HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky volleyball gave its seniors a win in their final match inside Regents Hall, defeating Milwaukee in four sets, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21. With the win, NKU moves to 14-12 overall and 7-7 in Horizon League play, also clinching a spot in the 2019 Horizon League Championship. The Panthers lost two matches in a row for the first time this season, dipping to 23-5 (10-4 Horizon).
First Set Summary
- NKU held the advantage for much of the opening frame, playing an errorless set until the 19-12 mark. However, Milwaukee used a six-point run to get within a point, 19-18, and ended the stanza on a 6-2 run to take the first set.
- Despite NKU hitting .379 in the set, the Panthers were able to hit a comparable .378 but terminated 20 balls to NKU's 12 kills.
- The Norse had a balanced offense with four NKU players with two kills while Reilly Briggs led with three.
Second Set Summary
- The Norse led for the entirety of the second set, siding out at 65 percent to keep the Panthers at arm's reach for the frame.
- Milwaukee once again had the edge in terminations, but committed six hitting errors and five service miscues that allowed NKU to hold its advantage.
- Briggs added three more kills, as did Laura Crawford and Anna Brinkmann.
Third Set Summary
- NKU improved even further on its side-out percentage at 73 percent while holding Milwaukee to a .077 hitting percentage. The Panthers committed 10 hitting errors, five of which came from NKU's blocking.
- Crawford and Peytton Bagwell each had three kills, and Bagwell also led the Norse with three blocks.
Fourth Set Summary
- The Norse had their most rounded set in the final frame, putting away 15 balls and blocking another five Milwaukee attacks. NKU went out to an early lead and was able to extend to a comfortable advantage, 12-7, following a six-point run.
- Crawford paced the team with five kills, while Ashton Terrill had eight digs in the frame. Western assisted on three of NKU's five blocks.
Norse Notes
- The Norse hit .289, while the Panthers hit .200. NKU had the heavy advantage in net defense, out-blocking Milwaukee, 15.0-5.5. The Panthers had the edge in kills, 63-51, but the Norse committed 18 fewer hitting errors than Milwaukee.
- Crawford and Briggs both tallied 11 kills in the victory. Crawford was just short of a double-double with eight digs, but had an impressive defensive effort at the net with a season-best six blocks.
- Western had nine kills and did not commit a hitting error for a .409 hitting percentage. She tied for the lead in blocks with seven.
- Bagwell also had seven blocks, matching her career best, and added eight kills and no errors on 14 swings, good for a .571 hitting percentage.
- Brinkmann had seven kills, 13 digs and five blocks.
- Shelby Olsen was just off a double-double with 23 assists and nine digs, and led the Norse from the service line with a pair of aces.
- Terrill had a match-high 18 digs to go with four assists. She has now surpassed Mel Stewart (2012-15) and sits at fifth on the all-time career digs list with 1,505.
Up Next
- NKU is on the road for the final week of Horizon League play. The Norse first head to Cleveland State for a 6 p.m. match on Friday, Nov. 15. The regular season concludes at Youngstown State, with first serve at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. Friday's match will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Saturday's contest will be featured on ESPN3.
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