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NKU volleyball wins fifth straight as Libs reaches 1,000 career digs; Thomas More remains unbeaten


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).

Haley Libs

Haley Libs and Miranda Wucherer both recorded double-doubles in the win over Louisiana Tech in the Norse’s tournament opener. Libs tallied 10 kills and 13 digs, while Wucherer finished with 22 assists and 16 digs. Wucherer also added nine kills in that victory.

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.

Rachel McDonald

McDonald finished her career at NewCath with 1,307 kills, 613 digs, 165 blocks and 139 service aces. The Cold Spring native holds NewCath records for kills in a career, kills in a match (38) and kills in a season (483).

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.

Madison Krumpelman

Emily Mohs finished with 18 kills and hit .419 for Thomas More, while Madison Krumpelman and Carlee Lambert each added 10 kills. Krumpelman also served up 10 aces as Thomas More collected a total of 27 service aces in the match.

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)


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