LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Maggie Pugh recorded 14 kills and an .824 hitting percentage Tuesday night as the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team defeated Bellarmine University, 30-25, 30-13, 30-23.
Pugh, a sophomore middle hitter and a graduate of Mason (Ohio) High School, converted 14 of 17 hitting attempts. As a team, NKU posted a .541 hitting percentage and coasted to the win.
Sara Taylor added six kills, 39 assists and a .750 hitting percentage as NKU opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a road victory. Cammi Welter, Nicole Salisbury and Mara Castillo each had seven kills for the Norse (3-5 overall, 1-0 GLVC), who now hold a 44-8 lead in the all-time series with Bellarmine (3-10, 1-1 GLVC).
During the past five years, NKU is 74-5 in the regular season against GLVC teams.
The Norse will play their home opener at 7 p.m. Friday against Lewis University in Regents Hall. Lewis is off to an 11-0 start - the best in the history of the Flyer volleyball program.
NKU will also play host to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Maggie Pugh