NKU-Holy Cross box score |
NKU-Akron box score
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team used wins against Holy Cross (Mass.) and Akron on Saturday to claim the championship in the Hampton Inn Invitational, hosted by Bryant University.
The Norse defeated Holy Cross, 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-14), before taking a 3-1 (28-26, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19) decision against Akron. With the wins, NKU stands at 12-1 on the year entering Tuesday's Atlantic Sun Conference opener against Lipscomb. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Jenna Schreiver and
Shelby Buschur were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts this weekend with Schreiver taking home the tournament's most valuable player award.
Defense was the key against the Crusaders (0-11) in the opener, as the Norse held their opposition to an attack percentage of .030 on the match, keyed by eight Norse blocks, including a season-high five by
Jenna Ruble.
Kylee Tarantino added 16 digs to pass Peggy Ziegler for fourth on the NKU all-time list while
Jayden Julian had 11 digs to go with five of NKU's eight service aces.
Offensively, Buschur led the way with nine kills and a .529 attack percentage while Julian chipped in seven.
NKU set the tone from the opening serve, racing out to a 13-3 lead in Set 1 and never looking back. The Norse kept the pressure on in Set 2, combining for 17 kills including five of Buschur's nine. NKU added four blocks and four service aces in the final set to push to the final score.
Saturday's nightcap saw four Norse in double-figures for kills, led by Buscher and Ruble, who each had 14.
Haley Lippert added 13 kills, her best offensive output since a 15-kill effort last weekend against Manhattan.
Kelly Morrissey had 10 kills as well. Schreiver turned in her second double-double of the season with 46 assists and 14 digs.
Ruble was the heroine of Set 1 after a Jill Paluch service ace gave the Zips (7-5) set point, Ruble responded with a solo block on a Chelsea Harvey attempt to tie it and followed up with back-to-back kills to give the Norse a dramatic 28-26 win.
After trading points to 11-11 in Set 2, the Norse rolled off an 8-0 run as good defensive coverage forced four Akron attack errors and cruised to a 25-17 set win.
NKU looked poised for a sweep, leading 21-19 in the third stanza before the Zips rolled off an 6-1 run to extend the match. The Norse responded, jumping out to an early 8-3 lead in Set 4. Akron was able to bring the deficit down to one point, but could not gain a lead as NKU attacked at a blistering .351 pace in to claim the set and match.
The Norse were named champions in each of the four tournaments in which they participated this season, winning the round-robin events at Western Carolina, Morehead State and Harvard.
