NKyTribune staff
Reece Kral and Natalie Risi each recorded 14 kills as Ball State rallied from a two-set deficit to knock off Northern Kentucky University, 18-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-9, in Regents Hall on Friday night.
Sydnee VanBeek added eight kills and hit .353 for Ball State, which attacked at a .286 clip in the fifth set while holding NKU to a .000 hitting percentage. The Cardinals — who trailed 23-21 in the fourth set before using a 4-0 run to take the frame — spoiled the Norse’s home opener and improved to 4-3.
Laura Crawford
NKU’s Natalie Hardig collected 10 kills and nine blocks, while teammate Bailey Western hit .296, slammed down 11 kills and finished with six blocks. Ashton Terrill anchored the defense with 29 digs and also served up three aces.
The Norse began quickly, attacking at a .289 clip in the opening set to take a 1-0 lead. NKU hit .300 in the second set en route to a 25-19 win and 2-0 advantage, but close losses in the next two frames sent the match to a fifth set and allowed Ball State to begin the two-day tournament with a victory.
Kate Avila notched 25 digs for Ball State, which evened the all-time series with NKU at 3-3. Allison Hamaker added 11 kills for the Cardinals.
Miranda Wucherer dished out 27 assists and totaled 13 digs for NKU, while Shelby Olsen added 25 assists and 10 digs. The Norse owned advantages in digs (91 to 88) and team blocks (15.5 to 13.0) and outhit the Cardinals (.196 to .177).
NKU plays host to Notre Dame (4-2) at noon on Saturday in Regents Hall. The Norse conclude play in the tournament later that evening at 7:30 p.m. by facing cross-river rival Cincinnati.
The Bearcats (5-2) defeated Notre Dame in four sets on Friday afternoon in Regents Hall. Cincinnati’s Jordan Thompson, a 6-foot-4 senior, led the nation in kills (6.27 per set) last season. Thompson also played for the U.S. National Team this summer.
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)
