Thanks to Virginia Smith for the pictures
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University men's volleyball team put the 10th-ranked Carthage College Firebirds on their heels in the first and third set of tonight's College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opener, but fell in straight sets (27-25, 25-11, 25-22).
The first set of the night was knotted up through all 52 points in a back-and-forth affair. North Park opened up the afternoon strong, as the 2021 national champs were trailing, 4-1, following a service ace by Teddy Gedville and three errors by Carthage. Later in the set, North Park nullified Carthage's set point (24-23) on a kill by Quinn Robinson and a Firebird attacking error. Unfortunately, Carthage drove the next three points to sneak away with a 27-25 opening win.
The Firebirds ran away with the second set, hitting .529 with 17 kills, to earn a 25-11 win.
North Park rebounded in the third set, at one point leading 15-12 on a Carthage service error, kill by Gedville, and a Carthage attacking error. However, Carthage would go on a 9-2 run to lead, 21-17, before taking the final set of the night, 25-22.
Quick Hits:
What's Next?
North Park (2-1, 0-1 CCIW) begins a long stretch of away matches, beginning with Wisconsin Lutheran College this coming Friday, Februray 4. Tipoff in Milwaukee is set for 7 p.m.
