Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
DUBUQUE, Iowa (Sept. 19, 2026) - With a sweep in the second match of the day, North Central College women's volleyball head coach
Ray Gooden earned his 400th career victory. The Cardinals fell to the hands of Edgewood College before sweeping Macalester College Saturday at the Loras College Invitational.
The Eagles jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening set. Lauren Benson and Abby Buban posted kills, but Edgewood remained in control in the early going, holding a 15-8 advantage and forcing a Cardinal timeout. Another kill from Buban opened a 5-0 run for North Central, highlighted by an ace from Sarah Harvey. Kills from Jordan Surber brought the Cardinals within three, 20-17. Following an Edgewood timeout, the Eagles closed out a 25-19 win in set one.
In a back-and-forth second set, North Central used a 6-2 run, sparked by Giada Schrementi's kill to take an 11-8 edge. Benson delivered an ace before Buban and Schrementi added to their kill totals, putting North Central ahead by five, 15-10. With a 17-13 lead, Edgewood rattled off four straight to even the contest at 17-17. After an Ava Hoff kill, Katie Godo served up back-to-back aces to put the Cardinals back in front. Buban's kill and an Eagles error clinched the 23-19 victory in set two.
Another ace from Godo gave North Central an early 3-0 lead in the third set, but Edgewood scored five straight to take the lead. The teams traded points as a kill from Surber closed the gap, 8-7 before a four-point swing from the Eagles gave them a 12-7 advantage. Another run from Edgewood was met with a late push from the Cardinals. Kills from Harvey and Buban kept North Central within reach, but the Eagles took a 25-18 victory in set three.
Edgewood kept their foot on the gas for the fourth set, jumping out to a 12-4 lead. Harvey, Buban and Sonia Proksa recorded kills down the stretch, but the Eagles took the set 25-11 and the match, 3-1.
Buban led the team with 11 kills and two blocks. Godo topped all players with four aces while Harvey's 26 assists led the match. Edgewood hit .317 over the four sets, compared to the Cardinals' .085.
In North Central's second match of the day, the Scots jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Two kills from Buban and an ace brought the Cardinals within one. Macalester led most of the way until Schrementi, Hoff and Buban's kills opened a 6-0 run to put North Central ahead 20-19. After the Scots retook the lead, kills by Hoff and Buban gave the Cardinals a 25-23 win in set one.
Benson evened the second set vs the Scots with a kill, 8-8. Buban and Schrementi put the Cardinals ahead, 14-12 before Schrementi's block added to the lead. Macalester used their final timeout after a block from Benson. North Central scored five of the final six points to secure a 25-18 set two victory.
A 5-1 run early on gave North Central a slight 10-9 lead. The teams traded points until a Surber kill capped off a four-point swing to give North Central a 16-14 edge. Demi Carpio delivered an ace before Harvey's ace ended the set with a 25-21 win to give the Cardinals a 3-0 sweep of Macalester.
Buban again led the way with 15 kills. Harvey dished out 31 assists over the three sets. Carpio, Buban and Benson each posted two aces with Buban and Harvey tallying nine digs. The Cardinals hit .242 and held the Scots to a .147 hitting percentage.
North Central hosts its home opener Wednesday, welcoming Millikin University to Gregory Arena for a 7 p.m. contest in both teams first conference match.
