Box score
MACON, Ga. –
Jayden Julian and
Jenna Ruble each marked career highs in kills to lead the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team from a two-set deficit to post a 19-25,24-26,25-19,25-22,15-11 win over Mercer in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Friday.
Julian led the Norse with 22 kills and added 13 digs to post her seventh double-double of the season, while Ruble added 18 kills, including four in the deciding fifth set, and attacked at a .368 clip for the Norse (10-16, 5-8 A-Sun).
Taylor Snyder had 55 assists and 15 digs for her 16
th double-double as well, and
Kaela Jo Freppon equaled her career high for digs with 17.
A total of five Norse were in double-figures for digs, as
Anna Prickel added 16 digs to go to 1,161 for her career, passing Liz Lamping for 10
th all-time at NKU.
Mel Stewart also added 11 digs to her credit.
The win marked NKU's first 2-0 comeback of the season and third since transitioning to Division I. Prior to the 2012 season, NKU had not accomplished the feat since a comeback win over North Alabama in 2009. The Norse have now played nine five-set matches this season, amassing a 7-2 record along the way.
Molly Locke had 19 kills and 18 digs to lead Mercer (1-23, 0-14 A-Sun), while Caroline Carlton had 15 kills and five blocks. NKU has claimed victory in each of the four meetings all-time with Mercer.
An 8-1 run in the opening set put Mercer up by a 15-9 total, and, after the Norse responded with four-straight points of their own, a 6-0 Bears run sealed the deal. Mercer's Ellie James claimed six of her eight kills in that first set, including the final two on the put-away run.
The Norse opened Set 2 on a 5-2 run, and expanded it to an 8-4 lead before Mercer responded with a 6-1 run to make the score 10-9 and force a Norse timeout. Ruble picked up three consecutive kills to spark a 4-0 run for the Norse, but the regained lead was short lived, as the Bears rallied another 6-1 run to take a two-point lead at 18-16. Mercer held the lead to set point before NKU rolled off three-straight once again to tie the set at 24-24. A Carlton kill followed by a Jordan Gollon service ace gave the Bears the set and the 2-0 advantage going into intermission.
NKU once again got off to a hot start in Set 3, rolling out to a 5-2 lead, including three kills by Julian. This time, the Norse would not relinquish the lead. Mercer came within one point at 5-4 before the Norse managed a 13-5 run to put the set away.
Set 4 was one of back-and-forth rallies as the Norse again started out with a 4-1 lead before Mercer came back with an 8-1 rally of their own to make it a 9-5 advantage for the Bears. NKU came back to take eight of the next 11 points, claiming a 13-12 lead before Mercer raced back ahead with a 10-3 run of their own to make it a 22-16 lead before Locke's attack error gave the Norse all the opening they needed. Julian went on to serve up the final eight points of the set, picking up two kills on the back row along the way, as NKU leveled the match with a 25-22 win.
As was the story throughout the evening, NKU opened the final set by taking the first three points and won the race to the changeover, 8-2. Mercer came back to get six of the next eight points to close the Norse lead to 10-8. NKU did not relinquish the lead, however, as Ruble quashed the rally and helped the Norse hold on, claiming the match's ultimate kill.
NKU concludes the weekend of conference action on Saturday afternoon at Kennesaw State. First serve is set for 3 p.m. Live stats are available at NKUNorse.com.
