CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park University women's volleyball team suffered two losses Saturday at a tournament hosted by the University of Chicago, falling to Westminster (Mo.) in four sets before dropping a straight-set decision to UC Santa Cruz.
In the opener, Westminster earned a 25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19 victory. The Blue Jays controlled the opening two sets before North Park answered in the third. After trailing 7-0 early, the Vikings rallied and closed the set with a service ace from sophomore defensive specialist Tessa Wabiszewski and a Westminster attack error to extend the match.
Sophomore opposite Kayna Kanemoto led North Park with 13 kills and a .353 hitting percentage, while senior middle blocker Meg Rothermel added 12 kills on a .476 clip. Senior setter Kendal Britton distributed 33 assists, and junior defensive specialist/libero Xenia Gonzales totaled 17 digs.
North Park then faced UC Santa Cruz, which claimed a 25-18, 25-12, 25-15 win. The Vikings raced out to a 5-1 advantage in the opening set, but the Banana Slugs responded with a decisive run and controlled the remainder of the match.
Junior outside hitter Maya Huelsman paced North Park with eight kills. Rothermel chipped in five kills, Britton recorded 14 assists, and Gonzales collected 11 digs. UC Santa Cruz was led offensively by Alice Taylor and Kate Lau, who each finished with nine kills.
What's Next?
The Vikings move to 8-14 overall and return to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play on Wednesday night in Naperville, facing North Central (8-6, 2-2).
