CINCINNATI – Keely Creamer finished with 18 kills on a .361 attack percentage, but the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team fell short in its first test of the 2015 season, dropping a 3-0 match to Eastern Michigan at Fifth Third Arena.
The loss puts NKU to 0-1 on the season pending tonight's match against Xavier. First serve from Cintas Center is set for 7 p.m. Links to live stats are available at NKUNorse.com.
Tristen Simpson added 11 kills and
Haley Libs chipped in nine in her first match for the Black and Gold. Four Norse ended with double-digit digs, including
Taylor Snyder, who had 10 digs to go with 43 assists for her 34
th career double-double.
Jayden Julian led the way with 13 digs.
Creamer picked up eight of her 18 kills in the opening set as the Norse raced out to an early 5-1 lead in the opening stanza, but EMU answered with a 5-0 run of their own and closed with a 4-1 spurt to take a 25-20 win in the opener.
Set 2 saw the Eagles jump out early, 3-1, and never fall behind from that point to take a 25-21 set win.
Tristen Simpson was the offensive star for the Norse, picking up eight kills herself in the frame as both she and Creamer entered the intermission with double-digits for kills.
The service game proved to be the difference, as NKU committed six service errors in the third set, and 14 in the match, as EMU held on for a 33-31 win in the final frame.
Stacey Perinar had 13 kills for Eastern Michigan to lead the way. Corynne Smith added 23 digs while Cassie Haut had eight kills and six blocks.
NORSE NOTES - Keyaira Lankheit led NKU's blocking efforts with two assisted blocks and a solo block. As a team, the Norse put down five Eagle attacks on the contest.
- Mel Stewart picked up 12 digs, giving her 982 on her career. She needs 18 more to become the 18th member of NKU's 1,000-dig club.
- Eastern Michigan improved to 2-1 in the all-time series between the teams. They met last year at Regents Hall with EMU taking a three-set win there as well.
