Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

AURORA, Ill. - When the fast-paced offense of Northern Kentucky University is clicking, opposing volleyball teams are in for a long day. And, to be more precise, a short match.

Just ask Northern Michigan, which watched NKU attack at a sizzling .405 clip Saturday afternoon en route to a 25-21, 25-20, 25-17 win during the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover. The 13th-ranked Norse finished with a 3-0 record at the two-day event and made a forceful case to be No. 1 in the Midwest Region when the poll is released later this month.

NKU knocked off No. 11 Ferris State on Friday and followed that with a sweep of No. 25 Northern Michigan on Saturday. The Norse also own victories against then-No. 19 West Florida and then-No. 20 Indianapolis earlier this season.

Junior setter Jenna Schreiver ran the NKU offense to perfection and finished with 37 assists. She also hit .500 with four kills as the Norse improved to 18-2 overall and extended their winning streak to eight.

Schreiver, a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, was later named to the all-tournament team.

Senior outside hitters Sarah Drennen and Noelle Peterson combined for 18 kills. Drennen finished with 11 kills and hit .333, while Peterson added seven kills and attacked at a .600 clip. Junior right-side hitter Gennie Galfano also played a key role in the sweep with eight kills and a .545 hitting percentage.

Drennen now has 885 career kills at NKU, while Peterson upped her career total to 1,148 kills.

Freshman middle hitter Jenna Ruble, playing for injured NKU standout Kim Nemcek, hit .571 with five kills and two blocks. Shelby Buschur added six kills and served up three aces.

NKU limited Northern Michigan (12-8) to a .232 hitting percentage. It marked NKU's first win over Northern Michigan since Nov. 21, 2003, when the Norse stunned the top-seeded Wildcats in four sets during the regional semifinals at Marquette, Mich.

NKU is now 8-11 all-time against Northern Michigan.

The Norse return home and play host to Urbana at 7 p.m. Wednesday. NKU resumes GLVC play Friday night as Lewis visits Regents Hall for the third annual Dig Pink promotion at 7 p.m.

The Dig Pink promotion is to help raise money for breast cancer awareness, and breast cancer survivors are invited to attend the match that evening.

GLVC/GLIAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

GLVC
Erin Bekebrede - Missouri S&T
Katie Dagmar - William Jewell
Kristina Kerrigan - Indianapolis
Maggie McGovern - Rockhurst
Danielle Mount - Lewis
Jenna Schreiver - Northern Kentucky

GLIAC
Kristen Bulkiewicz - Wayne State
Ashlee Crowder - Hillsdale
Samantha Fordyce - Ferris State
Lindsey Graciak - Wayne State
Carla Leutheuser - Hillsdale
Mackenzie Vorst - Findlay