CHICAGO, Ill. -- Breakout performances from sophomore right-side hitter Kayna Kanemoto and freshman outside hitter Jada Clark powered North Park women's volleyball past Benedictine in four sets on Tuesday night at Carlson Gymnasium. The Vikings secured the non-conference win by scores of 25-19, 25-18, 21-25 and 25-21.
Kanemoto established a career high with 13 kills while hitting .345 and adding three blocks. Clark delivered 11 kills and two blocks over three sets, including six kills in the decisive fourth frame.
Senior middle blocker Meg Rothermel was dominant at the net, finishing with 10 kills, no errors and a .417 hitting percentage. Her seven blocks tied the fourth-best total in program history for a four-set match. North Park's 11 team blocks tied for fifth best in a four-set match.
The Vikings built an early 10-3 advantage in the opening set behind consecutive aces from junior defensive specialist/libero Xenia Gonzales. Benedictine pulled within 11-10 as setter Olivia Evola directed its comeback, but North Park answered with kills from Kanemoto and Rothermel. A quality service run from junior defensive specialist Grace Rapacz helped the Vikings turn a 17-14 edge into a 21-14 lead before they closed the set, 25-19.
Benedictine scored the first two points of the second set, but another Rapacz service run helped North Park move ahead, 4-2. The Eagles later drew even at 10-10 behind kills from Lizzy Williams and an ace by Emma Cuzas. The Vikings reclaimed control with a late surge, as senior setter Kendal Britton supplied a kill and assisted Clark before junior defensive specialist Cate Freeman served the final three points of the 25-18 victory.
The Eagles responded in the third set, using a seven-point run to build a 16-8 advantage. Williams, Cuzas and Samantha Bagdonaite led a Benedictine attack that hit .250 in the frame. North Park rallied to within 22-20 behind kills from Clark and junior middle blocker Ivy Newville, but Benedictine held on for a 25-21 win.
North Park jumped ahead 12-4 in the fourth behind strong work from Clark and Rothermel. Benedictine battled back, with Keira Clark and Bagdonaite helping the Eagles tie the set at 19-19. Rothermel halted the run with a kill, Gonzales followed with an ace and Newville pushed the lead to 22-20. Jada Clark then accounted for three of North Park's final four points, including the match-ending kill in the 25-21 decision.
Britton totaled 34 assists and 18 digs, while Gonzales added 17 digs, six assists and four aces. Rapacz contributed 10 digs and an ace across several productive trips to the service line. Newville finished with seven kills on .316 hitting and added two blocks.
Keira Clark led Benedictine with 10 kills and two blocks. Evola distributed 23 assists and collected 11 digs, while Cuzas and Williams contributed six and seven kills, respectively. Amanda Bagdonaite added 10 digs and two aces for the Eagles.
What's Next?
After four-straight home matches, the Vikings hit the road to play in the Calvin Invite, beginning October 9 against Trine University. First serve in Van Noord Arena is set for 6:00 PM ET.
