Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
MEQUON, Wis. (Jan. 18, 2025) - The North Central College men's volleyball team earned their first win of the 2025 season and their first win under head coach Kevin Kustura in a five-set thriller over Concordia University (Wis.) Saturday afternoon.
 
North Central took the first two points of the set after a service error and an attack error from the Falcons. The Cardinals kept their lead throughout the entire set. At 16-11, North Central earned four consecutive points with three Concordia errors and a service ace from Carson Steinbach. The Falcons were never able to close the gap, and North Central took the first set 25-19.
 
The second set saw 28 ties and 12 lead changes. After back-and-forth points between the teams, the set was tied at 24-24 by a kill from Cooper Lundal. North Central was up 32-31, however, a kill from Concordia and two Cardinal attack errors gave the Falcons the second set (34-32).
 
This is the second-longest set in the Cardinals program history. The longest set for the Cardinals was against No. 19 Baldwin Wallace University last season (Feb. 15) when the match's third set ended at 34-36.
 
The team brought their back-and-forth play into the third set, with nine ties and four lead changes. North Central took an early 9-5 lead, but Concordia worked hard to tie the set at 17-17. Steinbach put down a kill to give the Cardinals a 24-23 lead. However, the Falcons took the final three points off a kill and two Cardinal errors. Concordia won the set 26-24 and took a 2-1 match lead.
 
North Central took another early lead in the fourth set, 5-2. The Cardinals held their lead and went on a four-point run starting at 9-7. Shortly after, North Central followed up with a five-point run. At 15-13, four attack errors from the Falcons and a kill from Steinbach gave the Cardinals more momentum. North Central took the fourth set off a kill from Austin Scott (25-17) and sent the match into the fifth set.
 
In the final set, Concordia errors helped the Cardinals take a 6-2 lead. The Falcons were not able to close the gap, only getting within two points (6-4). North Central took a 4-1 run, including two Concordia errors and two kills from Jeffrey McEachern (14-8). Walker secured the Cardinals the match with one final kill (15-9).
 
Steinbach was a key component of the Cardinals victory, leading the team in assists (41), digs (11), and service aces (3). He also recorded 10 kills. McEachern had a big day at the front of the net with 17 kills. McEachern and Lundal each tallied five blocks.
 
The Cardinals continue their perfect winning streak against the Falcons, up 3-0 in the series. To review all three matches in history, click HERE.
 
North Central will host No. 2 New York University at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 19, for their home opener in Gregory Arena in Naperville, Ill.
 
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