SANDUSKY, Ohio -- North Park University's women's volleyball team kicked off the 2025 season in swift fashion, defeating The College of Wooster, 3-1, before a 3-0 sweep of SUNY Brockport at the Cedar Point Sports Comple. The Vikings hit .213 on the day and drove 22 aces in just seven sets of work.
Wooster Recap
North Park set the tone early in the first set with a 6-1 run fueled by kills from senior outside hitter Annaliese Rottman and senior middle blocker Kharlie Simeona-French. Wooster responded with a late surge, narrowing the gap to 24-23 before a final attack error sealed the set for NPU.
The second set was all Vikings. Senior libero Carolina Aviles served up a blistering 7-0 run, including two aces and multiple kills from Rottman, vaulting North Park to a smooth 25-11 win.
Despite dropping the third set in a tightly contested 27-25 battle, where the Vikings had their lower hitting percentage of the day (.171) North Park bounced back in the fourth set. A mid-set 6-0 run led by Aviles and Rottman broke a 12–12 tie and propelled the Vikings to a 25-17 clincher.
Top Performers for NPU
- Annaliese Rottman led all scorers with 22 kills, hitting an impressive .327 in 52 chances
- Carolina Aviles was a force on both ends, tallying 7 service aces, 26 digs, and 5 assists.
- Junior setter Kendal Britton orchestrated the offense with 47 assists, adding 11 digs and a service ace. Her 47 assists sets a new career high.
- Senior outside hitter SaeAuna Reynolds made a strong debut with 7 kills on a .357 hitting percentage.
SUNY Brockport Recap
North Park jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set of match two, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Rottman and senior middle blocker Riana Hayes. Brockport rallied late, closing the gap to 22-21, but a double block by Britton and Hayes put the Vikings on top, 25-22.
In the second set, North Park broke a 12-12 tie with a 6-0 run powered by Simeona-French, who delivered three service aces in the stretch of point scoring. The Vikings closed the set 25-19 with a kill from Reynolds.
The third set saw North Park a few steps ahead once more, taking a 104 lead thanks to a pair of service aces from Britton and a kill from junior middle blocker Meg Rothermel. Brockport stayed close in the set, but North Park held firm, finishing the match with a kill from Rothermel to secure the sweep.
Top Performers for NPU
What's Next?
North Park (2-0) looks to build on the pair of wins in Sandusky with two more matches to play on Saturday, August 30. The Vikings will play Muskingum University (2-0) at 10:00 AM ET before a noon ET match with Washington & Jefferson College (1-1).
