NKU-Xavier box score |
NKU-Michigan box score |
Photo gallery Xavier |
Photo gallery Michigan
CINCINNATI – Day 2 of the Xavier Invitational was tough sledding for the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team, which dropped matches to the host Xavier and to No. 7 Michigan to close out the tournament.
The Norse (0-3) claimed a set in the 3-1 (25-15, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15) loss to Xavier, but fell in straight sets to Michigan, 25-19, 25-14, 25-23. The Norse will look to notch their first win of the season on Tuesday as Wright State visits Regents Hall for NKU's home opener. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Sophomore outside hitter
Jayden Julian led the Norse with 14 kills in the opener.
Kaela Jo Freppon had eight kills as well, while freshman setter
Taylor Snyder posted the team's first double-double of the season with 38 assists and 10 digs. Defensively,
Anna Prickel led the way with 17 digs.
Xavier (1-1) jumped out to early leads and never trailed in each of the first two sets. The Musketeers got four blocks on their first seven points in Set 1 and never trailed, holding the Norse to a -.088 hitting percentage on the set. Xavier again extended a 9-3 lead in Set 2 and never let the lead drift below five points in a 25-16 Set 2 victory.
The Norse rallied back in Set 3, as Julian kills earn three of NKU's first six points of the set. NKU held the advantage until a 4-2 run turned the set into a 10-9 Xavier lead. Both teams traded points to 18-18 before Xavier again rallied off four points in a row, keyed off a service error and two missed attacks by the Norse. Miscues on the part of the Musketeers opened a window, and
Keely Creamer took advantage, slamming home two of her three kills on the set to tie the score and, later, take the lead for good in a 25-23 set win.
The momentum was not to last, however, as Xavier used a 13-3 mid-set run to post a 25-15 win in Set 4 to take the match.
Abbey Bessler and Sarah Brown each had 10 kills to go with Alex Smith's 14 to lead Xavier.
The Wolverines (3-0) controlled early play at the net, picking up four blocks in the first two sets and setting the tone for a pair of set wins, 25-19, 25-14. The Norse, as they had all weekend, fought back in the third set, picking up four blocks of their own in the final stanza alone, but fell just short in a 25-23 final set.
"We did a great job with our backs against the wall. Hopefully, we can turn it on a little bit earlier," said head coach
Liz Hart. " I'm very proud to say, for being such a young team, most teams would shut down. They continue to fight back, whether they're down two sets or whatever the case may be. Hopefully in the future we can come out earlier and steal Set 1 or 2, but I'm really excited about how we played and that we're progressing the right way."
Keely Creamer and
Jenna Ruble each had eight kills in the final match to lead NKU, while Ruble and
Megan Wanstrath added three blocks each. Prickel again paced the defense with 14 digs while Snyder added 29 assists.
"Keely's great," added Hart. "She's really explosive, very fast, and against teams like Michigan, our fast offense and quick transistions help us. She did a great job executing."
Lexi Erwin had 16 kills and hit at a .382 clip to lead Michgan. Molly Toon was also in double-figures with 11.
