Box Score 
Freshman Justin Murphy had eight kills Friday, but Augustana
suffered a three-set loss to North Central at Carver Center.
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – North Central remained unbeaten in Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League play with a three-set victory over Augustana Friday at Carver Center. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-22 to move to 12-7 overall and 4-0 in the MCVL. Coach
Mark Lau's squad dropped to 7-14 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.
The visitors took the lead for good in game one at 6-5 on an Augustana attack error. The margin was its largest at 20-12 before the Vikings won seven of 10 points to pull to within 23-19 on a kill by freshman
Andrew Housholder (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.). However, an Augustana service error followed and Bozhidar Kolev's kill eventually accounted for set point in a 25-20 North Central win.
A
Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) kill gave Augustana a 6-5 lead in game two, but consecutive Viking errors gave the Cardinals a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Set point in a 25-17 North Central win came on an Augustana service error.
The Cardinals took a 4-0 lead and led wire-to-wire in game three. The hosts cut the deficit to 6-5 on a
Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) kill and 7-6 after a North Central attack error, but the Cardinals responded by winning three points in a row. The Vikings stayed within striking distance and trimmed the margin to a single point on four occasions, the last at 20-19 on a Murphy kill. However, an Augustana service error and a Kolev ace put North Central back in control and match point came on a kill by Brendan Crawford.
Murphy and freshman
Dylan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.) each had eight kills to pace the Viking attack. Freshmen
Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.), Szara,
Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and
Joshua Richardson (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Hazel Crest, Ill.) led Augustana with 24 assists, two aces, 15 digs and three blocks, respectively.
Crawford led North Central with eight kills.
Augustana is back in action at Carver on Saturday, March 17. The Vikings host Carthage at 1:00 p.m. and Aurora at 3:00 p.m.
