NKU vs. IUI
2
IU Indy IUIndy 18-14,11-7 Horizon
3
Winner Northern Ky. NKU 22-8,17-1 Horizon
IU Indy IUIndy
18-14,11-7 Horizon
2
Final
3
Northern Ky. NKU
22-8,17-1 Horizon
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
IU Indy IUIndy 21 25 26 25 10 (2)
Northern Ky. NKU 25 21 28 21 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Top-Seeded NKU Outlasts IU Indy in Five, Advances to Horizon League Championship Final

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Playing in front of a raucous home crowd inside Truist Arena, the top-seeded Northern Kentucky University women's volleyball team battled its way into the Horizon League Championship title match with a five-set victory over No. 4 seed IU Indy on Saturday evening. In a semifinal match that featured 37 tie scores and 16 lead changes, the Norse outlasted the Jaguars 3-2 to secure their spot in Sunday's championship showdown, where they will take on No. 2 seed Wright State for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 3, IU Indy - 2
SET SCORES: 25-21, 21-25, 28-26, 21-25, 15-10
LOCATION: Truist Arena - Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 22-8 (17-1 HL), IUI: 18-14 (11-7 HL)
SEEDS: Northern Kentucky No. 1, IU Indy No. 4

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Despite being held to a .164 hitting percentage, the Norse outperformed IU Indy offensively, as the Jaguars posted just a .144 mark. NKU took the opening set 25-21, dropped the second 25-21, and then won a pivotal 28-26 third set before IU Indy forced a fifth. The Norse sealed the match with a dominant .450 hitting performance in the 15-10 fifth-set win.
– Outside hitter Sydney Bray posted a massive double-double with 21 kills and 20 digs.  She also added 5 total blocks and 2 service aces.
– Allison Risley also finished with a double-double, notching 15 kills and 10 digs, while adding seven total blocks, two solo, and an ace.
– Ivey Stocks provided one of NKU's most efficient attacking efforts, recording 11 kills on .348 hitting along with a match high eight total blocks.  
– Setter Abby Pickard led the offense with 52 assists, adding 10 digs and three total blocks in a solid all-around performance.
– Kendall Hopewell posted a strong effort at the net with five total blocks and five kills, while freshman Ava Hoying contributed four kills and two aces.
– Libero Lucy Cluxton anchored the back row with a team high 26 digs, while posting a .952 reception percentage and one service ace.

UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky, the No. 1 seed, advances to the Horizon League championship match Sunday at 2 p.m. inside Truist Arena, where the Norse will take on No. 2 seed Wright State for the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

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.
 
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