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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The up-tempo, quick-set offense of Northern Kentucky University paid big dividends Friday night during a 30-25, 30-27, 30-19 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside in Regents Hall. Junior setter Natalie Forbes directed the NKU offense to a .383 hitting percentage for the match by dishing out 50 assists. Forbes, a Highlands High School graduate, also added eight digs and two blocks as the Norse improved to 14-2 overall, 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Liz Holmes and Kristina Eisenmenger took advantage of Forbes' setting and combined for 29 kills. Holmes attacked at a .684 clip with 14 kills and eight digs, while Eisenmenger hammered down 15 kills and hit .625. Eisenmenger now has 992 career kills, and the Notre Dame Academy graduate will soon join Holmes and Tristen Dye as a member of the 1,000-kills club at NKU. NKU, ranked No. 19 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, hit.417 in the opening game to coast to a 30-25 win. After pulling out a 30-27 triumph in the second game, the Norse attacked at a .409 clip in the finale and rolled to a 30-19 win and the sweep. Dye added a double-double (17 kills, 18 digs) for NKU, which holds a 22-1 lead in the all-time series with Wisconsin-Parkside. The Rangers, who hit .151 for the match, dropped to 6-4 overall, 0-4 in the GLVC. NKU freshman Morgan Elyea hit .556 with five kills and two blocks. Megan Dooley added nine digs and an ace for the Norse, who finished with 61-37 advantage in digs. NKU also held a 15-11 edge in total blocks against the taller Rangers, including solo blocks by Dye, Samantha Williams and Chelsea Clark. The Norse face defending GLVC Tournament champion Lewis at 3 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. A year ago, Lewis defeated NKU, 30-23, 30-26, 21-30, 32-30, at Romeoville, Ill., in their only meeting of the season. The Flyers (11-2 overall, 3-1 GLVC) swept past Bellarmine on Friday night to set up the showdown with NKU on Saturday. |
