Thank you, Dr. Jeff Nelson, for the pictures
ELMHURST, Ill. – North Park women's volleyball made short work of the Elmhurst University Bluejays on Wednesday night, taking care of business in straight sets (25-14, 25-23, 25-19). The Bluejays had just one loss entering the second league match of the season, but the Vikings outclassed them in just about every category.
North Park had the longest stretches of consistency in the opening set, extending a seven-point lead of 13-6. The Vikings got there after kills by junior outside hitter Adriana Rodriguez and senior setter Christina Gatta, a few Bluejay attack errors, and ace for senior setter Jenna Jones. Elmhurst made things interesting when they forced a 15-15 tie, but NPU would pull ahead and never look back. Breaking the tie, Rodriguez, junior middle blocker Rhianna Huebner, freshman middle blocker Meg Rothermel, and junior middle blocker Shamyia Collier all had kills as the Vikings would outscore the Bluejays 10-4 to win the first set 25-19.
After scoring the first point of the second set and leading all the way into the 20's, the Bluejays nearly mounted a comeback. The Viking attack was not quite as crisp as it was in the first set and would be in the third, as Elmhurst would tie things up, 23-23. However, a bad set by Bluejays and another kill for Collier stifled the scare and gave the Vikings a 25-23 second set win.
North Park finished the sweep with a match-best 13 kills in the 25-19 third set of the night, totaling only five errors in 41 attacks.
Quick Hits:
- Rodriguez led the individual performers by a mile, totaling 16 kills alongside a .293 attacking percentage.
- Jones led the evening with three aces while senior defensive specialist Teiya Alagar and sophomore libero Carolina Aviles had two each.
- Two blocks each for Huebner and Rothermel.
- Jada Wiley led Elmhurst with seven kills and Lucy Anderson had a pair of blocks.
- Vikings reach double-digit wins after only 11 matches.
What's Next?
North Park (10-1, 2-0 CCIW) travels north to Grand Rapids, Michigan this Friday and Saturday (9/22 & 9/23) for three matches. The Vikings open with Albion on Friday (5:00 PM EST) before facing host No. 4 Calvin right after. They'll end their trip against Earlham on Saturday with a first serve set for 1:00 PM EST.
