Box score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Due to the fact Northern Kentucky University is in its first year of reclassifying to NCAA Division I status, a 20th consecutive 20-win season for the Norse volleyball program seemed unlikely.
Now, it appears NKU could indeed get those 20 wins – and then some.
NKU's remarkable first-year run in Division I continued Saturday with a 25-14, 25-18, 25-22 victory over Kennesaw State. The Norse held the Owls to a .097 hitting percentage and improved to 16-2 overall, 4-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Kelly Morrissey hit .571 with 12 kills for NKU, which attacked at a .263 clip for the match. Morrissey also added six digs as the Norse defeated Kennesaw State (12-7 overall, 2-3 A-Sun) in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Haley Lippert finished with nine kills and hit .316 for NKU, which used a set-ending 7-0 run to take the opening stanza, 25-14. After taking the second set by a 25-18 score, the Norse rallied from a 20-19 deficit in the final frame with a 6-2 spurt to wrap up the sweep, 25-22.
NKU setter
Jenna Schreiver collected 30 assists, four kills and two service aces.
Jenna Ruble notched six kills and added four blocks for the Norse, who have won at least 20 matches every season since 1993. The last time NKU failed to reach the 20-win mark was in 1992, when the Norse posted a 19-15 record.
Kylee Tarantino, who finished with 21 digs the night before during a sweep at Mercer, added 10 digs on Saturday.
NKU travels to Johnson City, Tenn., on Friday to meet East Tennessee State in an Atlantic Sun Conference battle. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Norse conclude the road trip Saturday by meeting South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.
