NKU volleyball defeats Green Bay in four sets on Friday night, extends winning streak to seven

NKyTribune staff

Make it seven wins in a row for the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team, which opened Horizon League play Friday night with a four-set triumph over Green Bay in Regents Hall.

Freshman Anna Brinkmann hammered down 20 kills and attacked at a .375 clip as NKU posted a 25-18, 24-26, 25-18, 25-16 victory in its home opener. The Norse (9-3 overall, 1-0 Horizon league) hit .268 as a team and limited the Phoenix to a .122 hitting percentage.

Haley Libs added 11 kills and 13 digs for NKU, while teammate Laura Crawford also finished with a double-double (10 kills, 14 digs). The Norse entered Friday leading the nation in digs per game and finished with a 92-79 advantage in that category against Green Bay.

Ashton Terrill, who ranks 14th nationally and leads the Horizon League with 5.61 digs per set, paced the defense with 32 scoops on Friday night. Miranda Wucherer collected a double-double with 34 assists and 17, digs, and she also converted eight kills.

NKU’s Bailey Western finished with 10 kills, four blocks and a .348 hitting percentage. Natalie Hardig added seven kills and attacked at a .500 clip.

Taylor Wolf collected 17 kills and 15 digs for Green Bay (5-8 overall, 0-1 Horizon League). The Phoenix limited NKU to a .176 hitting percentage to take the second set, but the Norse attacked at a .273 clip in the third frame and closed out the win by hitting .375 in the fourth set.

NKU is now 7-4 all-time against Green Bay. It marked the Norse’s first win over the Phoenix since Nov. 4, 2016.

The Norse are off to their best start since 2014, when they began the season 10-3. NKU plays host to Milwaukee at 4 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall.

THOMAS MORE VISITS TRANSY: The Thomas More College volleyball team travels to Lexington on Saturday to meet Transylvania at 1 p.m.

Thomas More is ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Division III poll and owns a 12-1 record. Transylvania is 5-7 going into Saturday’s match.

Thomas More attacked at a blistering .323 clip against visiting Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday night during a 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 25-20 win in Crestview Hills. Jenna Mummert finished with 10 kills and a .714 hitting percentage to lead the Saints.

Transylvania features former Notre Dame Academy standout Hannah Talkers at setter. Talkers has dished out 321 assists and added 61 kills for the Pioneers this season. The Villa Hills native also has 131 digs.

Thomas More will be the fifth nationally ranked opponent Transylvania has faced this season. The Pioneers were swept by No. 3 Wittenberg on Wednesday night in Springfield, Ohio.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Thomas More College and staff reports)