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FLORENCE, Ala. - Did anyone out there really expect this result? On the opening night of the season, in a hostile environment against a perennial NCAA Division II powerhouse that rarely loses at home? Northern Kentucky University surprised many people Friday night by stunning No. 9 North Alabama, 30-24, 30-22, 27-30, 22-30, 18-16, at the North Alabama Classic in Flowers Hall. The Lions - who finished as NCAA Division II national runner-up last season with a 35-6 record - were unable to hold off a stubborn NKU team that refused to fold in the fifth game Friday night. NKU (2-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in games, but North Alabama (1-1) bounced back to win the next two stanzas to force a deciding fifth set. The Lions bolted out to a 5-0 lead in the fifth, but NKU used a 10-5 run to tie the game at 10-all. After North Alabama built 13-10 lead, NKU took advantage of two attack errors and a bad set to tie the score at 13-all. Liz Holmes converted an attack with North Alabama holding match point to tie the game at 14-all, and Natalie Forbes later notched a kill to give NKU a 16-15 lead. North Alabama tied the score at 16-all on a kill by Nicole Montey, but the Lions committed two straight errors - one serving and another on an attack - as NKU pulled off the upset. “Our players remained calm and cool, even when North Alabama built that early lead in the fifth game,” NKU head coach Carlos Chia said. “Our players showed a great deal of composure to beat a great team in their own gym. It is a huge victory.” Kristina Eisenmenger led NKU with 13 kills, while Holmes and Tristen Dye each added 11 kills. Freshman Morgan Elyea had seven kills and hit .462 for the Norse, who will meet both Tusculum and No. 8 Ashland to close out the two-day event Saturday. Dye led the defense with 17 digs, while teammates Brittany Dixon and Chelsea Clark each collected 10 digs. Clark also added seven kills and three service aces. |
