Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score | Photo gallery

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A pair of huge rallies helped the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team defeat Georgetown (Ky.) in a four-set thriller Tuesday night in Regents Hall.

NKU rallied from a 22-14 deficit in the opening set to pull out a 25-23 victory, and the Norse later stormed back from a 21-14 hole in the fourth set to close out a 28-26 win and clinch the match. NKU won by scores of 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 28-26 and improved to 7-6 overall with the non-conference victory.

Shelby Buschur led NKU with 19 kills, and teammate Gennie Galfano added 16 kills. The Norse hit .293 and closed the victory when Jenna Schreiver and Katie Sommer combined to block an attack by Georgetown's Kelsey Luckett for match point.

Georgetown (9-6 overall and ranked 25 nationally in the NAIA poll) appeared on its way to forcing a fifth set, having built a 21-14 lead in the fourth stanza. NKU used a 5-0 run to cut the Georgetown lead to 21-19 and later tied the set at 22-all on a kill by Buschur. The teams traded points until a kill by Noelle Peterson gave NKU a 27-26 advantage, setting the stage for Schreiver and Sommer and their clinching block.

In the first set, Georgetown watched NKU use a 9-0 run to turn a 22-14 deficit into a 23-22 lead. Anna Prickel served eight straight points during the NKU run, and Galfano keyed the rally with four kills.

Peterson finished with 13 kills, while Schreiver dished out 52 assists. Kylee Tarantino recorded a match-leading 15 digs, and Prickel added 13 digs as NKU gave interim head coach Liz Holmes her first career victory.

NKU is now 23-5 all-time against Georgetown. The two teams had not met since Sept. 14, 2006, when NKU posted a three-set victory against Georgetown in Regents Hall.

NKU hits the road this weekend for St. Louis, Mo., and the Norse will meet Missouri Baptist on Friday. NKU concludes the trip Saturday with matches against William Jewell and Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent Maryville.