CHICAGO, Ill. -- With the regular season winding down and a log jam in the conference race, North Park University women's volleyball heads to the Roy J. Carver Center for an important College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) clash against Augustana College on Wednesday evening.
The Vikings (18-9, 2-4 CCIW) look to bounce back and climb the conference standings after a hard-fought stretch that included five-set losses to Millikin and Carroll. Meanwhile, Augustana (11-12, 2-4 CCIW) enters the match on a two-game skid, most recently falling in straight sets to UW-Stout.
Looking at the Stats
North Park ranks third in the CCIW in service aces per set (2.53) and fourth in blocks per set (1.80). Fifth-year opposite hitter Kharlie Simeona-French continues to be a force for the Vikings, recently eclipsing 150 career blocks and ranking among the team leaders in kills, blocks, and digs.
Junior setter Kendal Britton, the four-time CCIW Setter of the Week, is the full-time setter for the NPU offense, averaging 7.92 assists per set last week and posting a career-high 54 assists against Millikin.
Augustana counters with a balanced attack led by Lanah Queckboerner, who posted 13 kills and 13 digs in a recent win over North Central. Middle hitter Carli Udovich adds power at the net, hitting .389 with 9 kills in that same match. Setter Leah Rizzo and libero Katelyn Turley anchor the back row, combining for over 30 assists and digs in the contest.
Statistically, Augustana ranks sixth in the CCIW in digs per set (14.89) and seventh in blocks per set (1.36). Their hitting percentage (.153) and opponent hitting percentage (.188) suggest a team that relies on defensive grit and timely offense.
Recent History
North Park has enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings, including a dominant sweep in 2024 that clinched a spot in the CCIW Tournament. In that match, the Vikings held Augustana to a negative hitting percentage in the opening set and closed the night with 16 digs and three blocks in the final frame.
In 2023, North Park edged Augustana in a five-set thriller, with senior setter Christina Gatta recording a career-high 54 assists and outside hitter Adriana Rodriguez leading with 19 kills. That win helped propel North Park to a perfect conference record and their first-ever CCIW title.
What's at Stake
Both teams enter the match tied at 2-4 in the CCIW, alongside two other conference teams in Elmhurst and Wheaton. A win for North Park would keep them in contention for a top-five seed in the CCIW Tournament, while Augustana looks to snap a losing streak and stay in the hunt with a win over NPU.
First serve in Rock Island is set for 6:30 PM CT.
