CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's volleyball team fell to the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans in four sets, 3-1, inside the North Park Gym on Wednesday.
In the first set, the Titans notched seven of the first 10 points to lead 7-3. With the score now 10-6, the Vikings rattled off four consecutive points to tie the Titans at 10. Senior Niki Ahlstrand had two kills to power the Vikings in this run. The Titans and Vikings traded the next eight points making the score 14-16 Titans. Unfortunately, the Vikings could only muster four more points as the Titans took the first set 18-25.
First Set: Illinois Wesleyan 25, North Park 18
In the second set, the Titans started by scoring six of the first 10 points to go up 6-4. Freshman Kailyn Matthews marked two kills during that run. The Vikings scored the next four points putting them in the lead at 8-6. Senior Bethany Geidner and sophomore Kate Widman both tallied a kill. With the score 17-14, the Titans and Vikings traded the next seven points making the score 20-18. With the score 21-19, the Titans totaled five of the last seven points to defeat the Vikings 25-23 in the second set.
Second Set: Illinois Wesleyan 25 North Park 23
In the third set, The Titans took 7 of the first 10 point to go up 3-7. After a kill by Geidner, the Titans rattled off four straight points to go up 4-11. The Vikings then struck back winning seven of the next nine points, but still trailed 11-13.That run featured a service ace by freshman Christina Gatta and two kills by senior Kenzie Kruger. The Vikings then came back and tied the Titans at 18 all on a kill by Matthews. After the Titans went up 19-21, the Vikings went on a run marking the next six points to defeat the Titans 25-21 in the third set. Gatta had a couple of service aces on that run.
Third Set: North Park 25 Illinois Wesleyan 21
In the fourth set, NPU and IWU traded the first 12 points. After a kill by Matthews, the Titans struck for three straight points to go up 10-8. After the Vikings and Titans traded the next seven points, Matthews marked another kill to tie the match at 13. However, the Vikings could only score five more points as the Titans took the fourth set, and the match, 25-18.
Fourth Set: Illinois Wesleyan 25, North Park 18
Quick Hits:
- Senior setter Kajsa Meyer posted a season-high with 41 assists
- Matthews led the Vikings with 17 kills
- Widman followed with eight kills
- Gatta marked four service aces
- Junior libero Bianca Tomuta totaled 28 digs
What's Next?
The Vikings (8-13, 0-5 CCIW) travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. on Friday, October 18, to take on the Hornets of Kalamazoo College at 4 p.m. and the Britons of Albion College at 6 p.m.
--NPU--
