NAPERVILLE, Ill.— The Carthage College women's volleyball team returned to conference play with a 3-2 win over North Central (Ill.) on Wednesday night. 


 

• Final score: Carthage 3 - North Central (Ill.) 2
• Location: Naperville, Illinois - Gregory Arena
• Records: Carthage 17-6 (5-2 CCIW), North Central (Ill.) 12-7 (4-2 CCIW)

 
 

• It was a close contest to start, with Carthage holding a two-point lead with a kill from Leena Ajibola. 
• After a block by Ella Pettinger put the Firebirds up 24-21, North Central (Ill.) retaliated, scoring five-straight points to win the first set. 
• The Cardinals jumped out to a 14-8 margin in the second off a bad set. 
• Though a kill from Molly Skoda and an ace from Tatum Kebisek made it an eight-point deficit, the home team won the second 25-16. 
• The Firebirds responded in the third, going ahead 15-11 off a kill from Liv Carel. 
• Following North Central (Ill.) going up 19-18, a 7-2 run closed out the set for Carthage with a closing kill from Skoda. 
• Three consecutive kills from Pettinger and Skoda gave the visitors the advantage 15-8. 
• Though the Cardinals tied it at 24, an attack error and a kill from Skoda forced a fifth set 26-24. 
• It was all Carthage in the fifth as three-straight kills from Carel made it 13-8. 
• Kaitie Rohe and Carel closed the door with a pair of kills as Carthage won 15-9. 

 

• Molly Skoda was one shy of her season best, finishing with 18 kills for Carthage. 
• Liv Carel followed closely with 16 kills. 
• Ella Pettinger led the team in blocks with six, while Tatum Kebisek added five aces, one shy of her season best. 
• Aubree Bucheger chipped in with 23 digs, while Devinn Bell had 18 assists. 

 
 
 
 


"A classic CCIW battle! North Central is a very tough team, and it took some gritty play on our part to get the win! Molly Skoda and Liv Carel had a big night at the net. Clutch kills and blocks! Leena Ajibola really sparked us in set three when our backs were to the wall. Devinn Bell was another spark off the bench and did a great job running the offense. Aubree Bucheger and Jenna Damon were so good at passing and digging. Madilyn Danielson came off the bench to be a strong passer and defender. Kaitie Rohe carries a big load for us all around! It was a great program win! We will enjoy this tonight, then get ready for the Elmhurst tourney."


 

• Carthage hits the road for the Elmhurst Invite starting on Friday, October 21. 
• The Firebirds start the invitational playing Ohio Wesleyan at 4 p.m. on Friday, then conclude the day playing Wisconsin-River Falls. 
• Carthage wraps up the invite by playing No. 13 Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 10 a.m. on Saturday