Pics from Zoe and Eddie
CHICAGO, Ill. -- In a match that had key conference implications, North Park's Women's Volleyball team won, 3-2, in a very close matchup against the Big Blue from Millikin, extending their winning streak to 11 matches. The Vikings and the Big Blue are the top two teams in the CCIW conference, so it was only fitting that the match went to all 5 sets, alternating wins along the way (25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 13-25, 15-13).
The match was very even the whole way, with the Vikings only outscoring Millikin 72-71 and the kill count deadlocked at 57-57.
During the fourth set, the Vikings seemed to have run out of gas, getting beat 25-13, while allowing Millikin to open up with an 8-0 run. Their response in the fifth set showed extreme perseverance and grit, pulling out the 15-13 win.
Freshman middle blocker Meg Rothermel had a career night, tallying 14 kills and blocks in the match, eclipsing her previous high of 11. With the help of juniors Shamyia Collier and Adriana Rodriguez, the three Vikings combined for 41 kills. Collier's 15 kills sets a new career mark as well, besting her previous mark of 14 set at Central (10/29/2021).
Senior Christina Gatta was facilitating masterfully with 39 assists paired with 21 digs. Junior hitter Kharlie Simeona-French and junior blocker Rhianna Huebner were active at the net, Simeona-French totaling 6 blocks and Huebner ending with 5. North Park had the blocks advantage in the match, 13-9.
Top NPU Performers:
Top MU Performers:
- Kailee Itzenhuiser (17 kills, 3 aces, 19 digs)
- Kyra Carothers, Emma Taylor, and Elle Richards all with 4 blocks
- 19 digs for Sophia Howell
Checking the Record Book
13 blocks is a new all-time mark in a five-set match for North Park*. It ranks second all-time in any-set matches, trailing only a 17-block performance against Simpson during the 2017 season.
Simeona French's six blocks is tied for the fifth-most ever and fourth-most in a five-set match at North Park. She tied her previous mark set against Millikin in 2021.
Gatta breaks into the leaderboard again as her 21 digs place 10th on the all-time list with 1,330 in her career.
What's Next?
The Vikings have two big opportunities to continue their win streak, traveling to Wheaton College on Wednesday, October 4, and hosting Washington University from St. Louis on Friday, October 6th at home.
*team blocking stats only tracked since 2013
