CINCINNATI – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team saw itself on the short end of a tight match at Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 3-0 decision in which the score differential was just seven points across the three sets.
 
Cincinnati (1-1) took the match on set scores of 26-24, 25-23 and 25-22. NKU (0-3) got 11 kills from Keely Creamer and eight from Haley Libs to pace the offensive effort, while Mel Stewart picked up a team-best 17 digs on the match. Keyaira Lankheit and Tristen Simpson each had four blocks on the day as well.
 
Lankheit helped the Norse pull ahead early in the first set, picking up a pair of kills and an assisted block to spur a 4-0 run and give the Norse a 15-14 lead. The Norse continued to battle, picking up three service aces along the way, but a 5-0 run to close the set gave the Bearcats a 26-24 win in the opening stanza.
 
Set 2 saw the Norse battle from behind as UC took an early 7-3 lead, tying the match up a couple of times. Back-to-back kills by Creamer, two of her seven in the set, pulled the Norse within one point at 23-22, but the Bearcats were able to pick up the side out and push the final point to take the second set.
 
Again, it was an early rally that put Cincinnati in control at 6-1. Libs picked up four kills, tying her high for a set this season, while Creamer added a pair of service aces, two of six from the Norse today, to pull the score as close as two points at 23-21, but UC again got the late side outs to hold on for the 25-22 win.
 
Cincinnati spread the offense around, with five different players picking up seven kills to lead the team. The difference came in the battle at the net, as the Bearcats combined for 10.5 blocks on the day, led by Carly Noland and Alison Kimmel, who had five each.
 
The Norse look ahead to the Cougar Classic next weekend, hosted by SIU Edwardsville. The Norse will take on the host Cougars as well as Arkansas and Louisiana Tech. For more information and to interact with the team, follow @NKUNorseVB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
NORSE NOTES
 

• Mel Stewart celebrated her birthday by becoming the 17^th member of the 1,000-dig club on Saturday. Stewart's 17 kills gives her 1,010 on her career, which ranks her 15^th on the all-time list. She needs 26 to pass Tristen Dye (2004-07) for 14^th all-time.

 

• The Norse doubled their season total on service aces on the day with six. Taylor Snyder now leads the team with four, while four other players have two each.

 
 

• Today's match broke the tie in the all-time series in favor of Cincinnati, 7-6. NKU had won the last three matches between the teams dating back to the 1985 season.