An outstanding offensive performance from Haley Libs led the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team to a sweep (25-17, 25-20, 25-18) of Horizon League foe Wright State on Tuesday night in Regents Hall.
Libs terminated 18 kills on 31 attempts without recording a single attack error. The freshman connected on a .581 attack percentage.
Northern Kentucky’s (11-12, 6-5 Horizon) defense was stifling, holding Wright State (12-14, 1-10 Horizon) to a team hitting percent of .073. Mel Stewart continued her strong play along the backline with 20 digs and the Norse picked up 9.5 blocks.
Leading 13-11 in the opening stanza, NKU scored the next seven points to take a commanding lead en route to a 25-17 victory. The Norse hit .256, with Libs and Kelly Turner doing the offensive damage with five kills apiece.
Four-consecutive points helped Northern Kentucky pull ahead, 17-13, in the second set. Libs closed the frame for NKU, recording the final three points in a 25-20 Norse victory.
Set No. 3 featured runs by both teams. NKU went on a five-point run early in the set, only to see WSU counter with four-unanswered to knot the frame at 13-all. The Norse tallied five of the next six points and later went on a 6-2 run to close the set and match, 25-18.
Northern Kentucky wraps up the home portion of its regular-season with matches against Milwaukee and Green Bay on Oct. 30 and 31st, respectively. Saturday’s Halloween matchup with the Phoenix will also serve as senior day for the Norse. Seniors Mel Stewart and Jayden Julian will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
Norse Notes
— Stewart has now recorded 20 or more digs in three-straight matches, including 29 at Valpo and 28 at UIC.
— Northern Kentucky has won five of its last six matches, including each of the last three.
— NKU’s defense limited Wright State to hitting percentages below .100 in two of the three sets and in the other frame, WSU converted on a .108 hitting percent.
From NKU Athletics