Wucherer records triple-double, NKU volleyball opens season with five-set victory over Toledo on Friday

NKyTribune staff

Haley Libs finished with 18 kills and 21 digs Friday as the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team opened the season with a five-set victory over Toledo at the Golden Dome Invitational.

Laura Crawford added 13 kills, 15 digs and attacked at a .300 clip for NKU, which won by scores of 25-16, 25-21, 26-28, 23-25, 17-15. Freshman setter Miranda Wucherer recorded a triple-double for the Norse with 11 kills, 32 assists and 14 digs.

Wucherer attacked at a .667 clip in the first set as the Norse cruised to a 25-16 win. The freshman from Wisconsin hit .280 for the match, converting 11 attacks in 25 attempts with four errors. Wucherer also became the first NKU player to record a triple-double since Oct. 29, 2005, when Andrea Lanham finished with 42 assists, 10 kills and 11 digs.

NKU rallied from a 9-7 deficit in the fifth set by scoring five consecutive points — all off kills by Libs — to take a 12-9 lead. Toledo fought off three match points before Crawford ended the contest by converting an attack to give NKU a 17-15 triumph.

The Norse (1-0) hit .187 for the match, including .256 in the fifth set. Toledo (0-1) attacked at a .182 clip. NKU finished with a 96-80 advantage in digs and an 11-8 edge in blocks.

NKU’s Natalie Hardig added 10 kills and six block assists, while teammate Kaelin Gentile finished with eight kills and five block assists. Ashton Terrill paced the back row with 23 digs and also served up two aces.

NKU will meet both Weber State (10 a.m.) and host Notre Dame (7 p.m.) on Saturday to conclude the two-day event that is being held at Notre Dame, Ind.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)