MILWAUKEE – Northern Kentucky volleyball dropped a road contest at league-leading Milwaukee in four sets, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20. The Norse drop to 10-8 overall and 3-3 in Horizon League play while the Panthers advance to 18-1 and, with Wright State's loss to UIC earlier this evening, are the only undefeated team in the league at 5-0.
First Set Summary
- The Norse came out strong to start the match, hitting a variety of shots while containing the Panthers' offense. However, Milwaukee was able to go on a 6-0 run, with five-straight errors by the Norse, to take an 11-8 advantage. Following a timeout, NKU answered back with a five-point run to take the lead back.
- The Norse maintained the advantage until the 20-20 mark, after which Milwaukee served up an ace to take the lead and continued to lead until the close of the set.
- Both teams had an inefficient attacking set as NKU hit .086 and Milwaukee hit .029. Anna Brinkmann and Miranda Wucherer led the way with three kills apiece, while Laura Crawford had an impactful defensive set with five digs and three blocks.
Second Set Summary
- Similar to the first set, NKU went out to an early lead before Milwaukee took the lead back at 9-8. NKU used a four-point run to lead 15-13 going into the media timeout, which featured two kills from Abby Kanakry, a block from Kanakry and Bailey Western and a service ace from Ashton Terrill.
- Milwaukee made another run late in the frame, the Panthers were unable to knot the score as the Norse went on to break UWM's 12-set home winning streak.
- NKU's rightside attack led the way as Kanakry posted six kills and Wucherer had five in the set. The Norse connected at a .387 clip, while Milwaukee also improved to a .200 hitting percentage.
Third Set Summary
- Kanakry had three kills and a block to play a part in all four of NKU's first points, and both team's went back and forth as the rightside attackers battled it out for the advantage. Milwaukee used a three-point run to take the lead at 13-10, prompting an NKU timeout.
- NKU used a trio of Milwaukee miscues and a kill from Brinkmann to get within a point, 16-15, but Milwaukee succeeded in keeping at least a point of cushion between itself and the Norse.
Fourth Set Summary
- Milwaukee went out to a quick lead and was able to maintain through the entirety of the set.
- While the Norse hit a respectable .250 in the frame, Milwaukee closed the match out with a .421 hitting percentage in the final set.
Norse Notes
- Kanakry was one kill off her career best, leading the Norse with 16 terminations at a .406 clip. She also added a pair of blocks.
- Wucherer had her second-straight double-double and first kills/assists double-double of the year with 12 kills and 28 assists.
- Brinkmann was just off a double-double with nine kills and 16 digs.
- Shelby Olsen posted her fourth-straight double-double with 19 assists and 12 digs.
- Terrill and Crawford also had double-digit dig performances with 22 and 16, respectively. Crawford also recorded four blocks.
- Western and Peytton Bagwell led the team at the net with five blocks each.
- NKU hit .206 in the match while the Panthers hit .216.
- The Norse had the defensive edge with a 76-70 advantage in digs and outblocked the Panthers, 11-6.
Up Next
- The Norse hit the road again next weekend, traveling to UIC and Green Bay. The weekend kicks off on Friday, Oct. 18 with a 6 p.m. CT (7 ET) match against the Flames before the Norse face the reigning Horizon League champion Phoenix at 4 p.m. CT (5 ET) on Saturday, Oct. 9. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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