CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's volleyball team opened their season at home with a sweep of Saint Mary's College (25-15, 25-15, 25-18) on Wednesday night.

After grabbing a 10-6 lead in the first set of the night, the Vikings kept their distance from the Belles, not allowing them to get any closer than those four points to the tune of a 25-15 dominant opening set of the season. In the impactful opener, North Park maintained a .344 attacking percentage with 18 kills. 

The second set of the night was more of the same, as the Vikings duplicated their first set score while attacking at a .323 clip with 15 kills. 

Saint Mary's played its best in the would-be final set, nabbing a 6-3 lead after some unforced Viking errors. However, rallying back thanks to the energy of a solid home turnout, North Park came all the way back to capture a 23-16 lead.

Kills from Raghen Walker and Shaira Marin Figueroa wrapped up the night as North Park women's volleyball cruised to a straight sets win.

Quick Hits:

• Brily Pence, Adriana Rodriguez, and Kharlie Simeona-French each total nine kills
• Three aces for Christina Gatta, a pair for Rodriguez
• Three blocks each for Taylor Guy and Simeona-French
• 40 assists in just three sets for Gatta
• As a team, the Vikings total 61 digs, eight blocks, seven aces

What's Next?

North Park (1-0) is right back in the new-and-improved NPU Gym this Friday, September 3, in a non-conference contest against IIT. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.