NKyTribune staff
Facing a two-set deficit on the road Sunday at Wright State, Northern Kentucky University roared from behind, eventually tied the contest at two frames apiece and owned two match points in the fifth set.
Wright State, however, fought off both points and went on to post a 17-15 victory in the deciding fifth frame to defeat the visiting Norse in a Horizon League volleyball showdown. The Raiders won by scores of 25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 21-25, 17-15.
It was Wright State’s first win against NKU since Oct. 6, 2015. The Raiders improved to 11-9 overall, 3-5 in the Horizon League.
NKU’s Bailey Western slams an attack against Wright State on Sunday. Western finished with 10 kills. (Photo by Chloe Smith, NKU Athletics Communications)
Tied at 12-all in the fifth set, NKU gained a 13-12 lead after a Wright State hitting error. The Norse extended the advantage to 14-12 when Bailey Western and Kaelin Gentile combined to block an attack by the Raiders’ Maddy Weber.
Wright State countered with a kill by Teddie Sauer and a block by both Sauer and Taylor Gibson to even the set at 14-all. The Raiders then used a 3-1 run to finish off the victory, capped by a service ace from Sauer.
NKU’s Haley Libs recorded her 11th consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs. Laura Crawford also collected a double-double for the Norse with 14 kills and 11 digs.
Western added 10 kills and attacked at a .360 clip, and she led the Norse with six blocks. Ashton Terrill anchored the Norse back row and finished with 23 digs.
NKU, which had defeated IUPUI on the road Saturday in four sets, will visit Milwaukee at 7 p.m. on Friday.
NORSE MEN’S SOCCER DEFEATS UDM: Alex Willis and Alex Greive each netted two goals Saturday night as the NKU men’s soccer team posted a 6-2 win over Detroit Mercy.
NKU (9-4 overall, 2-3 Horizon League) built a 3-0 lead at halftime as Greive, Willis and Rikard Lindqvist all scored goals. Detroit Mercy is now 0-10-2 overall, 0-4-1 in the Horizon League.
NKU plays at IUPUI next Sunday at 1 p.m.
NORSE WOMEN’S SOCCER LOSES OT THRILLER: Jenna Prathapa’s goal at the 95:36 mark lifted Cleveland State to a 2-1 overtime win against visiting NKU on Saturday in a Horizon League showdown.
Cleveland State is 9-4-1 overall, 5-0-1 in the Horizon League. NKU is 8-4-1 overall, 4-1-1 in the Horizon League.
NKU plays host to Oakland at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Highland Heights.
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)
