FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

CCIW Press Release

Aug. 4, 2010 - The North Central College volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin for the third straight season in 2010, according to the annual preseason poll of the CCIW's head coaches.

The Cardinals, who went 6-1 in conference play and advanced to the championship match of the CCIW Tournament, received 42 points and one first-place vote in the poll, while Carthage College, winner of the past six CCIW titles, received 49 points and seven first-place votes.

Illinois Wesleyan University and Elmhurst College occupied third and fourth place in the rankings with 35 and 33 points, respectively. Millikin University received 22 points, while Wheaton College (20), Augustana College (16) and North Park University (7) rounded out the poll.

North Central is coming off a 2009 season which saw it finish with an overall record of 35-5 to establish a new single-season school record for victories. The Cardinals received the first NCAA Tournament bid in the program's history, advancing to the regional semifinals.

North Central's 2010 campaign begins Sept. 3 at the Simmons College (Mass.) Triangular. The Cardinals open CCIW play Sept. 16 with a home match against Millikin.