Box score |
Photo gallery
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University's first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference victory came on the volleyball court at Regents Hall on Friday night as the Norse defeated North Florida, 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19,25-21).
Shelby Buschur attacked at a .513 clip and led the team with a season-high 22 kills, becoming the 16th member of NKU's 1,000-kill club in the process. Buschur also claimed the team lead with five of NKU's nine blocks as the Norse improved to 12-2 overall and 1-1 in A-Sun play.
“[Shelby] worked really hard in transition,” said head coach
Liz Hart. “She was really quick, and I think it was our speed that made the difference tonight. We needed her to step up big tonight, and she did that.”
North Florida fell to 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic Sun as the Ospreys lost their conference opener for just the second time since joining the league in 2005.
Kelly Morrissey was the only other Norse in double-figures for kills, adding 15 to go with 15 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and her first since Sept. 8, against Manhattan.
Jenna Schreiver picked up her third double-double and second in as many matches, adding 44 assists and a team-high 16 digs.
Kylee Tarantino had 14 digs and
Anna Prickel chipped in 10 more.
“That was a huge match,” Hart said. “Our defense played really well tonight. We really needed them to step up; Anna, Jenna, everyone who touched the ball on the back row had a ton of digs, and that was huge.”
Eight of Schreiver's digs came in the first set of the match, which NKU claimed by a 25-19 score. It was NKU's most efficient attacking set as the Norse hit at a .342 clip. It also marked the first career kill for
Jamie Kohls, who saw her first collegiate action on Friday night.
The Ospreys came back in Set 2 as reigning A-Sun Player of the Week Nicole Baran served up a late 7-0 run for North Florida to push to a 25-21 set victory, leveling the match. Baran had a match-high 22 digs to lead the Ospreys' defense.
Buschur took over the offense for the Norse in Set 3, accounting for three of NKU's first four points on kills and four of NKU's final six points, including three kills and a block. All told, Buschur had eight of NKU's 17 kills in the 21-19 set victory.
A 10-2 run for the Norse in Set 4, punctuated by three straight kills from Buschur, helped secure the victory for the Norse in a 25-21 set win.
NKU concludes its three-match home stand on Saturday with a matinee contest against Jacksonville. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
