DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The North Park Women's Volleyball team closed the 2026 season Friday evening with a 3-0 loss to No. 16 Dubuque at the Stoltz Sports Center. The Spartans claimed the match by scores of 25-21, 25-14, and 25-18 to finish the regular season at 25-5, while North Park concluded its campaign at 9-19.
Senior middle blocker Meg Rothermel led the Vikings with eight kills on a .412 hitting percentage while adding two solo blocks for a team-high 10 points. Junior outside hitter Maya Huelsman contributed six kills, senior setter Kendal Britton tallied 25 assists, and junior libero Xenia Gonzales paced the defense with 14 digs.
Dubuque was led by Delainey Winkel and Halee Clare, who each recorded 11 kills. Alexis Kammerer directed the Spartan offense with 37 assists and three service aces.
North Park battled throughout the opening set and erased a three-point deficit midway through the frame. Trailing 16-13, the Vikings used a block from senior outside hitter Rian Hobbs and senior right-side hitter Grace Morrow, followed by a service ace from sophomore defensive specialist Tessa Wabiszewski and a Hobbs kill, to take an 18-16 advantage. Dubuque answered with a 6-2 run behind the attacks of Winkel and Clare before securing the 25-21 victory.
The Vikings came out strong in the second set as junior middle blocker Ivy Newville delivered back-to-back service aces during a 3-0 opening run. North Park later held a 7-6 lead before Dubuque responded with eight of the next 11 points to move ahead 14-10. The Spartans continued to build momentum, closing the set on an 11-4 run to earn a 25-14 win and a two-set advantage.
Dubuque seized the early edge in the third set, scoring the first three points of the frame. North Park answered with a Newville ace and a Rothermel kill to cut the deficit to 13-11. Consecutive aces from Kammerer helped the Spartans regain control, and the Vikings were unable to draw closer than four points the rest of the way. Huelsman recorded two late kills and Rothermel added another as North Park continued to battle before Dubuque completed the sweep with a 25-18 victory.
The Vikings finished the match with 25 kills, six service aces, and five team blocks. Dubuque totaled 44 kills while hitting .271 and matched North Park with six aces.
