Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
BEREA, OHIO (Feb. 17, 2024) - The North Central College men's volleyball team completed the Yellow Jacket Invitational with a perfect 3-0 record after sweeping Messiah University 3-0 this afternoon.
 
No. 10 North Central also defeated Baldwin Wallace University and No. 9 Nazareth University earlier this week at the Invitational.
 
The set opened up with a dominating kill by Caelan Koth to set the tempo for the match. The Cardinals gained a 5-2 lead, but the Falcons took a five-point run to get back into the game (8-8). The two teams took turns taking multiple straight points, at 18-18 the momentum swung to North Central. A kill from Austin Scott allowed for the Cardinals to take the lead and edge away. The set ended by a kill from Jared Moser (25-22).
 
The Falcons got the first point of the second set after a service error by the Cardinals. The score stayed close with the points going back and forth between the two teams. At 11-10, Moser led North Central to five consecutive points (11-15). The Falcons chipped away and were able to tie the score (18-18). Tied once again (20-20), the Cardinals earned three more points to pull ahead (23-20). North Central took the second set 25-21 with the help of two Messiah errors.
 
North Central started the third set hot, taking an early 6-2 lead. Both teams exchanged points until four straight attack errors from the Falcons and a service ace by Tyler Donovan gave the Cardinals an 18-10 lead. However, the Messiah team was not ready to end their day and collected seven consecutive points (20-18). The Cardinals held strong finishing the set 25-21 after a service error by the Falcons.
 
The Cardinals kills were spread out across the board with Moser leading the team with nine, followed by Koth (8) and Cooper Lundal (6). Donovan led the team with 24 assists and two service aces. Additionally, Lundal, Scott, and Michael Szews each tallied service aces. Lundal and Moser led the team with three blocks a piece, while Danny Smithers recorded seven digs.
 
The Cardinals look to continue their seven-game win streak at 7 pm Thursday, Feb. 22, when North Central hosts North Park University for their first College of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup of the season.
 
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