NKyTribune staff
Laura Crawford collected 18 kills and 15 digs as the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team opened the season Friday with a 25-19, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19 win over South Alabama at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.
Crawford also attacked at a .361 clip and added a pair of blocks for NKU, which hit .242 as a team. The senior outside hitter smashed down six kills in the opening set as the Norse hit .406 as a team.
NKU redshirt freshman Abby Kanakry made her collegiate debut with nine kills, three blocks and a .368 hitting percentage. Ashton Terrill recorded the 20th 20-dig match of her career and also chipped in seven assists and a pair of aces.
Miranda Wucherer dished out 23 assists and added six digs, two aces and a pair of blocks. Natalie Hardig and Bailey Western both finished with four kills and five blocks in the middle.
NKU jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set and cruised to the match-ending 25-19 win by hitting .333 in the final frame. Crawford recorded four kills in the final set, while Kanakry converted all three of her attacks.
Anna Brinkmann added nine kills and seven digs for NKU, which owned a 58-49 advantage in digs. The Norse also limited South Alabama (0-2) to a .117 hitting percentage.
NKU concludes the two-day event on Saturday by meeting Western Michigan at 1:30 p.m. and host Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m.
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)