NKU volleyball defeats Xavier in exhibition on Saturday as Hardig, Brinkmann combine for 24 kills

NKyTribune staff

Natalie Hardig and Anna Brinkmann hammered down 12 kills apiece as Northern Kentucky University posted a 22-25, 25-17, 27-25, 25-23 win at Xavier on Saturday in an exhibition volleyball match.

Bailey Western finished with eight kills and seven blocks for the Norse, while teammate Laura Crawford recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs. With NKU holding a 24-23 lead in the fourth set, Western and Crawford combined to block Xavier’s Lauren Hanlon for match point.

That marked the second straight set in which NKU pulled out a victory with an assisted block.

In the third set, Xavier owned a 23-19 advantage, but NKU responded with a 5-0 run to take a 24-23 lead when Western and Abby Kanakry blocked Noah Painter’s attack attempt. Xavier countered with two straight points to retake the lead at 25-24, but NKU closed the set on a 3-0 run to earn a 27-25 win.

Western and Kanakry again combined to block Painter, this time on set point. Kanakry finished with seven kills and five blocks.

NKU hit .181 for the match and limited Xavier to a .127 clip. The Norse defense scooped up 77 digs, with Ashton Terrill finishing with 20 digs. Setter Shelby Olsen collected 13 digs and also dished out 16 assists.

Hardig, a sophomore middle blocker and a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, attacked at a .360 clip and added four blocks. Norse right-side hitter/setter Miranda Wucherer also notched a double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs.

NKU begins regular-season play Friday at 4:30 p.m. by taking on South Alabama at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational. The Norse conclude the event on Saturday by meeting Western Michigan at 1:30 p.m. and host Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m.

THOMAS MORE SWEEPS MONTREAT: Jenna Mummert recorded 12 kills and four service aces, while teammate Jess Ginn scooped up 15 digs as Thomas More improved to 3-0 with a 25-10, 25-22, 25-9 win over Montreat (N.C.) College on Saturday in the Vette City Volleyball Classic in Bowling Green.

Mummert attacked at a .409 clip as Thomas More hit .324 as a team. Emily Mohs hammered down a team-leading 14 kills and hit .379 for the Saints. Thomas More setters Maddie Read and Lizzie Schoenfeld combined for 34 assists, while Alli Borders added eight assists and two kills.

Thomas More meets Union (Ky.) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday to close out the two-day tournament.

NORSE WOMEN PLAY HOST TO OHIO: The NKU women’s soccer team plays host to Ohio University at 7 p.m. Sunday in Highland Heights.

NKU is 1-0 after posting a 4-0 win at Lipscomb on Thursday night. Megan Patrick, Ally Perkins, Shawna Zaken and Kailey Ivins all netted goals in that NKU victory. Lipscomb is this year’s Atlantic Sun Conference preseason favorite after finishing 2018 with a 15-5-2 overall record.

Mimi Stines, a transfer from Dayton, made her collegiate debut at goalkeeper for NKU, playing 90 minutes and recording nine saves.

Ohio opened the season on Thursday with a 2-1 overtime victory against Eastern Kentucky. The Bobcats finished 9-8-3 last season.

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