FORT MYERS, Fla. – Down five points in the fifth set, the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team found a way to come back once more, taking a 15-13 win to defeat Stetson and advance to the semifinal round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship.
 
The Norse rallied back from a 10-5 deficit in the deciding set, posting an 8-1 run to go ahead and set up back-to-back kills from Jayden Julian to claim the win. NKU (19-10) moves on to face top-seeded Lipscomb in the semifinal. First serve from Alico Arena is set for 5 p.m. with the broadcast on ESPN3.
 
"I have to give a lot of credit to the girls," said assistant coach Randi Raff, who is leading the Norse this weekend in place of head coach Liz Hart, who is home in anticipation of the birth of her first child. "It was one of those tough matches where you can't really find a flow, and the girls decided to dig in and get it done.  They showed incredible fight tonight and at the right time. We came into the match playing a little timid, and Stetson played with courage, and we knew they were that kind of team. Luckily, we responded to that and were able to get it done."
 
Julian finished the match with a team-high 15 kills and 12 digs to lead four Norse in double figures. Jenna Ruble added 13 kills and five blocks, while Keely Creamer notched 12 kills. Tristen Simpson chipped in 10 kills as well.
 
"You can't say enough about Jayden; she is one of the toughest kids that I've ever had the privilege to coach," added Raff. "When the game is on the line, her teammates trust her to get the job done. She isn't going to be really flashy, she's not going to be in the spotlight or get the awards, but I wouldn't trade her for anyone. She's the one we need on the court all the time."
 
"It's good that we ended up pulling that match out," said Creamer, who reached double-digit kills for the ninth time in the last 10 matches. "Coming back from being down like [we were in the fifth set] is something we've struggled with all year. This is what we've played all year for and that pushed us the extra mile."
 
Defensively, Mel Stewart led the way with a career-high 29 digs. Taylor Snyder picked up a double-double as well, dishing out 46 assists while picking up 14 digs.
 
Raff noted that Mel "did a fantastic job. Libero is a tough position to play because it's so mental. You just have to work through the errors and Mel did an incredible job of that, and of serving aggressively to get it done."
 
"Liz always tells us that defense wins games," said Stewart. "If we don't win that battle in defensive passing then we're going to struggle to succeed, and I'm proud that everyone stepped up on the defensive side."
 
Madison Akins led Stetson (16-13) with 17 kills and 24 digs, while McKenna Foster added 16 kills and 14 digs. Shelby Connors had a hand in 12 of Stetson's 17 blocks.
 
The Norse opened up flat as Stetson raced out to a 9-1 lead to open the match. The Norse recollected and pulled the score to within five points at 15-10, but Stetson kept up the pressure, hitting .333 over the set to take a 25-14 win. NKU was held to an .054 hitting percentage over the set with Creamer accounting for three kills to lead the Norse.
 
The Norse recomposed themselves in Set 2, rolling off an early 8-2 run to take a 9-6 lead. Stetson kept fighting in a set that was characterized by two- and three-point runs by either side. A big block from Creamer and Snyder late helped the Norse take a 21-19 lead that they would not relinquish in a 25-22 win in the frame.
 
In the midpoint of Set 3, Stetson ripped off an 8-1 run to turn a 14-12 Norse lead into a 20-15 Hatters advantage. The Norse picked up back-to-back blocks to key a 3-0 run to bring the set within two at 23-21, but Stetson held on for the 25-23 set victory.
 
The Norse came out with fire in Set 4, opening on an 8-1 run that included four consecutive kills from Creamer. Stetson continued to chip away at the Norse lead, however, but Creamer and Ruble each finished with five kills in the set to set up NKU's winning fifth set. 
 
Now, the Norse turn their focus to Lipscomb, a team the Norse defeated at home in five sets earlier this season, giving the Lady Bisons their only conference loss on the year.