NKyTribune staff
The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team extended its winning streak to five on Friday at the Cougar Invitational, sweeping Louisiana Tech (25-18, 25-18, 25-12) and host Southern Illinois Edwardsville (25-16, 27-25, 25-14).
Anna Brinkmann and Kaelin Gentile each posted nine kills in the win over Louisiana Tech. The Norse attacked at a .233 clip for the match, while the Lady Techsters were limited to a .051 hitting percentage.
In the nightcap against SIUE, Brinkmann collected a career-high 15 kills, 10 digs and attacked at a .324 clip as NKU (7-3) cruised to the victory. Libs added 11 kills and 15 digs, and she also became the first NKU player in the Division I era to reach both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Libs reached that milestone by collecting her 14th dig in the third set.
NKU setter Shelby Olsen also finished with a double-double (18 assists, 11 digs).
Newport Central Catholic graduate Rachel McDonald finished with nine kills and nine digs for SIUE, which dropped to 0-10. McDonald is a sophomore outside hitter and the sister of NKU men’s basketball standout Drew McDonald.
NKU limited SIUE to a .074 hitting percentage. The Norse attacked at a .217 clip for the match, including .300 in the final set. Ashton Terrill anchored the NKU back row and finished with 18 digs.
NKU closes out the two-day tournament on Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. match against Oral Roberts.
THOMAS MORE VOLLEYBALL RALLIES TO STAY PERFECT: The Thomas More College volleyball team rallied to defeat Heidelberg in five sets on Friday night, 28-30, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-8, at the Wittenberg Fall Classic in Springfield, Ohio.
Thomas More hit a blistering .467 in the deciding fifth set to improve to 11-0. The Saints, who are ranked No. 14 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll, also attacked at a .353 clip in the fourth set to pull even and force a fifth frame.
Krumpelman’s 10 aces tied a Thomas More single-match record. Marisa Meyer also served up 10 aces against Chatham (Pa.) during the 2014 season.
Earlier on Friday, Thomas More swept past Mary Washington (Va.), 25-16, 25-21, 25-9. Mohs recorded 12 kills and attacked at a .385 clip in that victory.
Thomas More faces No. 3 Wittenberg at noon Saturday in a battle of nationally ranked teams to close out the two-day event. The Saints then return home and play host to Mount St. Joseph at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills.
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Thomas More College and staff reports)