DAYTON, Ohio – Northern Kentucky volleyball won the opening two sets against rival Wright State, but dropped the next three, 21-25, 20-25, 25-22, 27-25, 15-11. The Norse drop to 9-6 overall and 2-1 in Horizon League play while the Raiders advance to 14-1 (3-0 Horizon) and extend their nation-leading winning streak to 14 matches.
First Set Summary
- The two teams traded points to start the match, but NKU used a run in the middle of the frame to extend out to a 19-15 lead. The Norse maintained their lead through the rest of the set, with Laura Crawford delivering all three of NKU's final points.
- Anna Brinkmann led NKU's offense with six kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while Crawford added five kills at a .444 clip. Ashton Terrill picked up five digs in the back row.
Second Set Summary
- NKU jumped out to a quick lead, with back-to-back aces from Terrill giving the Norse a 7-2 edge. The Raiders were unable to string together a run of more than two points as NKU maintained advantage for the set.
- Both teams had an efficient showing, with NKU hitting .316 while Wright State connected at a .310 clip. Crawford added five more kills and no errors on 12 swings, and Terrill had a strong defensive set with eight digs to go with her pair of aces.
Third Set Summary
- Wright State came out of the break with renewed energy and used strong serving in the first two rotations to pull ahead, 7-3. NKU clawed back and knotted the score up at 18-18, but the Raiders ended the set on a five-point run that included four WSU kills.
- NKU's efficiency fell in the third set as the Norse hit .188. Crawford led the offense once more with four kills, as did Natalie Hardig, who also added three blocks. In the back row, Terrill and Miranda Wucherer both scooped up six digs.
Fourth Set Summary
- Wright State looked to be cruising to a fifth set, leading for much of the fourth frame with an 18-13 advantage. NKU once again made a valiant comeback, as Shelby Olsen served up seven-straight points and even put NKU at match point at 24-23, but Wright State answered back with some key kills followed by back-to-back blocks to end the set in extra points.
- Crawford had a strong offensive set with seven kills and just one error. Western added four kills.
- NKU's defense picked up 37 digs, led by Terrill with 11 while Brinkmann and Wucherer both tallied eight digs.
Fifth Set Summary
- The deciding set went back and forth, with the Norse holding their last lead at 6-5 before Wright State posted a four-point run to take control. NKU tied the set up at 11-11, but three Norse miscues in the final four points allowed Wright State to take the match.
- NKU hit .036 in the set, with five Norse contributing one kill apiece. The Norse had an impressive effort at the net, rejecting six Wright State attacks, but ultimately the Raiders had nine kills and three blocks of their own to hold the advantage.
Norse Notes
- Crawford posted a new career high of 21 kills, also adding six digs and three blocks.
- Brinkmann recorded her second-straight double-double with 12 kills and 21 digs.
- Wucherer and Olsen also chipped in double-doubles, with Wucherer dishing out 30 assists and tying her career high of 18 digs while Olsen had 31 assists and 11 digs.
- Terrill also had a career match with 34 digs, marking her first 30-dig match of the year. She added six assists and a pair of aces to her stat line.
- Hardig hit .429 en route to 11 kills for the Norse. She also added five blocks, as did Bailey Western, who terminated eight balls.
- NKU hit .200 for the match while the Raiders hit .233. NKU had a 7-3 advantage in aces, but committed 12 errors from the service line.
- The match was a defensive clinic on both ends, with NKU recording 109 digs as a team while Wright State tallied 115. NKU also added 12.5 blocks, and Wright State had 14.0 blocks.
Up Next
- The Norse are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 6, when they host IUPUI. First serve is set for 2 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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