Kristina Eisenmenger (25)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Kristina Eisenmenger recorded a career-high 27 kills Friday night as the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team defeated Indianapolis, 30-24, 30-28, 29-31, 29-31, 15-13, in Regents Hall.

Eisenmenger, a freshman and a graduate of Notre Dame Academy making her home debut for the Norse, also hit .442 as NKU opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a victory. The Norse improved to 12-2 overall and extended their winning streak to six.

Liz Holmes added 22 kills, 17 digs and a .526 hitting percentage as NKU held on for the win. Tristen Dye finished with 18 kills, while Andrea Lanham recorded a career-high 74 assists and 16 digs.

Eisenmenger slammed down eight kills and attacked at a .727 clip in the opening game as NKU coasted to a 30-24 win. She added another seven kills in the second game as the Norse took a 2-0 lead.

Indianapolis (6-7 overall, 0-1 GLVC) rallied, however, and won the next two games. With the fifth game tied at 12-12, Holmes hammered down an attack to give NKU a 13-12 advantage.

Brittany Dixon served an ace - a ball that grazed the top of the net, crawled over and hit the floor before the Indianapolis defense could react - to make it 14-12, but Whitney Boling converted an attack to cut the Norse lead to 14-13. NKU won the match on the next play when Boling’s serve attempt sailed out of bounds.

Bethany Dulle led Indianapolis with 18 kills, and Lynne Ross added 15 kills. Boling had 13 kills for the Greyhounds, who held a 25-12 edge in blocks. NKU, though, finished with a 96-51 advantage in digs.

Lynne Fischesser added 21 digs for NKU, which hit .219 for the match. Dixon finished with 14 digs and three service aces for the Norse, while Maria Tieman served up three aces.

NKU upped its lead in the all-time series with Indianapolis to 34-3 and has won four of the past five matches with the Greyhounds. A year ago, the Norse defeated Indianapolis twice.

NKU will play host to Saint Joseph’s at 1 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall.

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