Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Jayden Julian and
Jenna Ruble combined for 32 kills Friday night as the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team defeated Kennesaw State in five sets (25-23, 18-25, 28-26, 15-25, 15-8) in Regents Hall.
Julian finished with 18 kills for Northern Kentucky, which improved to 7-12 overall, 2-5 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Ruble added 14 kills and attacked at a .481 clip as the Norse remained unbeaten (3-0) in the all-time series with Kennesaw State.
The Owls (7-10 overall, 2-5 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the final set, but the Norse countered with a 9-3 run to build a 9-5 advantage when
Megan Wanstrath and
Keely Creamer combined to block an attack by Emily Bean. Kennesaw State was held to a -.048 hitting percentage in the fifth set, while Northern Kentucky attacked at a .286 clip in the final frame.
Freshman setter
Taylor Snyder collected her 11
th double-double of the season with 55 assists and 10 digs. Snyder also added two block solos. Wanstrath finished with 11 kills and three blocks for the Norse, who went five sets for the second time in a week.
Creamer added nine kills, four blocks and a .471 hitting percentage.
Kaela Jo Freppon led the defensive effort with 17 digs, tying her career high, and served up two aces. Ruble and Julian also collected two aces apiece.
Kelly Marcinek led Kennesaw State with 21 kills and attacked at a .459 clip. Cierra Royster added 16 kills and hit .333 for the Owls.
Northern Kentucky pulled out two-point wins in the first and third sets. In the opening stanza, the Norse hit a torrid .429, but Kennesaw State attacked at a .424 clip to hang close. Tied at 19-all, Northern Kentucky closed the opening set with a 6-4 run with Wanstrath securing the final two Norse points with kills. Wanstrath had five kills and hit .571 in the opening frame.
With the third set tied at 26-all, Julian converted two straight attacks to give the Norse a 28-26 win. Julian totaled five kills in that set.
Mel Stewart and
Anna Prickel each collected 13 digs for the Norse. Kennesaw State finished with an 83-72 edge in that category.
The Norse play host to Mercer at 3 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. Saturday is Junior Norse/Camper Reunion Day, when NKU will welcome kids 12 and under to the game at no charge.
