Thanks to Dr. Jeff Nelson for the pictures
ELMHURST, Ill. – The sixth-seeded North Park women's volleyball team kept their season alive with an evisceration of third-seeded Elmhurst University Tuesday night on the road by a score of 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-21). The win vaults them into the CCIW semifinals Thursday night at Carthage, while also clinching the first 20-win season for the Vikings since the year 2000.
With the Vikings only up 13-12 in the first set, it was time for NPU to go on a run with Kharlie Simeona-French and Shamyia Collier serving. North Park scored 10 of the next 11 points including an ace from Collier to cap the run, one of two aces for her on the day. After kills from Taylor Guy and Adriana Rodriguez, the visiting Vikings clinched a dominating first set by a score of 25-15.
The Bluejays fought back in the second set, again forcing a deadlock with the score at 13-all midway through the set. A 6-1 run would put NPU in the driver's seat yet again, and the Vikings would not be denied. Rodriguez slammed in another kill to eventually push the it to set point, while Raghen Walker landed the ball in enemy territory for the 25-19 set victory.
A 2-0 lead did nothing to hold back the offense in the third set as NPU hit a staggering .405 in the frame. Two kills from both Simeona-French and Collier, and a lone kill from Christina Gatta built a 6-1 lead for North Park in the early-going. The Vikings continued cruising, building up a lead of nine points with only a few more needed to cement the upset. Elmhurst would not go quietly into the night, though, as a furious Bluejays comeback nearly caught up to the Vikings. Fittingly, Rodriguez was the one that finally put the nail in the coffin as she got the kill to win the set 25-21 and the match 3-0.
Quick Hits:
- Rodriguez finished with a double-double, 11 kills and 12 digs.
- Collier added 10 kills, as did Guy.
- 37 assists for Gatta.
- Libero Teiya Alagar had 12 digs for the Vikings.
What's Next?
The Vikings (20-10) will look to continue their historic season as they head to Kenosha to take on second-seeded Firebirds of Carthage College (19-12). The Vikings have lost to Carthage in five sets twice this season. That game will start at 7 PM at Tarble Arena on Thursday, November 4th.
