NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College dropped a 3-0 non-conference decision to North Central (IL) on Friday at Gregory Arena, falling by set scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 25-18.
The opening set featured several early ties before the Cardinals used a decisive mid-set surge to take control. After the teams were even at 8-8, NCC rattled off a 7-2 run to open up a 15-10 advantage and never trailed again, closing out the frame 25-20.
North Central pulled away early in the second set, stringing together a 9-0 run to turn a 4-4 tie into a commanding 13-4 lead. The Cardinals' match-high .423 hitting percentage proved difficult to overcome as they cruised to a 25-15 win.
The third set was back-and-forth early on, with the Warriors trading points through the opening stretch. NCC again seized control midway through the set with a 6-0 run, and the North Central finished off the sweep with a 25-18 victory.
WLC hit .136 for the match and was led offensively by sophomore
Brady Pichler (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) with a match-high 15 kills. Freshman
David Warren (Brookfield, Wis.) directed the offense with 19 assists, while senior
Connor Haeuser (West Bend, Wis.) paced Wisconsin Lutheran defensively with six digs.
North Central (5-2) finished the match hitting .364 as a team. Brannen Almarales led the team with 13 kills, while Angelo Delgado dished out 27 assists. Defensively, Almarales and Chris Mactal anchored the net with five total blocks each. Evan Page led the team with nine digs.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-1) will return to action on Saturday, February 14, when it faces host Illinois Wesleyan (8-3) and Westminster (MO) (10-3) at the IWU Triangular in Bloomington, Illinois.
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