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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University clinched its 15th consecutive 20-win season Thursday night by posting a 31-29, 30-26, 30-24 victory over Rockhurst in Regents Hall. Kristina Eisenmenger hammered down 18 kills and attacked at a .405 clip for NKU, which improved to 20-5 overall, 9-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Liz Holmes added 16 kills and finished with 11 digs as the 25th-ranked Norse swept the visiting Hawks. Holmes, who entered the match tied for the national lead in hitting percentage, attacked at a .429 clip against Rockhurst. She now has 1,687 career kills and is 16 shy of becoming NKU's all-time leader in that category. Bethany Gastright is currently No. 1 in Norse history with 1,702 career kills. Tristen Dye finished with 13 kills and 11 digs for NKU, which is ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll. Natalie Forbes directed the offense to a .324 hitting percentage and finished with 47 assists, 20 digs and six kills. After taking the opener by a 31-29 score, NKU fell behind 10-2 to begin the second game. The Norse responded with a 12-4 run and tied the game at 14-all. Eisenmenger, a junior right-side hitter and a Notre Dame Academy graduate, later took over offensively by converting five straight kills to give NKU a 21-18 lead. She collected nine kills in the second game as NKU pulled out a 30-26 win. NKU built a 20-12 lead in the third game, but Rockhurst battled back and pulled to within 25-24. The Norse then scored five straight points, capped by a service ace from Brittany Dixon, to end the game and take the match. Rockhurst (15-7, 7-4 GLVC) hit just .213 for the match, including .068 in the final game. Audrey Boese led the Hawks with 16 kills, and Rachel Fowler added 12 kills. Chelsea Clark had 13 digs for NKU, which finished with a 72-65 edge in that category. Freshman middle blocker Annie Lucas made an impact at the net for the Norse with three blocks and a kill. NKU will play host to Drury at 7 p.m. Friday.
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