YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Northern Kentucky volleyball continued to improve on its Horizon League record from last season, earning the 10th League win of the year with a 3-1 decision on the road at Youngstown State. With the win, NKU moves to 16-10 on the season and 10-5 in League play, while the Penguins dropped to 7-22 and 1-14 in the League.
The Norse moved up to tie for third in the League with one match remaining. NKU is now tied with Oakland after the Golden Grizzlies fell in four sets to Valparaiso. Green Bay moved up to second in the League after upsetting Cleveland State, preventing a three-way tie for second with NKU and Oakland.
The Quote
"After we started playing more disciplined volleyball, our overall play improved dramatically. We did a better job making defensive plays and scoring in transition."– Head Coach
Liz Hart
First Set Summary
- With nothing to lose as the only team mathematically out of the Horizon League tournament prior to the start of the match, Youngstown State came out aggressively in the opening set for the 25-15 win.
- The Penguins recorded six blocks and held NKU to .025 hitting, while conversely hitting at a .343 clip with 13 kills and just one error.
- Freshman rightside hitter Laura Crawford led the Norse with four kills.
- Redshirt-senior libero Lauren Hurley notched 10 digs, which marked her 1,000th career dig.
Second Set Summary
- NKU retaliated with a 25-15 set to equalize the match, hitting .270 while holding Youngstown State to .029 for the set.
- Senior middle hitter Keely Creamer, after hitting negative in the first set, went off for seven kills on 11 attempts.
- Outside hitters Haley Libs and Tristen Simpson each had three kills.
Third Set Summary
- The third set would be the most competitive, going 25-22 with both teams hitting over .300.
- Crawford and Libs both had five kills to pace the team, with Libs hitting .555 in the set in addition to scooping up four digs.
- The Norse posted three aces in the set, with one each from junior middle Georgia Childers, freshman setter/DS Shelby Olsen and junior DS McKenzie Eskridge.
Fourth Set Summary
- NKU staved off a fifth set with a 25-20 win in the fourth frame, hitting .368 behind 16 kills and just two errors.
- Creamer hit over .500 with five kills off nine swings, while Simpson added four kills on seven swings.
- Four Norse recorded four digs: Libs, Hurley and redshirt-senior setter Taylor Snyder.
Norse Notes
- Hurley became the 19th member of the 1,000 dig club as she led all players with 23 digs. She is the second Norse to join the club, as Snyder became the 18th member earlier in the season, coincidentally also against Youngstown State.
- The Norse had a strong defensive match with 70 digs. Others in double-digit digs were Libs (13), Snyder (11) and Eskridge (10).
- Libs and Snyder both recorded double-doubles. Libs added 12 kills to her 13 digs, while Snyder coupled her 11 digs with 42 assists and also added five kills.
- Creamer led all hitters with 16 kills, hitting .344 for the match and adding two blocks.
- Crawford hit .364 for her 14 kills, marking the third time the freshman has posted double-digit kills. Simpson also chipped in 11 kills, hitting at a .269 clip.
- Childers had four aces, a new career high for the junior.
Up Next
- NKU will make a final push for seeding in the League tournament with the remaining match of the season. The Norse close out the regular season against UIC on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. in Chicago.
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