TAMPA, Fla. - Ania Ruiz had 23 kills and a .381 hitting percentage Thursday night as the University of Tampa volleyball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 34-32, 22-30, 30-28, 30-23, in a battle of squads nationally ranked in the NCAA Division II poll.
Amber Langston added 16 kills as Tampa - ranked No. 10 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll - knocked off 20th-ranked NKU in the Norse’s season opener. The Spartans finished with a .385 hitting percentage and took advantage of 15 Norse service errors to edge NKU.
Sophomore outside hitter Kristin Koralewski, a transfer from Northern Michigan University, had 19 kills for NKU in her first match with the Norse. Junior outside hitter Nicole Salisbury added 13 kills for the Norse, and freshman middle hitter Kaliana Kalache had 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage.
Junior setter Sara Taylor recorded 52 assists, four service aces and seven kills for NKU, which will meet Florida Southern College at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The Norse will also meet fourth-ranked Truman State University at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Kaliana Kalache