MILWAUKEE – Northern Kentucky volleyball dealt with heartbreak again, dropping its second-straight match in five sets. The Norse fell on the road to Milwaukee, 20-25, 26-28, 25-21, 25-23, 15-10, dropping to 13-7 overall and 5-4 in Horizon League play. The Panthers advance to 6-16 (5-4 HL).
First Set Summary
- NKU used strong defense and efficiency out of its middles to take the opening set. Natalie Hardig led the way with four kills on six swings to go with an assist on all three of NKU's blocks, while Bailey Western added three kills on six swings.
- Haley Libs had a rounded performance with four kills and six digs, but it was Shelby Olsen who paced the back row with eight of NKU's 28 digs.
- The Norse never trailed in the set, using a 6-1 run to establish an early lead that the team maintained through the end of the frame.
Second Set Summary
- The Norse trailed for the first time in the match at the 17-16 mark off of back-to-back-to-back kills from Milwaukee's Makenzie Mroczenski, but NKU was able to rally in the closing points to gain the 2-0 advantage. Anna Brinkmann and Western set up the set point with a vital block before Laura Crawford ended the set on a kill.
- NKU hit .300 in the set, with Libs and Western having errorless showings en route to six and four kills, respectively. Crawford picked up eight digs, while Miranda Wucherer added seven digs as the Panthers continued to target the right half of the court on their attacks.
Third Set Summary
- NKU connected at a .311 clip in the third set, but Milwaukee did one better with 16 kills and no errors for a .400 hitting percentage.
- Libs and Western continued to pace the offense with six kills each, but the Norse were unable to overcome the early cushion that Milwaukee had established.
Fourth Set Summary
- Both teams continued to hit at a high efficiency, with Milwaukee holding the edge .375-.314 in the fourth frame. Libs took control with seven kills and Brinkmann had three kills on six attempts.
- The match featured high termination on both sides with just 67 combined attacks between the two teams, leading to a low-digging set with just nine scoops for the Norse. Ashton Terrill led the way with four digs.
Fifth Set Summary
- After two sets of effective attacking, both teams dropped substantially in hitting percentage. The Norse had just four kills in the deciding set and committed seven errors for a -.086 hitting percentage, while the Panthers hit .107. Libs and Brinkmann were the only Norse to record kills with two each, with Libs adding a valiant effort in the back row with seven digs.
- Milwaukee ended the match on a 7-1 run, four of which points came off of NKU miscues.
Norse Notes
- Libs had her 12th-consecutive double-double and second 20/20 match of the season with 25 kills and 21 digs.
- Western had a career-best 15 kills, hitting .387 to go with five blocks and seven digs.
- Brinkmann rounded out NKU's double-digit kills performers with 12 winners, while Hardig was just off the mark with nine kills and a .368 hitting percentage.
- Five Norse had 15 digs or more in the match to help NKU reach 102 digs as a team. Crawford paced the back line by tying her career mark with 22 digs, followed by Libs' 21 scoops. Terrill had 17 digs while setters Wucherer and Olsen each added 15 digs.
- Wucherer and Olsen had double-doubles with 35 and 31 assists, respectively, marking Olsen's sixth-straight double-double.
Up Next
- The Norse take on league-leading Green Bay tomorrow on the road. First serve against the Phoenix is set for 4 p.m. CT/5 ET and the match will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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