PICTURED: Lauren Wiltsie
Complete Tournament Results
Despite two spirited sets that took the Vikings to a combined total of 54 points, they couldn't get over the hump against UW-River Falls (17-25, 30-32, 24-26) in Saturday's opener of the North Park Classic Tournament.
North Park then closed out the tourney with a 13-25, 25-15, 21-25, 19-25 setback to Nebraska Wesleyan. Freshman Lauren Wiltsie, who earned all-tournament honors, totaled a double-double of 21 kills and 11 digs while Kajsa Meyer dished 31 assists.
In their second set with River Falls, North Park seized a 23-20 advantage after a Reagan Clement kill but UWRF countered with a four-point swing to nearly close out the set at 24-20. Showing their true resiliency however the Vikings met UWRF point for point for the next 14 points and twice had opportunities to end the set on a RF hitting error and a Wiltsie kill, but River Falls ended the set on a Hannah Stirggow kill.
Against Nebraska Wesleyan in the match's second set, North Park pulled ahead 3-1 on a Wiltsie kill and then built an 11-6 advantage after a Sarah Toth kill. NWU did manage to trim the deficit down to 17-13, but North Park reeled off four-straight points highlighted by a Mia Riccolo service ace and a block assist from Kajsa Meyer and Niki Ahlstrand to earn the win.
North Park (5-8) looks to rebound Tuesday when it opens CCIW play with Millikin University at 7 p.m. in Decatur.