Freshman Lauren Wiltsie nearly carried the Vikings to victory single-handedly Tuesday night at the North Central College Invite.
Facing defeat in the first match of the night against Calumet College of St. Joseph, the Vikings rode the hot hand of their Elgin, Illinois native as she threw down a team-high 21 kills to lead NP to a 24-26, 23-25, 25-20, 25-13, 15-7 victory.
North Park fell 0-3 to Concordia University Chicago in the second match to finish the quad with a 1-1 record, but Wiltsie ended the day with 29 kills, averaging 14.5 kills per match over the two-match event.
NP's most spirited set came in the fifth and final set of the match with CCSJ. After seizing a 20-6 lead in the fourth set and working their way to force the deciding set, North Park overcame a 6-4 deficit early with an 11-1 scoring run to close out the match. Back-to-back service aces from Wiltsie coupled with a pair of kills from Hayley Brake and one by Kelly Clinton finished out the match.
Freshman Emily Farwell added 21 kills over the two-match quad, while both Clinton and Brake finished with 11 each. Senior Abigail McKowen dished out 30 assists.
North Park (1-1) returns to action this Friday and Saturday when it competes in the Elmhurst College Invite beginning at 3 p.m. Friday against St. Mary's College.
