Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
WHEATON, Ill. (Nov. 4, 2025) - Entering the final week of the regular season, the North Central College women's volleyball team won the opening set but dropped the next three in a 3-1 loss to Wheaton College on Tuesday night at King Arena.
After a kill by Sarah Lezon gave the Cardinals a 6-4 lead, the Thunder tied the opening set at 9-9. Back-to-back service aces from Lauren Benson put North Central ahead, 11-9. The teams traded points until a Benson kill and an ace from Aleesa Zebold gave the Cardinals a 16-14 edge, prompting a Wheaton timeout. Two Thunder errors extended the lead to 18-14. Following a Wheaton rally that cut the deficit to one, North Central closed the set with six straight points to win, 25-18.
In the second set, three consecutive kills from Benson gave North Central a 7-5 advantage. A 4-0 run, highlighted by a Lezon kill, pushed the lead to 13-10 and forced another Wheaton timeout. The Thunder responded with a 15-14 lead. The teams continued to battle, with kills from Danni Moser and Lezon putting the Cardinals up 23-22. Wheaton then scored the final three points to take the set, 25-23.
North Central opened the third set with a 6-0 run, capped by a block from Abranet Layne and Abby Buban. Despite kills from Buban, Moser and Layne, Wheaton took a 16-13 lead, prompting a timeout from head coach Ray Gooden. The Cardinals pulled within two but couldn't close the gap, falling 25-20.
An ace from Katie Godo gave North Central a 7-4 lead in the fourth set, but Wheaton responded with an 8-1 run. Kills from Benson and Sarah Harvey cut the deficit to 12-11. The teams traded points until Wheaton scored five of the final six to secure the match with a 25-18 win.
Benson led North Central with 11 kills, followed by Lezon with 10. Harvey recorded 21 assists, while Zebold tallied 21 digs. Layne added three blocks. As a team, the Cardinals hit .123 compared to Wheaton's .152.
North Central wraps up the regular season Wednesday night at Gregory Arena, hosting Elmhurst University. The Cardinals will celebrate the 50th anniversary of women's volleyball at the college and honor the senior class prior to the match. Pregame festivities begin at 6:50 p.m.
