Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication,
630-637-5324
CHICAGO (Sept. 20, 2025) - Splitting the IIT triangular in Chicago, the North Central College women's volleyball team rebounded from a three-set loss to Edgewood College with a 3-1 victory over the Illinois Institute of Technology in the nightcap Saturday evening.
The Cardinals dropped a tight opening set to the Eagles, 27-25, before falling 25-15 and 25-21 to Edgewood in the day's first match.
An ace from Katie Godo put the Cardinals ahead 6-3 in the opening set of their second match of the day. Abby Buban sent home a kill before a 7-3 run from North Central forced a Scarlet Hawks timeout. A kill and an ace from Danni Moser gave the Cardinals set point as Buban clinched a 25-19 victory in set one.
An 8-0 rally early in the second set put North Central in control, 8-1. Illinois Tech battled back within three, but a 9-3 run led by two kills from Moser gave the Cardinals a comfortable 21-12 advantage. Ashlyn Lomax closed out set two with a kill to give North Central a 25-14 win.
Kills from Lomax and Buban, the Cardinals jumped out to an 11-5 lead in set three. Illinois Tech fought back to even the contest at 16-16. A kill from Lauren Benson put the Cardinals ahead by two, 22-20, but the Scarlet Hawks closed the set out on a 7-3 run to claim a 27-25 win.
Back-to-back aces from Moser highlighted a 7-3 start for North Central in the fourth set. Illinois Tech evened the contest at 9-9 as the teams traded points until kills from Sarah Lezon, Buban and Abranet Layne forced an Illinois Tech timeout. The Cardinals took a four-point lead, 22-18, but the Scarlet Hawks kept fighting to come within a point, 23-22. An Illinois Tech error clinched a 25-22 victory for the Cardinals.
Buban (12), Benson (11) and Moser (11) led the Cardinal offense in kills with Sarah Harvey dishing out 46 assists on the match. Moser also delivered a career-high five aces. Aleesa Zebold racked up 25 digs, with Layne posting 3.5 blocks.
North Central returns to conference play, hosting Carthage College for a 7 p.m. first serve inside Gregory Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
