 |
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A day after entering the national volleyball rankings, Northern Kentucky University wasted no time in showing the home crowd why it has gained the early-season notice during a victory against Lincoln Memorial. NKU, ranked 24th nationally in the latest NCAA Division II volleyball rankings, attacked at a .397 clip Tuesday night en route to a 30-25, 30-17, 30-16 win in Regents Hall. Liz Holmes finished with 13 kills and hit .579 as the Norse improved to 9-1. Kristina Eisenmenger added 12 kills and also attacked at a .579 clip for NKU, which coasted in the second and third games after a tough opener. Lincoln Memorial rallied from a 16-12 deficit in the first game to take a 21-20 lead, but NKU used a 10-4 run to take a 30-25 win. Eisenmenger and freshman Morgan Elyea combined for a block of an Ashley Knight attack to end the first game. NKU hit .417 in the second game and coasted to a 30-17 win, and the Norse slammed their way to a .477 hitting percentage in the third to notch the sweep. NKU junior setter Natalie Forbes ran the offense and dished out 55 assists. Tristen Dye collected a double-double with 11 kills and 19 digs. Chelsea Clark added 11 kills and nine digs. NKU finished with a 61-37 advantage in digs, and Lincoln Memorial (6-2) hit .182 for the match. Brittany Dixon and Megan Dooley each finished with nine digs for NKU, which is now 3-0 all-time against Lincoln Memorial. NKU will meet two nationally ranked opponents on Friday in No. 7 Hillsdale (Mich.) and No. 13 Grand Valley State, a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference powers. Those key regional matches will take place at Ashland, Ohio. On Saturday, NKU opens Great Lakes Valley Conference action with a neutral-court match against Kentucky Wesleyan in Ashland, Ohio. The Norse will also play Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday to conclude the two-day event. |
