CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park Men's Volleyball team could not keep up with the No. 18-ranked North Central Cardinals on Saturday afternoon, falling in straight sets (11-25, 24-26, 14-25).
After a disappointing opening set, the Vikings played with some fire in their bellies in set two.
North Park initially went down, 3-0, on three-straight kills from North Central's Carson Steinbach but they took advantage of a pair of attacking errors by the Cardinals while senior middle blocker Sam Robinson drove a kill to even things up, 3-3. The set would remain within a point or two before a kill from junior middle blocker Jonah Johnsamson, kill by senior outside hitter Ty Ingrao, and double block by fifth-year setter Teddy Gedville and Robinson put NPU up, 13-10.
The Cardinals offense continued to stay right with the Vikings, though, eventually getting to set point, 24-23, after an NPU service error. A kill from sophomore outside hitter Gerald Malana halted that set point, but an NPU service and attacking error gave the Cardinals a second-set win.
North Central would hit .500 in the third set, totaling 14 kills, to run away with a three-set win.
Quick Hits
- NCC's Steinbach led all players with a dozen kills
- Malana reaches double digits with 10 kills
- Robinson hits .357 with a pair of blocks
- Cardinals hit .424 on the evening with eight aces
What's Next?
North Park (9-7, 2-2 CCIW) heads to Carthage College (13-2, 3-0 CCIW) next Wednesday, March 5, for a match against the No. 5-ranked Firebirds. First serve in Tarble Arena will be 7:00 PM CT.
