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College notebook: NKU volleyball looks to carry momentum into Horizon League opener this weekend


NKyTribune staff

The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team won a pair of matches on Saturday, sweeping both Samford and Tulsa in the Western Kentucky Invitational.

Abby Kanakry and Laura Crawford both finished with 11 kills as NKU defeated reigning Southern Conference champion Samford, 25-20, 25-12, 28-26. Miranda Wucherer served up six aces and dished out 22 assists for the Norse, who limited Samford to a .071 hitting percentage.

Wucherer’s six aces tied NKU’s Division I-era single-match record. NKU’s Jenna Schreiver collected six aces in a five-setter against Manhattan on Sept. 8, 2012, and Shelby Olsen served up six winners in a road sweep of Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 2, 2018.

NKU’s Abby Kanakry hammered down a career-high 17 kills and attacked at a .394 clip in a victory against Tulsa on Saturday. Kanakry was also named to the WKU Invitational’s all-tournament team. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)

NKU concluded the two-day tournament by sweeping Tulsa, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22. The Norse improved to 7-5 and already own three victories over teams that qualified for last season’s NCAA Tournament.

Kanakry hammered down a career-high 17 kills and attacked at a .394 clip in the win against Tulsa. Ashton Terrill served up five aces and led NKU with 15 digs, while Bailey Western hit .455 with six kills and four blocks.

Kanakry and Western were both named to the all-tournament team. Kanakry led the team with 3.27 kills per set, hitting .286 for the three matches. The redshirt freshman from Grosse Pointe, Mich., also added 0.55 blocks per set. Western hit .283 en route to 2.09 kills per set, and averaged 0.82 blocks.

NKU begins Horizon League play this Friday at 6 p.m. with a home match against Youngstown State in Regents Hall. The Norse also play host to Cleveland State at 4 p.m. Saturday.

THOMAS MORE COLLECTS BIG ROAD WIN: Emily Mohs finished with 10 kills as Thomas More defeated the Cumberlands (Ky.), 25-16, 25-17, 25-23, on Saturday in Williamsburg. Thomas More improved to 9-4 overall, 4-1 in the Mid-South Conference. The Saints are tied with Lindsey Wilson for first place in the Mid-South.

Jenna Mummert and Carlee Lambert each added seven kills for Thomas More, which limited the Cumberlands (9-6 overall, 1-4 Mid-South) to a .045 hitting percentage. Lizzie Schoenfeld dished out 15 assists and served up two aces for the Saints, while Jess Ginn scooped up 13 digs.

Thomas More plays host to Cumberland (Tenn.) at 7 p.m. Friday at the Connor Convocation Center. Cumberland is 11-6 overall, 3-1 in the Mid-South Conference.

TMU WOMEN’S SOCCER VICTORIOUS: The Thomas More women’s soccer team defeated Cincinnati Christian, 3-0, on Saturday night at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills.

Olivia Nienaber scored a pair of goals for Thomas More, which improved to 6-3. The Saints play host to Asbury on Monday at 7 p.m.

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


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