Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Apr. 5, 2025 - The North Central College men's volleyball team earned their ninth sweep of the season, defeating North Park University 3-0 after celebrating their four seniors in Gregory Arena.
 
The first set saw an even playing field, leading to 14 tied scores and five lead changes. At 14-13, down by one, Cooper Lundal carried out a huge kill for the Cardinals to tie the score at 14 all. Carson Steinbach fed off the team's energy, delivering a service ace to the back corner of the court (15-14). At 22-22, North Central earned back-to-back points off kills from Lundal and Jeffrey McEachern (24-22). The set was put to rest by a kill from Tyler Donovan (25-23).
 
The Vikings earned the first two points of the second set but were quickly shut down. The Cardinals went on to earn the following five consecutive points as a result of two kills from Mitchell Hester and three North Park errors (5-2). North Park would get to within one point of North Central, but they could never tie the set back up. Up 23-22, Steinbach and Lundal earned the Cardinal's last two points to close the set.
 
North Central took an early 4-1 run in the third set to take the lead (6-4). Shortly after, the Cardinals took a 6-1 run, produced by a signature Austin Scott kill, as well as kills by Hester and Steinbach (15-9). North Park and North Central traded 5-1 runs, putting the Cardinals to within two points of winning the match (23-16). Hester closed out the match with a kill and an enormous solo block to give North Central the win (25-19).
 
Steinbach led the Cardinal offense with 12 kills, followed by Scott (9) and Lundal (8). Donovan led the team with 12 digs but was closely followed by Danny Smithers (10). Additionally, Donovan tallied 36 assists and Hester produced a season-high of five blocks.
 
North Central plays in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament next Wednesday, Apr. 9. The Cardinals will travel to Dubuque, Iowa, to go head-to-head with No. 13 Loras College. Match time is to be announced.
 
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