Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Oct. 21, 2026 - Picking up their third sweep in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, the North Central College women's volleyball team defeated North Park University 25-13, 27-25, 25-17 Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena. The Cardinals' defensive effort held the Vikings to a .046 hitting percentage.
Lauren Benson's ace evened the opening set at 6-6 before a block by Ava Hoff and Benson capped a four-point surge that put North Central ahead 12-9. After a North Park point, the Cardinals dominated play, scoring 11 of the next 12 behind three blocks to pull away for a 25-13 first-set win. North Central finished the frame on a 17-4 run.
Hoff recorded two kills during a 5-1 start in the second set before North Park responded, as a kill from Jordan Surber tied the score at 9-9. Giada Schrementi, Hoff and Benson contributed kills as neither team could create separation. Abby Buban added two kills to keep the score even at 17-17 before Surber delivered back-to-back kills to put the Vikings in front. Buban answered with an ace, and after North Park gained a 25-24 advantage, her kill leveled the score once more. Consecutive Vikings errors then gave North Central a 27-25 victory and a two-set lead.
North Central seized control early in the third set, using a Benson-Harvey block to build a 6-1 cushion. Harvey later sparked another 6-1 stretch with a kill, helping the Cardinals maintain command. The Vikings answered with a run of their own, but Hoff stopped the rally and extended the lead to 20-13. North Central closed the match by scoring five of the final seven points, with Schrementi delivering the match-clinching kill in a 25-17 win.
Hoff posted a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs, while Sarah Harvey and Jessica Carpio each recorded 10 digs. Benson and Hoff led all players with three blocks apiece, while Harvey finished with 30 assists and Benson added two aces. The Cardinals hit .202 as a team while limiting the Vikings to a .046 mark, including a -.091 hitting percentage in the final set.
North Central steps out of conference play Friday to face the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at 2:30 p.m. before taking on Gustavus Adolphus College at 5 p.m. Both matches will be played inside Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in Williams Center on the UW-Whitewater campus.
