Contact:
Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
WHITEWATER, Wis. (Oct. 23, 2026) - Competing in the Dig Pacini Classic hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the North Central College women's volleyball team dropped a pair of contests against the host Warhawks and Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday.
The Warhawks scored the first seven points of the opening set before a kill from
Lauren Benson stopped a 9-1 run. Kills from
Abby Buban and
Jordan Surber accounted for much of the Cardinal offense early.
Ava Hoff notched a pair of kills, but UW-Whitewater remained in front. Surber and
Giada Schrementi added a block late in the set, but the Warhawks secured a 25-12 victory in the opener.
Following a Benson kill, the hosts used a 5-0 run to build a 9-2 lead in the second set.
Sarah Harvey set up Buban for a kill before delivering an ace to bring the Cardinals within six at 11-5. The teams traded points until a four-point run gave UW-Whitewater control on the way to a 25-14 win.
Schrementi and Surber each recorded kills as the Cardinals faced a 14-8 deficit in the third set. Three straight aces put the Warhawks ahead by 10. Late kills from Benson and Buban were not enough as UW-Whitewater completed the sweep with a 25-14 victory.
Buban tallied 10 kills while Harvey dished out 23 assists.
Demi Carpio added eight digs. The Warhawks out-hit the Cardinals, .446 to .110, over the three sets.
An ace from Hoff tied the first set against the Gusties at 6-6. A six-point run from Gustavus Adolphus forced a Cardinal timeout. Surber and Hoff added points at the net, while an ace from Carpio brought North Central within two at 13-11. The teams traded points until the Gusties took a 22-16 lead. Surber's kill kept the Cardinals within reach, but Gustavus Adolphus scored the final three points to claim a 25-17 victory.
After the Gusties opened the second set on a 10-3 run, a kill from Buban sparked a North Central rally. Carpio's ace cut the deficit to three at 12-9 and forced a Gustavus Adolphus timeout. Harvey set up Benson for a kill to give North Central its first lead of the set at 14-13. The Cardinals moved ahead 24-21 following a Surber kill, but the Gusties evened the score at 25-25 and again at 29-29. Kills from Hoff and Benson secured a 31-29 victory, the longest set of the season for North Central.
A block from Benson and Surber put North Central ahead 8-5 early in the third set. The teams remained even through much of the frame as an ace from Buban gave the Cardinals a 16-15 advantage. A three-point run extended the lead to 20-18. Following a Gustavus Adolphus timeout, Surber gave the Cardinals set point, but the Gusties rattled off the final five points to steal a 26-24 victory.
Buban tallied three early kills before a Surber kill tied the fourth set at 6-6. Gustavus Adolphus used a 5-0 run to take a 14-9 lead. Hoff, Benson and Schrementi contributed points, but the Gusties maintained control with an 18-11 edge. Gustavus Adolphus scored the final four points to seal a 25-14 win.
Buban led the Cardinals with 12 kills, followed closely by Benson with 11.
Katie Godo registered 14 digs, while Carpio and Hoff added 10 apiece. Harvey posted 42 assists, and Carpio totaled four aces. The Cardinals hit .205, while the Gusties finished at .241.
North Central returns to conference play Wednesday, hosting No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan University for a 7 p.m. first serve inside Gregory Arena.
