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

Sept. 17, 2025 - The North Central College women's volleyball team opened College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play with a five-set victory over Carroll University on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena. The Cardinals battled through a back-and-forth contest to earn a 3-2 win, improving to 9-2 on the season.

North Central took early control in the opening set, jumping out to a 12-9 lead on a kill by Lauren Benson before stringing together a 7-0 run to break the set open. Katie Godo delivered a service ace, while Danni Moser and Abby Buban combined for three kills during the run. Moser closed the frame with a kill assisted by Sarah Harvey, sealing a 25-15 win in set one.

The second set featured 13 ties, with neither team leading by more than four points. A kill from Moser and an ace by Harvey kept the Cardinals close, trailing 19-17. Buban capped a 5-1 rally to tie the set at 23-23, but Carroll responded with two straight points to even the match at 1-1.

North Central answered with its most dominant stretch of the night in the third set. Godo fired off three aces to highlight an 8-0 run, extending the Cardinals' lead to 14-3. Harvey distributed assists to Moser, Buban and Benson as North Central cruised to a 25-10 win, capped by another ace from Godo.

The Cardinals opened the fourth set with a 5-0 run and later led 17-10 following a 5-1 rally. Carroll answered with a 9-0 run to take a two-point lead. A block by Sarah Lezon and Abranet Layne tied the set at 23-23, but the Pioneers closed it out with a 25-23 win to force a fifth and final set.

North Central scored the first three points of the decisive frame. Carroll took a 6-5 lead before a kill by Buban sparked a 6-1 run that put the Cardinals ahead 12-7. A kill from Layne and a Carroll error sealed the 15-9 win.

Harvey's 58 assists marked the highest total by a CCIW setter this season. She also added 13 digs, while Aleesa Zebold (14) and Godo (10) reached double digits in digs. Godo served five aces, and Buban led the team with three blocks. Buban also paced all players with 17 kills, followed by Lezon and Moser with 13 each. The Cardinals hit a season-best .372 for the match.

North Central continues its five-match homestand Friday, hosting Loras College at 7 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.