Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - What started out as an evening of pink colors in Regents Hall instead turned into a Friday night of blue feelings for the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team.
NKU, ranked No. 12 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, watched its nine-match winning streak halted by No. 20 Lewis during a stunning 20-25, 8-25, 26-24, 27-25, 15-13 setback to the Flyers. Lewis, paying no attention to a raucous crowd in attendance for NKU's Dig Pink promotion, rallied from a two-set deficit and defeated the Norse for the fourth consecutive time.

The Flyers – who stormed back from a 23-20 deficit in the fourth set and a 10-6 hole in the fifth frame - completed a season sweep of NKU and improved to 17-5 overall, 9-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU dropped to 19-3 overall, 9-3 in the GLVC. The Norse still own a 30-19 lead in the all-time series against the Flyers, but NKU has not defeated Lewis since the 2008 NCAA Division II Tournament.

Lewis also denied NKU from securing its 19th consecutive 20-win season, not to mention the program's 900th all-time victory. The Flyers refused to fold late in the fourth and fifth sets each time NKU appeared to be in control, and the visitors walked out of Regents Hall with a huge road victory.

NKU took a two-set lead by hitting a mind-numbing .895 (17-for-19 with no errors in the second stanza en route to a 25-8 win. The balanced Norse attack featured four players with three kills during the second set.

Lewis bounced back in the third set and built a six-point lead, but NKU responded and tied the frame at 24-all on a kill by Sarah Drennen. Two consecutive Norse errors, however, enabled Lewis to escape with a 26-24 victory, and the Flyers suddenly found themselves with momentum.

NKU roared from behind in the fourth set and built a 23-20 lead when Drennen converted an attack. Lewis again countered with two kills by Danielle Mount sandwiched around a block by Mount and Leigh Barea to knot the set at 23-all.

An attack error by Mount gave NKU a match point opportunity at 24-23, but Lewis closed the set with a 4-1 run to set up the decisive fifth frame. Mount was a force at the net and totaled six kills in the fourth set to go along with a .556 hitting percentage.

NKU owned a 10-6 lead in the final set and again appeared on the way to closing out Lewis, but the Flyers responded with a 7-2 run to take a 13-12 advantage. Jenna Ruble tied it at 13-all with a kill, but a kill by Colleen Mitros gave Lewis match point.

Mount and Jen Krumwiede ended it by blocking Gennie Galfano's attack, giving Lewis a 15-13 win.

Drennen slammed down 20 kills and attacked at a .308 clip for NKU, which hit .265 for the match. The senior outside hitter also recorded 15 digs and served up three aces.

Shelby Buschur added 13 kills and attacked at a .458 clip, while teammate Noelle Peterson finished with 11 kills. Ruble collected six kills, five blocks and hit .308 for the match.

NKU setter Jenna Schreiver dished out 56 assists and had three blocks, while Norse libero Kylee Tarantino finished with a match-high 24 digs. Tarantino, one of the top back row players in the GLVC, now has 975 career digs at NKU.

Mount hammered down 16 kills and hit .300 for Lewis, which attacked at a .176 clip for the match. Mitros added 11 kills, 13 digs and two aces.

NKU plays host to Wisconsin-Parkside at 3 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. The Norse dropped a five-set decision to the Rangers earlier this season at Somers, Wis.