ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Shannon Wells recorded 19 kills, 15 digs and a .317 hitting percentage Saturday afternoon as the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 30-28, 30-25, 30-28, in the championship match of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
Leeanne Gross added 11 kills and a .455 hitting percentage as Southern Indiana (25-7) captured its first-ever GLVC championship. The Lady Eagles hit .301 as a team and limited NKU to a .214 hitting percentage to claim the GLVC title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The loss ended NKU’s five-year reign as GLVC champion. Prior to Saturday, the Norse had not lost in the GLVC Tournament since Nov. 16, 1996, when Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne posted a 15-12, 14-16, 15-12, 15-13 win over NKU in the championship match at Fort Wayne, Ind.
Kristin Koralewski led NKU (22-10) with 12 kills and a .290 hitting percentage on Saturday. Nicole Salisbury added 10 kills, and Sara Taylor finished with 33 assists.
NKU did not receive an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament, halting the Norse’s streak of NCAA Tournament appearances at five. Southern Indiana, Lewis University, Northwood (Mich.) University, Ferris State University, Wheeling Jesuit University and Grand Valley State University comprise the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional, which will be held at Allendale, Mich.
Kristin Koralewski