CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's volleyball team fell in five sets to the UW-La Crosse Eagles at the North Park Gym on Saturday. 

In the first set, the Eagles and Vikings played to a really close match throughout.  With the score 7-6 Eagles, the Vikings rattled off five-straight points, including two kills by sophomore Kate Widman.  That was the biggest lead of the first set for either team.  At 15-14 Eagles, the Vikings tallied four-straight points making the score 18-15. With the score 20 all, the Vikings marked five of the next seven points, winning the first set 25-22. Widman led the Vikings with four kills.  

First Set : North Park 25, UW- La Crosse 22

In the second set, like the first set, both teams played to a back-forth set.  Neither team would be able to distance themselves from each other until the Eagles led 22-19.  However, the Vikings pulled off six-straight points to win the set, 25-22.  That rally was highlighted by a service ace from senior setter Kajsa Meyer.  Widman led the Vikings with six kills and senior Reagan Clement followed with five kills.  

Second Set: North Park 25, UW-La Crosse 22

In the third set, the Eagles dominated the first 11 points, marking nine of 11 total points.  After the Vikings streaked for three-consecutive points, the Eagles came back scoring four-straight points making the game at 13-5 Eagles.  The Vikings could only muster 11 more points as the Eagles took the third set, 25-16.  Widman continued to lead the Vikings with seven kills.  

Third Set: UW- La Crosse 25, North Park 16 

In the fourth set, The Eagles marked six of the first 10 points to go up 6-4.  The Eagles then won eight of the next nine points to distance themselves at 14-5.  The Vikings came within six points but, ultimately, fell to the Eagles, 16-25, to go a winner-take-all fifth set.  Widman and freshman Kaitlyn Matthews led the Vikings with eight kills.  

Fourth Set: UW- La Crosse 25, North Park 16

In the fifth set, the Eagles and Vikings split the first eight points making the score 4-4.  Neither team could get any momentum in the fifth set as the largest lead was three until the Eagles rattled off four of the last five points to take down North Park in five sets.

Fifth Set: UW- La Crosse 15, North Park 10

Quick Hits: 

• Senior Niki Ahlstrand, Matthews, and Clement led the Vikings with nine kills
• Widman followed with eight kills
• Meyer led the Vikings with 32 assists, and three service aces
• Junior libero Bianca Tomuta led the Vikings with 26 digs

What's Next? 

The Vikings (10-17, 0-6 CCIW) step back into CCIW play hosting the Cardinals of North Central College on Wednesday, October 30 at the North Park Gym. The match starts at 7 p.m. 

--NPU--