CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Vikings dropped 3 of 4 sets to the Carthage Firebirds on Saturday evening, marking the team's first loss in the last 2 weeks. Following the hot streak, North Park sits at 8-3 as CCIW play starts to ramp up. 

Set 1 was led by Carthage from start to finish after the Firebirds earned an early 4-0 lead.  The Vikings clawed their way within one point on three separate occasions, but Carthage promptly went on a run all three times to buy themselves some insurance. 

The Vikings fared better in the 2^nd set, holding an early through their 10^th point. The Firebirds took a short-lived advantage back from there, and a back-and-forth ensued that eventually took the match to 25-25. Molly Skoda of the Firebirds then sent an ace to break the tie before her side closed out the 2^nd set, 27-25.

The Vikings continued the forwards momentum in the 3^rd set, winning 25-20. The score was even through 5-5, but North Park dominated from there on out, getting out to an 18-10 lead at one point. In getting there, Adriana Rodriguez and Annaliese Rottman picked up a bounty of kills, while Carolina Aviles recorded back-to-back aces. Rottman would then finish things off with a kill from a Christina Gatta assist for the 25^th point. 

Carthage rebounded to take Set 4 and the match. It was a tightly contested set from the jump, but the Firedbirds eventually would pull away as the score neared 20. North Park made one last run to get the game back within reach at 18-20, but only could manage two more points before Carthage reached 25. 

Adriana Rogriguez continues to rack up kills, earning 17 in this match. Annaliese Rottman and Rhianna Huebner were next up for North Park with 10 and 7, respectively. Christina Gatta assisted 37 kills, while Rodriguez, Huebner, and Raghen Walker denied 3 on defense. Carolina Aviles managed a team-high 19 digs and 3 aces.

The Vikings host Elmhurst this Wednesday, September 21^st at 7:00 P.M., which marks a chance to grab their first conference win of the season.