NAPERVILLE, Ill. – In a battle for second place in the CCIW, North Central defeated Augustana in straight sets Wednesday at Gregory Arena. The Vikings fell to 9-6 overall and 8-4 in the conference, while the host Cardinals improved to 11-3 on the season and 8-3 in the league.
 
Set one was tight early. Only once in the first 38 points—after a Parker Nelson service ace that gave North Central a 12-9 advantage—did either team build a lead of more than two points. A Matt Nealon kill broke the final tie (16-16) and sparked a 6-2 Cardinal run that ended with the hosts up 22-18. Jake Miller contributed three kills in the spurt. Set point in a 25-20 North Central win came on an Augustana service error.
 
The Cardinals took control of game two with a pair of 5-0 runs. A Ben Pluskota kill finished off the second and put North Central up 11-4. The Vikings took nine of the next 13 points to pull within 15-13, but Kevin Braceros had two kills as the Cardinals answered by taking six of eight points and a 21-15 lead. A block by Nealon and Nathan Jones finished off a 25-19 North Central win.
 
Jarod Hesse (Grayslake North HS, Villa Park, Ill.) and Gary Dodovich (St. Benedict HS, Chicago, Ill.) teamed up on a block to cap a 4-0 Augustana run that gave the guests an 11-8 edge in game three. Dodovich added a pair of kills as the Vikings stretched the margin to 17-12. However, the Cardinals claimed five straight points to tie at 17-all and they eventually pulled ahead 22-21 on a kill by Pluskota. Augustana took three of the next four and led 24-23 after a Hesse kill, but North Central captured the final three to win 26-24. Match point came on a Viking attack error.
 
Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) finished with a match-high 13 kills and Dodovich added 10. Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) had 28 assists and Hesse was in on four blocks, including three of the solo variety. Miller led the Cardinals with a dozen kills.
 
Coach Mike Ducey's team will open CCIW play with a semifinal match on Thursday, April 8. The Vikings' opponent and site are yet to be determined.