Photo gallery |
Box score |
Video highlights
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The six senior volleyball players who have piloted Northern Kentucky University's ultra-successful first season as an NCAA Division I program enjoyed a happy ending to their home careers Saturday afternoon.
And it was a sophomore who helped give the seniors a memorable going-away gift – a four-set victory over Kennesaw State in Regents Hall.
Sophomore middle hitter
Jenna Ruble hit .833 in the fourth set with five kills as NKU rallied from a 22-18 deficit to pull out a 25-23 decision and seal the victory. The Norse won the match by scores of 25-17, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23 and improved to 23-7 overall, 10-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
After a kill by Keyaira Stevenson gave Kennesaw State a 22-18 lead in the fourth stanza, NKU stormed back with a set-ending 7-1 run. Ruble collected two kills during the spurt, including a successful attack that gave the Norse a 24-23 lead. An attack error by Stevenson on the next play wrapped up the win for NKU.
Ruble finished with 12 kills and attacked at a .571 clip for the match. Three NKU senior attackers –
Haley Lippert (13 kills),
Kelly Morrissey (12 kills) and
Shelby Buschur (10 kills) – also had big days in their final appearance in Regents Hall.
NKU senior setter
Jenna Schreiver, who passed Molly Donovan as the school's all-time career leader in assists the previous night, became the first player in Norse history to record 5,000 career assists. Schreiver dished out 46 assists Saturday and added 13 digs. She now has 5,029 career assists.
Senior
Gennie Galfano added five kills, including an attack that evened the score at 22-all in the fourth set. All six seniors played big roles in the home finale, something that pleased NKU head coach
Liz Hart.
“They have been such a key part of the program, and I really like this class of seniors,” Hart said. “They have had extremely successful careers, and I'm really excited for them. Having these six seniors helped this season as we made the transition to Division I, and while I'm proud of them and what they have accomplished, I'm also sad to see them leave because they have been such great kids and represented our program very well.”
NKU hit .255 for the match and held Kennesaw State (16-15 overall, 5-11 A-Sun) to a .185 attacking percentage. Senior libero
Kylee Tarantino again led the NKU back row with 18 digs.
Morrissey and
Mel Stewart each collected 10 digs, with Stewart also serving up three aces. Buschur finished with six blocks, while Morrissey added four as NKU defeated Kennesaw State for the second time this season.
The Norse close out their first season as a Division I member next weekend with matches at Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. NKU finished its home season with a 7-3 record in Regents Hall.
