OXFORD, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team suffered a setback on Friday evening, dropping a 3-0 decision at Miami (Ohio) to open the Miami Invitational. The RedHawks got the win on set scores of 25-17, 25-8, 25-23.
NKU (5-6) got nine kills from
Haley Libs to lead the offensive effort, while
Mel Stewart picked up 10 digs to pace the defense.
Tristen Simpson added six kills, and
Keely Creamer had four kills and three blocks, while
Kaitlyn Bowen dished out 20 assists in her first collegiate start.
After the RedHawks opened the match on a 7-1 run, the Norse took advantage of five Miami service errors to stay in the set, pulling as close as three points at 13-10, but Paige Hill picked up five kills in the set as the RedHawks never lost the lead, taking the opener, 25-17.
An 8-0 run early in Set 2 put the RedHawks up by a 12-4 score and never let up, taking a 21-8 win to go up in the match, 2-0. NKU came back with fire after the break, opening up an early three-point lead at 5-2, but a 6-2 run by the RedHawks allowed Miami to reclaim the lead, 12-9. The Norse reclaimed the lead on a late 7-1 run to take a 22-21 lead, but the RedHawks took four of the set's final five points to win the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
Olivia Rusek led the RedHawks (6-5) with 11 kills, while Paige Hill had 10 kills on a .450 hitting percentage. Miami finished the match with a .316 hitting percentage overall, adding eight kills from Meredith Stutz. Maeve McDonald led the RedHawks defensively with 21 digs.
The Norse will look to return to .500 on Saturday morning when they take on IPFW to conclude the Miami Invitational. First serve from Millett Hall is set for 10 a.m., with live stats available at NKUNorse.com.
NORSE NOTES - Jayden Julian picked up four kills on the night, and now needs 19 to become the 17th member of NKU's 1,000-kill club.
- With the loss, the all-time series between the clubs is now knotted at six wins apiece.
- The Norse will be seeking their first win at Millett Hall since a 2013 victory over Evansville, also in the Miami Invitational.
