CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's volleyball team continued its unbeaten start to the CCIW season with a 3-1 win over Carroll University on Friday night inside Carlson Gym, extending their win streak to nine matches. The Vikings dropped the opening set but stormed back to take the next three, winning by scores of 22-25, 25-10, 25-22, and 25-16. Senior outside hitter Shamyia Collier enjoyed a career night with 19 kills.
After a close first set that saw nine ties and two lead changes, North Park regrouped with a commanding performance in the second. The Vikings opened the frame with a 7-0 run behind the serving of junior setter Kendal Britton and never looked back, holding Carroll to just 10 points. Britton's service ace and a pair of kills from Collier and junior middle blocker Meg Rothermel highlighted the surge.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle with seven ties and seven lead changes. North Park pulled away late thanks to a clutch kill from fifth-year middle blocker Kharlie Simeona-French and a service ace by sophomore defensive specialist Cate Freeman. Senior middle blocker Riana Hayes sealed the set with a kill off a Britton assist. Senior libero Carolina Aviles paced the floor for the Vikings to accumulate 20 digs, the fourth time this season with 20+.
In the fourth, North Park used a balanced attack and strong net play to close out the match. The Vikings went on a 7-1 run midway through the set, fueled by kills from Collier and Hayes and a block from Rothermel. Simeona-French capped the night with a service ace to clinch the victory in front of a fired up group of the Viking faithful.
North Park hit .290 as a team and recorded 60 kills, 11 aces, and 9 blocks. The Vikings improved to 15-2 overall and 2-0 in CCIW play.
Top Performers: North Park
Top Performers: Carroll
- Bronwyn Rowse - 9 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks
- Audrey Rosenbaum - 7 kills, 2 blocks, 8.0 points
- Payton Depies - 20 assists, 3 aces
- Carly Hicklin - 6 kills, 1 block, 6.5 points
Record Book Notes
- Collier's career high in kills (19)
- Britton ties her career high in assists (47), set last month against Wooster
- Britton's 47 assists ties for 4th-most in a four-set match
- Rothermel's 6 blocks ties for 10th-most in all matches and 7th-most in a four-set match
- NPU's 60 team kills is 6th-most in a four-set match
- NPU's 54 team assists is 9th-most in a four-set match
- NPU's 9 team blocks is tied for 7th-most in a four-set match
- NPU's 80 team points is tied for 8th-most in all matches and 2nd-most in four-set matches
What's Next?
North Park (15-2, 2-0 CCIW) has the weekend off before hosting No. 7-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (12-0, 2-0 CCIW) next Wednesday, October 1. First serve inside Carlson Gym is set for 6:00 PM CT.
