Photo credit: Paige Wilcox
CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park University men's volleyball season opened its 2020 campaign with a dominant 3-0 win (25-15, 25-20, 25-16) over Rockford University on Friday night.
In the opening set of the night, the Vikings held the Regents to a .000 hitting percentage. North Park rattled off five-straight points on kills from junior outside hitter Frank Mauigoa, freshman rightside hitter Armando Quinones, and a service ace from sophomore setter Moises Zavala.
Never losing their lead, the Vikings utilized a .250 hitting percentage to win the first set 25-15.
In the second set of the night, the Regents began to find their footing. Rockford played North Park close in the set, at one point tying the match at 19-19, but the Vikings prevailed. Mauigoa and freshman outside hitter Noah Salazar both drove a kill and service ace while Quinones capped the 25-20 set with an emphatic kill.
North Park final's set of the night saw six-straight points from the Viking offense. Zavala drove a service ace while Quinones and Mauigoa sent in kills. Coupled with some shaky defense by Rockford, North Park led 6-0.
The Regents did find a mid-set burst of energy, closing the gap to 14-13, but North Park would come out on top. A kill from Salazar, an ace from Quinones, and kill from Mauigoa all but put the game out of hand at 18-13. The Vikings kept their pace through the rest of the set to win their season opener in sweeping fashion, 25-16.
FINAL: North Park 3, Rockford 0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-16)
Quick Hits:
- Quinones had a quality showing in his first collegiate match, leading both offenses with 12 kills and a .360 hitting percentage
- Mauigoa followed with 11 kills
- Salazar had a match-leading three service aces
- North Park totaled 11 aces in the match
What's Next?
North Park (1-0) moves across campus tomorrow, January 18, to host its first tri-match of the season inside the Helwig Recreation Center. Tipoff for match one against Adrian College is set for 1 p.m.
