NKU's Noelle Peterson (1) finished with nine kills against Wheeling Jesuit.
Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team began play in its own invitational tournament Friday afternoon by dropping a three-set decision against Wheeling Jesuit in Regents Hall.
Wheeling Jesuit swept to a 25-20, 26-24, 25-19 victory against NKU. The Cardinals (5-1) held the Norse (2-5) to a .161 hitting percentage and defeated NKU for the first time in history.
Prior to Friday, NKU owned a 10-0 advantage in the all-time series against Wheeling Jesuit.
Jenna Pew finished with 10 kills and attacked at a .333 clip for Wheeling Jesuit, which hit .277 as a team. The Cardinals controlled the net with 10 team blocks and hit .312 in the final set to wrap up the win.
Wheeling Jesuit held NKU to a .176 hitting percentage to pull out the first set. The Cardinals snapped a 17-all deadlock by scoring six consecutive points for a 23-17 lead and held on for the win.
Wheeling Jesuit then took a 2-0 lead in sets by rallying from a 22-15 deficit in the second stanza to take a 26-24 victory. NKU held a 24-20 lead, but Wheeling Jesuit scored the final six points of the set.
Shelby Buschur led NKU with 14 kills and a .565 hitting percentage. Buschur also added eight digs and a pair of service aces.
Jenna Schreiver collected 36 assists and seven digs for the Norse, while teammate
Noelle Peterson added nine kills.
NKU plays California (Pa.) at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Regents Hall, and the Norse later meet Gannon (Pa.) at 4 p.m. to conclude the two-day event.
