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ALLENDALE, Mich. - Southern Illinois at Edwardsville setter Mallory Clements recorded a triple-double Thursday night as the Cougars posted a 30-19, 30-26, 30-18 victory over Northern Kentucky University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament. Clements finished with 41 assists, 10 kills and 10 digs. She attacked at a .435 clip and directed the SIUE offense to a .348 hitting percentage. Clements also had two blocks and two service aces. Kate Hofeldt hit .583 and collected eight kills for the fifth-seeded Cougars, who improved to 27-6 and avenged a four-game loss to NKU earlier this season. SIUE, which won the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division title this fall, held NKU to a .168 hitting percentage and coasted in to the regional semifinals. Liz Holmes led NKU (26-9) with 10 kills and a .286 hitting percentage. The fourth-seeded Norse were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. Holmes, who was named the Daktronics Great Lakes Region Player of the Year on Wednesday, added 10 digs for NKU. The senior middle hitter from Mercy High School in Cincinnati ended her career with 1,850 kills, the most in Norse history. SIUE built a 27-12 lead in the first game and coasted to a 30-19 decision. The Cougars held NKU to a -.050 hitting percentage in the opener. NKU battled back in the second game and attacked at a .320 clip, but SIUE used an 8-3 run to turn a 14-all tie into a 22-17 advantage. NKU senior outside hitter Tristen Dye, who was named to the Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region second team, added 10 kills and 12 digs in her final collegiate match. The Millersburg, Ohio, native also earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District IV College Division volleyball first team this fall. Natalie Forbes finished with 31 assists for NKU, while teammate Katie Latenser recorded 14 digs. Kristina Eisenmenger added nine kills for the Norse.
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