AURORA, Ill. -- Aurora University handed North Park University a 3-0 defeat Wednesday night at Thornton Gymnasium, taking the match by scores of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-19.
North Park senior opposite hitter Mercy Osayemi and freshman opposite hitter Gia Sylvestre led the North Park attack with seven kills each. Senior setter Kendal Britton recorded 22 assists and three service aces, while junior defensive specialist Xenia Gonzales paced the Vikings defensively with 12 digs.
Aurora was led by Izabella Kowalczyk's match-high 15 kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Katelyn Ruse added nine kills and 12 digs, while setter Trinity Nelson directed the offense with 32 assists.
North Park came out strong in the opening set as back-to-back service aces from Britton gave the Vikings a 2-0 lead. After a kill from junior outside hitter Maya Huelsman made it 3-2, Aurora answered with a 7-1 run behind Ruse's service rotation to build a 9-4 advantage. The Vikings later closed within 17-13 following a service ace from sophomore defensive specialist Tessa Wabiszewski and an Osayemi kill, but the Spartans finished the set on an 8-1 run to secure a 25-14 victory.
The second set featured a tighter battle throughout. Kills from Sylvestre and sophomore middle blocker/opposite hitter Kayna Kanemoto, along with a Wabiszewski ace, helped North Park erase an early deficit and level the score at 5-5. A Hobbs kill and an ace from junior middle blocker Ivy Newville later pulled the Vikings even at 12-12. Aurora responded with a decisive 6-1 stretch to take an 18-13 lead. North Park stayed within reach as Sylvestre and Osayemi combined for four late kills, but the Spartans held off the rally to claim the set 25-20.
The third set remained close for much of the evening. Kanemoto gave the Vikings an early 2-1 edge, and North Park trimmed the deficit to 16-15 after a Newville service ace and an Aurora attack error. The Spartans quickly answered with a kill from Izzie Rysanek and later used a 5-2 run to create separation. Consecutive kills from Ruse helped Aurora extend its advantage to 22-17 before the Spartans closed out the match, sealing the sweep with a block from Nelson and Peyton Darguzis.
Hobbs added five kills for North Park, while Newville finished with two kills, two aces and two block assists. Wabiszewski also contributed two service aces off the bench.
Aurora received six kills from Rysanek and four from Darguzis. The Spartans totaled 41 kills, 51 digs and seven team blocks in the victory.
What's Next?
North Park (3-5) is right back in action and returns to hoe action on Thursday, September 17, playing another team that received national votes in Hope College (3-3). First serve in Carlson Gym is set for 7:00 PM CT.
