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Box score
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Did anyone out there really imagine this type of beginning to Northern Kentucky University's inaugural volleyball season in NCAA Division I?
Folks in the Ohio Valley Conference probably did not expect NKU to knock off preseason favorite Morehead State on Friday during the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational. But the unbeaten Norse (5-0) did just that, soaring past the defending OVC champion Eagles in four sets. NKU rallied from a one-set deficit and won by scores of 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 in Wetherby Gym.
NKU is now 19-13 all-time against Morehead State. The teams had not met since Nov. 6, 1985, when the Norse posted a 15-7, 15-9, 15-3 win against the Eagles in Regents Hall.
Kelly Morrissey recorded 12 kills and 13 digs for NKU, including a clutch attack in the fourth set with the score tied at 23-all. Morrissey's kill gave the Norse a 24-23 lead, setting up match point.
Jenna Schreiver and
Shelby Buschur combined to block Annie Gruenschlaeger's attack for the final point, giving NKU its fifth consecutive victory. Schreiver, a senior setter, finished with 38 assists, nine digs and two block assists. She now has 3,979 career assists and needs 21 to become the third player in Norse history to reach 4,000.
Buschur collected eight kills and five block assists.
Haley Lippert, who last week was named most valuable player at the Western Carolina University Invitational, racked up 10 kills Friday and hit .292.
With the score knotted at 22-all in the second set, Lippert converted two consecutive attacks to give NKU a 24-22 advantage.
NKU rallied from a 15-5 deficit in the third set to pull out a 25-23 win. Morehead State still owned a 21-16 lead, but NKU used a 9-2 run to end the set and take a 2-1 lead.
Kylee Tarantino the NKU defense with 14 digs. The Norse hit .180 for the match, while Morehead State (0-5) attacked at a .234 clip.
Jayden Julian added nine kills for NKU, while teammate
Jenna Ruble finished with six kills. Gruenschlaeger posted 14 kills and added 10 block assists for Morehead State. Ellie Roberson collected 15 kills for the Eagles.
NKU plays Alabama A&M later today at 4:30 p.m.
