EAGLE CLASSIC PAGE

The Benedictine University women's volleyball team wrapped up the 2014 season at the second day of the Eagle Classic. The Eagles fell to North Central and Bluffton University.

NORTH CENTRAL 3, BENEDICTINE 1
Against North Central (18-14), Benedictine (8-24) gained momentum early on with four straight Vanessa Possidoni points. North Central's offense came alive at the end to win 25-19. Tied at 13 in the second set, NCC comitted three straight errors and Kelcey Adams scored three straight points to win 22-17.

The third set saw both teams trade points until NCC pulled ahead 15-8 with three straight kills. Caitlyn Martin served two aces and Keriann Groend had two straight kills to pull within one. Andraia Leja's ace kept the Eagles within striking distance but the Cardinals scored the final three points of the match to win 24-20.

Benedictine caught fire in the fourth set, taking an early 7-1 lead that included three Ashley Karsten kills. The Eagles defense was on fire as they went up 17-8. North Central then scored ten straight points off of BenU errors to take their first lead of the match 18-17 until Groen stopped the hurt with a kill. Both teams traded points the rest of the match and it was North Central that came out on top, 25-22.

Benedictine had a season high 15 team blocks including nine block assists from Karsten and four from Groen.

Groen led the team with nine kills and Karsten tallied eight. Abby Screnock recorded 26 assists while Andraia Leja and Adams led the defense with 17 and 12 digs, respectievly.

BLUFFTON 3, BENEDICTINE 0

The Eagles allowed Bluffton an early lead in the first set and struggled to come from behind to fall 25-15. Again, Bluffton took the lead in the second set and never looked back, tallying 11 kills and just three errors for a 25-10.

Benedictine never gave up in the third set. The Eagles tied the game at five and as Bluffton started to pull away Kara Epping and Kristi Naylon had back-to-back blocks to pull the Eagles within three. Bluffton's offense caught fire, tallying 15 kills to win 25-18.

Wiegand led BenU with nine kills and had zero errors while Chitwood and Screnock had four kills each. Leja led the defense with 11 digs.