Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

CHICAGO (Oct. 8, 2025) - Staying perfect in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, the North Central College women's volleyball team swept North Park University to win their third league match on Wednesday night inside Carlson Gymnasium. 

A block from Abranet Layne and Sarah Lezon capped off a 5-1 start for the Cardinals in the opening set. The Vikings fought back before two kills from Lauren Benson, followed by Danni Moser's kill forced a North Park timeout with the visitors up 12-8. A 7-1 rally from the Vikings evened the contest at 15-15. Head coach Ray Gooden called a timeout with North Park ahead by four, 21-17. Lezon, Benson and Abby Buban brought North Central back as an ace from Demi Carpio knotted set one at 23-23. Sarah Harvey and Benson recorded back-to-back blocks to clinch the 25-23 victory for the Cardinals.

Buban's first kill of the second set tied the contest at 3-3 before North Central scored seven of nine points to take an 11-7 lead. From there, it was all Cardinals as kills from Moser, Layne and Lezon put North Central up 15-9 as the Vikings took a timeout. The Cardinals closed out set two on a 10-5 run as a Benson kill secured the 25-14 win for North Central.

Moser and Layne gave the Cardinals a quick 2-0 lead before Lezon evened the third set at 5-5. Kills from Buban and Benson put North Central ahead by one, 10-9. A 5-1 swing by North Central gave the Cardinals a 17-13 advantage. The visitors kept the momentum going as an ace from Carpio, a kill from Moser put the Cardinals a few points away from their ninth sweep of the season. Moser and Lezon put away the match with kills to earn a 25-23 win over North Park.

North Central hit .284 while holding the Vikings to a .168 hitting percentage. Moser (12), Lezon (10) and Benson (9) led the Cardinal attack. Sarah Harvey sent out 36 assists while Aleesa Zebold tallied 10 digs. Layne led the way with four blocks on the night.

The Cardinals continue CCIW play against No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan University in a battle of the two remaining unbeaten conference teams. That match is set for Wednesday, Oct. 15, with a 7 p.m. first serve inside the Shirk Center.