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Cardinals celebrate senior night with a victory

NAPERVILLE, Ill.  (Oct. 19, 2007) - The North Central volleyball team celebrated senior night in style, dispensing of North Park University 30-15, 30-17, 30-18 Friday night in Gregory Arena. The win improved the Cardinals to 21-6 overall and 3-3 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.

Senior Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) led the attack with 22 kills, while sophomore Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) added six. Sophomore Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the defense with 27 digs and also added three aces. Junior Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) chipped in 11 digs, and senior setter CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) finished with 38 assists.

Kelly, Heckman, Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) and Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) were all honored in a pre-game ceremony.

North Central plays its final regular-season CCIW game Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Wheaton College at 7:30 p.m.

Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 12, 2007) – North Central won its own Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament with victories over Aurora University and Robert Morris College (Springfield, Ill.) Friday night, followed by wins against St. Olaf College (Minn.) and Carroll College (Wis.) Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals (18-6) topped Aurora 30-15, 30-19, 30-13; Robert Morris 30-19, 30-21, 30-18; St. Olaf 30-26, 18-30, 29-31, 30-25, 15-13; and Carroll 30-22, 30-19, 30-23.

Against Aurora, North Central got a season-high nine kills from middle hitter Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood). Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) led the attack with 13 kills, and Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) chipped in eight. Setter CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) directed the attack, finishing with 37 assists. Sophomore Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) paced the defense with 19 digs, while Kellie Drewelow (Harvard, Ill./Harvard) and Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) added 11 apiece.

Against Robert Morris, Dickey had another standout game as the junior bested her season-high in kills set just one match prior with 10 to go along with one solo block and two assisted blocks. Kelly added 16 kills, and Heckman 41 assists and 16 digs. Ryding chipped in 15 digs and two aces, and Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) 11 digs.

Against St. Olaf, Kelly tied her season-best for kills with 28. Eggert also posted a season-best for kills with 14, and Mokros was the third Cardinal in double-figure kill totals with 11. Heckman distributed 55 assists while also adding 15 digs. Ryding led the team in digs with 31, and Eggert chipped in 15. Range led the squad in blocks with three solo and three assisted. Kelly also had three solo to go with two assisted. Wirtz contributed 17 digs and three aces.

Against Carroll, Kelly put down 19 kills in addition to one solo block and three assisted. Dickey had seven kills, two aces and three assisted blocks. Heckman totaled 37 assists, 15 digs and two aces. Ryding led the defense with 20 digs, and Eggert had 16.

Both Kelly and Ryding were named all-tournament.

Cardinal volleyball sweeps Elmhurst

NAPERVILLE, Ill . (Oct. 9, 2007) –The North Central volleyball team gained its first conference victory of the season with a 30-20, 30-25, 30-28 sweep of Elmhurst College Tuesday night in Gregory Arena. The Cardinals improved to 16-6 overall and 1-3 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. The Bluejays fell to 10-13/2-2.

Senior Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick), who became the College’s all-time leader in kills last weekend, led the attack with 19 kills. Junior Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) added 12 kills and 21 digs. Senior CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) distributed 43 assists. Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the D with 25 digs, and Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) totaled three assisted blocks.

North Central hosts its own Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13.

Augustana Invitational 

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Oct. 6, 2007) - North Central posted a 3-1 record and took second place at the Augustana Invitational held Friday and Saturday. The Cardinals improved their overall record to 15-6 for the season.

On Friday, the Cardinals kicked off the tourney with a 30-27, 30-26, 24-30, 30-28 win over Luther College (Iowa). Senior Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) paced the attack with 25 kills, while Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove), Kelly Vanderstappen (Hebron, Ill./Alden-Hebron) and Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) all chipped in nine kills apiece. CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) dished out a season-high 53 assists and also finished with 12 digs. Stefanie McMillin (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka) and Kellie Drewelow (Harvard, Ill./Harvard) each had two aces, while Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) totaled 45 digs and Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) 19.

North Central then downed Kalamazoo College (Mich.) 30-22, 30-21, 33-31. Kelly totaled 16 digs, and Range had eight . Heckman distributed 40 assists, while Ryding totaled 29 digs and Eggert 14. Eggert also added two aces.

On Saturday, the Cardinals got a bit of revenge against CCIW opponent Augustana College, who had defeated North Central Sept. 18. However, led by 21 kills from Kelly, 10 from Range and seven apiece from Mokros and Eggert, the Cards outlasted the Vikings 30-24, 28-30, 32-30, 18-30, 15-8. Kelly also had one solo block and two assisted blocks, Range five assisted blocks, Mokros four assisted blocks and Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) four assisted blocks. Heckman doled out 55 assists, topping her season-best set one day earlier. The senior also had 16 digs, while Ryding totaled 30, Eggert 17 and Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) 11.

North Central wrapped up the tourney with a 30-16, 30-22, 30-26 loss to eighth-ranked Washington University (Mo.) in the title game. Kelly had eight kills and Range seven. Heckman totaled 21 assists, and Ryding finished with 13 digs.

Kelly and Heckman were both named to the all-tournament team.

North Central resumes College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play with a 7:30 p.m. game versus Elmhurst College (Ill.) Tuesday, Oct. 9.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 12, 2007) – North Central won its own Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament with victories over Aurora University and Robert Morris College (Springfield, Ill.) Friday night, followed by wins against St. Olaf College (Minn.) and Carroll College (Wis.) Saturday afternoon.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 2, 2007) - North Central suffered a 30-19, 30-21, 30-17 loss to 10th-ranked Carthage College (Wis.) Tuesday night in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play. The Cardinals fell to 12-5 overall with the loss and 0-3 in the conference. Carthage improved to 18-2/3-0.

Seniors Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) and Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) led the attack with 11 and six kills apiece. Kelly was also solid at the net with three solo blocks and one assisted block. Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) added two solo blocks and one assisted.

Senior CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) dished out 23 assists, while junior Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) led the defense with 14 digs. Sophomore Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) added 11 digs.

North Central plays in the Augustana Invitational Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5-6.

The Cardinals (18-6) topped Aurora 30-15, 30-19, 30-13; Robert Morris 30-19, 30-21, 30-18; St. Olaf 30-26, 18-30, 29-31, 30-25, 15-13; and Carroll 30-22, 30-19, 30-23.CJ Heckman

Millikin 3, North Central 1 

DECATUR, Ill. - The North Central volleyball team made the three-hour trek to play at Millikin University Tuesday night and fell in four games, losing 23-30, 30-27, 30-26, 30-26. The Cardinals fell to 13-4 overall and 0-2 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin with the loss.

Senior outside hitter Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) led the attack as usual, finishing with 20 kills in addition to two solo blocks. Fellow senior Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) added 16 kills, one solo block and two assisted blocks. Freshman Kelly Vanderstappen (Hebron, Ill./Alden-Hebron) chipped in eight kills, and Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) six kills, one solo block and one assisted block.

Senior setter CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) totaled 44 assists on the night, and sophomore Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) had 24 digs and two aces.

North Central returns to action next Tuesday, Oct. 2, with a home game versus Carthage College (Wis.) at 7:30 p.m.

Against Aurora, North Central got a season-high nine kills from middle hitter Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood). Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) led the attack with 13 kills, and Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) chipped in eight. Setter CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) directed the attack, finishing with 37 assists. Sophomore Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) paced the defense with 19 digs, while Kellie Drewelow (Harvard, Ill./Harvard) and Jessica Eggert (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North) added 11 apiece.NAPERVILLE, Ill . (Oct. 9, 2007) –The North Central volleyball team gained its first conference victory of the season with a 30-20, 30-25, 30-28 sweep of Elmhurst College Tuesday night in Gregory Arena. The Cardinals improved to 16-6 overall and 1-3 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. The Bluejays fell to 10-13/2-2.

WHEATON, Ill. - The North Central volleyball team posted a perfect 4-0 record at the Wheaton Invitational held Friday and Saturday. The Cardinals (13-3) downed Cornell College (Iowa) and Beloit College (Wis.) Friday, followed by wins over the University of Chicago and Lakeland College (Wis.) Saturday.

In the 30-25, 32-30, 30-20 victory over Cornell, Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) put down 23 kills, and Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) added 10 to go along with two assisted blocks. CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) distributed 43 assists and also had two assisted blocks. Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) chipped in 15 digs, while Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) totaled 11 digs and four aces. Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the Cards in digs with 35.

In the 30-16, 30-14, 30-18 win over Beloit, Kelly totaled 13 kills, one solo block and two assisted blocks. Range added 10 kills and two solo blocks. Heckman finished with 35 assists and nine digs. Ryding added 12 digs and two aces.

In Saturday's win over Chicago, the Cardinals won by forfeit. North Central then concluded the tourney with a 31-29, 30-20, 30-28 win over Lakeland. Kelly paced the attack with 22 kills, and freshman Kelly Vanderstappen (Hebron, Ill./Alden-Hebron) added 13 kills, one solo block and two assisted blocks. Range led the team in blocks with two solo and three assisted. Heckman dished out 44 assists and also had 11 digs. Ryding led the 'D' with 25 digs, while Wirtz totaled 17.

North Central plays at Millikin University (Ill.) in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin action Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Against St. Olaf, Kelly tied her season-best for kills with 28. Eggert also posted a season-best for kills with 14, and Mokros was the third Cardinal in double-figure kill totals with 11. Heckman distributed 55 assists while also adding 15 digs. Ryding led the team in digs with 31, and Eggert chipped in 15. Range led the squad in blocks with three solo and three assisted. Kelly also had three solo to go with two assisted. Wirtz contributed 17 digs and three aces.North Central hosts its own Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13.

Augustana outlasts North Central to open CCIW play

Augustana 3, North Central 2 

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Sept. 18, 2007) - North Central opened play in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin with a five-game loss to Augustana College Tuesday night. The Cardinals lost 31-29, 30-26, 25-30, 23-30, 15-9 to fall to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The Vikings improved to 8-4/1-0.

The attack was led by Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick), Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) and Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception). Kelly totaled 28 kills, Range 10 and Schmidt eight. Range also added three solo blocks while Schmidt chipped in 20 digs. Setter CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) dished out 52 assists and also had nine digs and three assisted blocks.

Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the defense with 58 digs and two aces. Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) contributed two aces and two solo blocks.

North Central plays in the Wheaton College Tournament Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21-22.

Against Carroll, Kelly put down 19 kills in addition to one solo block and three assisted. Dickey had seven kills, two aces and three assisted blocks. Heckman totaled 37 assists, 15 digs and two aces. Ryding led the defense with 20 digs, and Eggert had 16.

Cardinal volleyball splits at Lake Forest Triangular

Stephanie Ryding

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (Sept. 15, 2007) - North Central split a pair of matches at the Lake Forest College Triangular Saturday. The Cardinals (9-2) downed the host Forresters 30-15, 30-17, 30-19 but lost 30-15, 30-24, 27-30, 32-30 to Benedictine University (Ill.).

Against Lake Forest, Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) and Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) led the attack with 15 and nine kills, respectively. Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) had a solid game with 18 digs and three aces. CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) dished out 33 assists.

Against Benedictine, Kelly again led the team with 28 kills. Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) added 10 kills and 16 digs. Heckman had a season-high 52 assists, while Ryding totaled 30 digs, Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) 14 digs and Range three solo blocks and three assisted blocks.

North Central opens play in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin at Augustana College Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Both Kelly and Ryding were named all-tournament.

North Central volleyball goes 3-1 at Pacific Coast Classic

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Sept. 8, 2007) - North Central College posted a 3-1 record at the 15-team Pacific Coast Classic held last weekend on the campuses of Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps colleges. The Cardinals downed Whittier College 30-11, 30-23, 30-17 and UC-Santa Cruz 30-27, 30-24, 30-23 on Friday, followed by a 30-20, 30-18, 31-29 win over Pomona-Pitzer and a 30-26, 30-24, 30-27 loss to California State - East Bay on Saturday.

The Cardinals got 11 kills from Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) and nine from Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) in the win over Whittier. CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) distributed 38 assists and had three assisted blocks. Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) totaled 19 digs and three aces, and Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) 12 digs. Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove Village) finished with four assisted blocks.

Against UC-Santa Cruz, Kelly was impressive with 20 kills on 41 attempts. Schmidt added 11 kills and 16 digs, while Heckman totaled 35 assists. Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) had five assisted blocks and Ryding 24 digs.

On Saturday versus Pomona Pitzer, Kelly pounded out 20 kills, Schmidt 17 and Range 10. Heckman had a season-high 48 assists. Four players finished with double-digit dig totals led by Ryding's 24. Heckman had 22, Wirtz 14, Schmidt 13 and Kristen Antioho (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) 13. Range also had five assisted blocks and Schmidt three assisted blocks.

In the Cards' first loss of the season to California State - East Bay, Kelly totaled 16 kills, Schmidt seven and Range seven. Heckman totaled 34 assists and Ryding finished with 23 digs. Schmidt also chipped in 13 digs.

“Defense and passing the ball have been the key so far for us this year,” said head coach Karen Kunka of the team’s success. “Serve-receive has also been a strength. The seniors doing well at those things is why we're off to an 8-1 start."

North Central plays in the Lake Forest Triangular Saturday, Sept. 15.

Volleyball opens season by winning Wisconsin Lutheran Tournament

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Sept. 1, 2007) - The North Central College volleyball team opened its 2007 season by posting a perfect 4-0 record en route to winning the Wisconsin Lutheran College Tournament held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31 through Sept. 1.

The Cardinals started the tourney with a 30-12, 30-15, 30-13 victory over Alverno College (Wis.) on Friday. Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) led the way with nine kills, and Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) added seven kills and two solo blocks. CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) dished out 33 assists and also had eight digs. Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) paced the defense with 12 digs, while Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) added two solo blocks and four assisted blocks. Freshman Anna Wirtz (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) chipped in four aces and seven digs.

The team followed up the victory by cruising to another three-game win over Carroll College (Wis.) by the scores of 30-18, 30-17, 30-12. Kelly had 15 kills, and Heckman and Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) six apiece kills apiece. Heckman also distributed 33 assists to go along with three aces, and Ryding added 20 digs.

On Saturday, the Cardinals disposed of host Wisconsin Lutheran 30-20, 30-16, 30-14. Kelly registered a season-high 18 kills. The defense was outstanding as Ryding totaled 19 digs, Schmidt 12, and Wirtz and Kristina Antle (Wilmington, Ill./Wilmington) nine apiece. Range added five assisted blocks, and Heckman finished with 35 assists.

North Central then capped the tourney with a 30-24, 30-18, 30-18 win over Lawrence University (Wis.). Three players had double-digit kill totals led by Kelly's 13. Schmidt finished with  11 and Range 10. Heckman registered a season-best 37 assists, and Ryding a season-best 20 digs.

North Central hosts Concordia University (Ill.) Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.

Volleyball Season Preview

After posting a 26-5 record, winning five tournaments, tying for third place in the conference and placing three players on the all-conference team, North Central volleyball had one of its most successful seasons ever in 2006. The challenge for 2007 is to keep it going.

"Ultimately, our goal is to get into the top two or three in the conference and stay there," said head coach Karen Kunka. "I think this year will be exciting in the sense that we get to build in some of the positions we lost while returning a strong core of seniors that have started for two years. We're going to be a relatively young team, so we'll need our seniors to be good leaders and good role models."

Seniors Maggie Kelly (Riverside, Ill./Fenwick) and CJ Heckman (Shannon, Ill./Eastland) headline the list of returners. Kelly earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention honors and was named College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) First Team at outside hitter. Kelly led the Cardinals in kills (377 total, 4.38/game) with a .356 hitting percentage. Her kills per game also led the CCIW. She also had 105 digs and 46 blocks on the year.

Now entering her final season as a Cardinal, the three-year letterwinner is approaching the career record for kills, held by North Central assistant coach Mia (Viola) Peretta. Kelly enters the season with 992 kills, 367 short of surpassing Peretta's total of 1,358.

"Maggie has really developed her game," Kunka said of her 5-foot-10 outside hitter. "It's been fun to watch her grow over the last two years. She's very capable of just jumping, swinging and hitting. However, she's learned to be smart about her shot selections and place the ball when need be. That's opened up her game so much. That's what's really put her in position to break the record."

Setting up Kelly for the second straight year is Heckman, a CCIW Second team selection. She dished out 1,244 assists (11.85/game) while also adding 25 aces, 227 digs and 34 blocks in 2006. The 5-foot-7 Heckman ranked second in the conference in assists per game.

Also returning are starters Diana Range (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) and Stephanie Ryding (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central). Range, a senior, posted 24 solo blocks, 96 assisted blocks and 149 kills. Ryding, a sophomore, had an impressive debut as the team's libero, leading the team in both digs (432) and aces (38). Senior Jessica Schmidt (Oak Brook, Ill./Immaculate Conception) also returns after missing most of last season because of an injury.

Also returning are juniors Karen Ocwieja (Stockbridge, Mich./Stockbridge), Ascha Dickey (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood), Nicole Scheubel (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) and Kellie Drewelow (Harvard, Ill./Harvard); and sophomores Kelly Vanderstappen (Hebron, Ill./Alden-Hebron), Stefanie McMillin (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka), Stacie Mokros (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow), Amanda Nobles (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora), Jacqueline Ottens (Fulton, Ill./Fulton), Erin Wail (Peotone, Ill./Peotone), Amy Bruns (Addison, Ill./Addison Trail), Samantha Diesel (Mount Prospect, Ill./Wheeling) and Laura Conard (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago).

Carthage (29-5/7-0) returns as the incumbent favorite in the CCIW after winning both the regular season and conference tournament in 2006. Illinois Wesleyan (24-12/5-2), North Central (26-5/4-3) and Elmhurst (16-19/4-3) rounded out last year's top four.

"The CCIW is going to be really tough top to bottom this year," Kunka said. "Some teams that struggled last year have done a really nice job of building their programs in the offseason and could now contend. Teams that have continually been at the top, I think, will continue to stay at the top but will be challenged more by everybody."

Redwings' loss a head-scratcher

Benet's top 3 shoot way off their averages

LISLE -- Sometimes a team just has a bad day, and there's no real explanation.

The Benet girls golf team was on the wrong end of such a match Tuesday, as the Redwings dropped a 178-197 decision in an East Suburban Catholic Conference tilt against Carmel.

"I thought that we'd be evenly matched with Carmel," Benet coach Tony LaScala said. "Our top three girls were about 30 strokes over what they usually shoot, and we got some surprise performances from some girls who did better than usual.& Benet's Erin Rocci vents her frustration after an errant fairway shot against Carmel on Tuesday. The Corsairs beat the Redwings at River Bend by 19 strokes.

The Redwings' Rachel Janicik, Erin Rocci and Sarah Gaspar shot uncharacteristically high rounds of 52, 51 and 55, respectively. LaScala estimated the three normally average between 40 and 45 for nine holes.

Janicik didn't blame any one factor on the team's disappointing outing.

"When we found out we were starting late, we kind of got into a negative zone," she said. "We were all thinking about homework and that we'd get home late.

"Plus, the bugs here were ridiculous. You were hitting yourself every five seconds."

Carmel arrived later than anticipated because the bus was late. And with the Lisle boys team sharing the course for its dual match against Sandwich, the groups flip-flopped tee times. Consequently, Benet (0-3, 0-1 ESCC) and Carmel didn't start until about 4:40 p.m.

Not only did Janicik have the River Bend bug community getting under her skin, the Redwings ace also was dealing with a sore left wrist. Janicik strained a tendon nearly a month ago and said the injury hurts a little on drives but more so on mishit iron shots.

But Benet did see some unpredicted highlights.

Freshman Elaine Krebs shot a personal-best 50 and junior Kara Cooper shot a Redwings-best 47. Natalie Vess shaved nearly six strokes off her average in posting a 49.

Carmel coach Brian Smithe was pleased with the way his team performed, despite the bus misadventure. The Corsairs are now a perfect 7-0, including 4-0 in the conference.

"Things have been going well for us lately," Smithe said. "We didn't get frazzled out there at all and made some nice shots. Really, we had very low scores across the board. They're all playing solidly, and that's what you want, that consistency."

Carmel No. 2 player Shannon Howell's 42 led the way, and Jacqueline Jaskowiak and Stephanie Zdon each shot 45. Katie Kelly placed fourth at 46 and no team member exceeded 55.

"You've got to give them credit," LaScala said. "They are a very good team.

"As I told the girls afterward, this (match) is history."

2007 VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Hilltoppers hoping to 'move up a notch'