Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – For the 18th consecutive season, the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team has reached the 20-win plateau.

NKU picked up its 20th victory Saturday afternoon by coasting to a 25-9, 23-25, 25-13, 25-22 triumph against Missouri S&T in Regents Hall. The Norse improved to 20-12 overall, 10-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Sarah Drennen hammered down 19 kills and hit .567 for NKU, which attacked at a .413 clip for the match. Noelle Peterson added 18 kills and hit .455 for the Norse, who are ranked seventh in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest region poll.

Sophomore setter Kelly Morrissey collected a career-high 63 assists for NKU, which remained perfect (4-0) all-time against Missouri S&T. The Miners dropped to 14-13 overall, 7-7 in the GLVC.

Shelby Buschur finished with 15 kills and attacked at a .429 clip for NKU, which hit a blistering ,478 in the opening set and limited the Miners to a -.167 hitting percentage in the opening stanza. Missouri S&T bounced back to take the second set by hitting .344.

After rolling to a 25-13 win in the third set, NKU rallied from a 19-18 deficit in the fourth stanza to seal the victory. Drennen and Buschur accounted for NKU's final four points with kills.

Gennie Galfano added nine kills and three service aces for NKU, which extended its winning streak to five. The Norse finished with a 13-2 record in Regents Hall this season.

NKU will meet Missouri-St. Louis in the first round of the GLVC Tournament, which will be held Nov. 12-14 at Romeoville, Ill. The Norse are the No. 4 seed, while the Tritons are the No. 5 seed.

Lewis is the No. 1 seed and host for the GLVC Tournament. The winner of the GLVC Tournament receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.