Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Apr. 4, 2025 - The North Central College men's volleyball team earned their sixth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) win by defeating Augustana College 3-1 in the Carver Center Wednesday night.
 
BK Bartlett opened up the match with two consecutive kills for North Central. At 4-3, Jonathan Brown delivered a fierce serve over the net for his fifth service ace of the season. The two teams kept the score tight, and the set was tied at 15 all. Then, a service error from the Vikings and a kill by Tyler Donovan gave the Cardinals a two-point lead. After a 6-2 run from North Central, a service error from Augustana won the Cardinals the set (25-20).
 
The Vikings started the second set off hot, winning the first three points. Augustana kept their lead, and at the same time, North Central chipped away at it. Down 17-20, the Cardinals earned four consecutive points, including kills from Jeffrey McEachern and Brannen Almarales, to take the lead. North Central capitalized on Augustana errors, and a kill by Donovan sealed the second set, 25-23 for the Cardinals.
 
Desperate to keep the match alive, the Vikings jumped to a 5-2 lead. The Cardinals were down 15-18 when Augustana's offense exploded to earn a 7-1 run, ultimately closing out North Central. The Vikings won the third set 25-18.
 
The fourth set saw eight tied scores and four lead changes. The Cardinals found themselves down 7-9 before a kill from Donovan changed the pace of the set. Cooper Lundal continued the momentum, leading the team at the service line while delivering his eighth service ace of the season (11-9). North Central kept their lead until a kill from Augustana tied the set at 22 all. Kills from Carson Steinbach and McEachern brought the Cardinals to within a point of taking the match. An attack error from the Augustana won North Central the set, 26-24.
 
Bartlett led the team with a career-high 16 kills, followed by Lundal (10) and Donovan (7). Lundal led the team with two service aces and four blocks. Additionally, Lundal hit season-highs in points (15), assists (2), and service aces (2). Donovan recorded 41 assists and a season-high 13 digs.
 
North Central will host North Park University in Gregory Arena Saturday, Apr. 5, at 3 p.m., for senior night.
 
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available 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.