LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Northern Kentucky volleyball team played a pair of matches inside Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader vs. Western Kentucky and Morehead State. 

The Norse fell in the morning match vs. the Hilltoppers, but bounced back with a four set victory over MSU for the season's first win. 

MATCH ONE - WKU
The Bluegrass Battle continued for the Northern Kentucky volleyball team on Saturday morning, as the Norse battled with the No. 26 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Memorial Coliseum.
Lucy Cluxton posted a match-high 19 digs, while Allson Risley built upon her impressive debut with nine kills, 12 digs, and three blocks.

The Norse fell in straight sets but put up a fight during all three sets.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Lucy Cluxton led all players in the match with 19 digs, adding five assists and two aces.
• Allison Risley nearly posted a double-double in her second collegiate match with nine kills and 12 digs, adding three blocks as well.
• Joy Banks notched a team-high 10 kills in the loss.
• Lainey Green and Torie Houston combined for 31 assists in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Norse and Hilltoppers battled throughout the first set before WKU took the set 25-21.
• The second set was a back-and-forth marathon with 60 combined points. NKU fell to WKU 31-29 after having the opportunity to win the set four times.
• WKU took advantage of an early lead in the third set, and held on for a win in straight sets.

Northern Kentucky volleyball picked up its first victory of the season on Saturday night, as the Norse took down Morehead State in four sets to close out the Bluegrass Battle in Lexington.

Four Norse posted double-doubles in the victory.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 3, Morehead State 1
LOCATION: Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, KY)
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 1-2 (0-0 HL), Morehead State: 0-2 (0-0 OVC)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• It was an all-around team victory for NKU, as Joy Banks, Lainey Green, Torie Houston, and Lucy Cluxton all posted double-doubles.
• Banks and Cluxton both posted 20 digs, with Cluxton's 23 being a match high.
• Allison Risley led all players in kills, posting 16 with a .382 hitting percentage while adding seven digs.
• Both Torie Houston and Lainey Green posted 17 assists in the victory.
• Allie Siefke dominated at the net during the match with six blocks, tied for the most of any player in the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Morehead State took the first set, but Northern Kentucky bounced back in a big way with three straight set wins to take home the victory. 

UP NEXT

• Northern Kentucky opens its home slate next weekend with the NKU Invitational, presented by Comfort Inn & Suites Wilder. The Norse are set to host Louisville, Missouri, and South Dakota.

FOLLOW NORSE VOLLEYBALL
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's volleyball team through @NKUNorseVB on X, @NKUNorseVBall on Instagram, nkunorsevball on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.