North Central a 16-9 lead. Najwa Williams sent home her first kill to open a 6-2 run for the Cardinals. A kill from Clark and another ace from Harvey locked up a 25-19 win in North Central's final regular season contest.

Clark (13), Buban (12) and Moser (10) each tallied double-digit kills while Maddi Barickman sent out 49 assists over the four sets. Bailey Houlihan racked up 25 digs with Zebold and Harvey recording three aces each. The Cardinals hit .238 while holding the Eagles to a .136 hitting percentage.

North Central hosts North Park University in Tuesday's quarterfinals of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament. The first serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.

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.