Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Sept. 26, 2026 - Picking up a pair of nonconference sweeps in the Tiffany Robinson Memorial Triangular, the North Central College women's volleyball team improved to 7-4 Saturday inside Gregory Arena.
Abby Buban's kill set up a four-point swing for the Cardinals early in the opening set as the hosts took a 7-6 lead. A kill from Ava Hoff sparked an 8-2 run, highlighted by three kills from Lauren Benson. Bailey Miller served up an ace to push the Cardinals' advantage to six, 18-12. Hoff and Benson scored the final two points as North Central secured a 25-17 victory in set one.
Katie Godo set up Sarah Havey to give the Cardinals a 6-4 edge in the second set. The teams traded points until Jordan Surber delivered back-to-back kills, extending the advantage to three, 11-8. A 9-1 North Central run, capped by two kills from Buban, put the Cardinals in control, 20-12. Buban's sixth kill of the set clinched a 25-19 victory in set two.
Demi Carpio began the third set with an ace as North Central jumped out to a 3-0 advantage. Another ace, this time from Godo, helped the Cardinals take a 7-3 lead. The Red Hawks battled back, but a kill and two aces from Benson pushed North Central's lead to nine, 15-6. Caitlen Clutter's kills extended the advantage before Ripon fought back within three, 20-17. Sonia Proksa, Alyssa Wold and Emma Schaumburg closed out the match as the Cardinals earned a 25-22 victory in the final set.
Havey dished out 40 assists over the three sets, while Buban (14), Benson (12) and Hoff (10) paced the Cardinal attack. Godo and Buban recorded 10 digs apiece, marking another double-double for Buban. As a team, the Cardinals hit .226 while holding Ripon to a .176 hitting percentage.
A kill from Buban put North Central in front, 6-5, early against Dominican. An ace from Havey and two from Adrienne Schmidt highlighted an 11-1 run as the Cardinals built a 17-7 lead. Hoff finished off the set as North Central earned a 25-11 victory in the opener.
Janiyah Ricks' kill evened the second set at 6-6 before a kill by Benson put North Central on top, 13-8. Two more kills and a block by Benson were followed by a kill from fellow Geneva native Buban to extend the Cardinal advantage to five, 20-15. The Stars made a late push, but North Central held on for a 25-23 victory in set two.
Riding the momentum, the Cardinals jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the third set. Benson and Buban added to their point totals, with Buban's kill giving North Central a 12-5 edge. Giada Schrement posted back-to-back kills, set up by Kylie Hanson, to put the Cardinals within three points of the sweep. Schaumburg and Benson closed out the set as North Central secured a 25-18 victory.
Havey and Schmidt led the match with two aces apiece. Benson (9), Buban (8) and Hoff (4) paced the offense, while Benson added four blocks. As a team, the Cardinals hit .120 while holding the Stars to a .010 hitting percentage.
North Central returns to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play Wednesday, visiting Carroll University for a 7 p.m. match inside Van Male Fieldhouse.
