Thursday’s huge win against Xavier
NKU women’s volleyball kicked off a huge weekend of the Groen Family McDonald’s Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 19 with a showdown versus the Xavier Musketeers.
The Norse played the first game of the weekend in front of a packed house in Regents Hall against their regional rivals Xavier. The first set was a battle, with both teams trading points back and forth with the biggest lead just being two points. The Norse won the first set 26-24 by a service ace from Allison Risley, while also holding Xavier to a .132 hitting percentage.
The second set was no different with another hard fought set coming down to the wire. The Norse jumped out to a fast start thanks to Joy Banks setting the tone with a hard spike leading to the kill. The Norse led 4-0 at the start of the game and the lead grew to 16-12, but the Musketeers kept pushing the Norse to their limits with a huge comeback, making the game 17-17. The Norse kept fighting, getting to a lead of just two points coming down the stretch 24-22. The Musketeers made it 24-23, but an attack error from Xavier’s Sarah Stevens got the win for the Norse, taking the second set 25-23, hitting .237 percent with 15 kills going up 2-0.
The third set proved to be a struggle for the Norse, getting dominated and losing 25-7. The Norse couldn’t get into a rhythm and the Musketeers shot down the lead, with NKU still leading 2-1.
The fourth set was better for the Norse, as they jumped out to an early 3-1 lead. Both teams would trade points with neither team taking a huge leap, and with each team only leading by two points. The Norse jumped out to a three point lead being up 16-13, but again the Musketeers climbed straight back going on a 5-0 run making the game 18-16 in Xavier’s favor. NKU battled down the stretch but another huge run from the Musketeers sealed the Norse’s fate, going on a 5-0 run to win the set 25-19 and tying the game 2-2.
The fifth set was a thriller, with the Musketeers jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. Xavier continued to 7-5 with the Norse turning the tide, tying the game up 7-7 from a kill from Allison Risley. The Norse went on 4-1 run, making the game 11-8 with two kills from Joy Banks and Ava Hoying. The Norse would rally points back and forth with Xavier, but the Norse had a 14-13 lead. The Musketeers had the serve, however with an attack from Xavier’s Margo Kemp, the ball was blocked by Allie Siefke and Sydney Bray. This led to an attacking error, winning the set 15-13 and the game 3-2. NKU won the set with a hitting percentage of .314 and 14 kills on 35 attempts
Joy Banks posted a career-best day defensively with 28 digs, leading all players in the match. Banks also added 14 kills, three service aces and a pair of blocks. Hoying had her best night of the season with 16 kills, leading all players. Lucy Cluxton’s 18 digs marked her ninth straight match with 10+ digs. Risley added 14 kills, tying Banks for second on the team.
Saturday’s dominating performance over Miami (OH)
The Norse closed out the Groen Family McDonald’s Invitational and finished off non-conference play on Saturday, Sept. 21. NKU played in front of a huge crowd at Regents Hall with over 625 fans in attendance to watch them face off against the Miami (OH) RedHawks.
The fist set started with a rally, no team could jump out to an early lead until the RedHawks went on a 4-0 run going up 6-4. The Norse fought right back, tying up the game 6-6 with a kill from Hoying. The teams kept fighting until it was a tie game 16-16. The Norse would have a serving error, making them down by one point 17-16, but the Norse went on a 6-0 run making the score now 21-17. NKU had a 24-20 lead heading into match point, but the RedHawks would respond with a kill making it 24-21. However, Hoying had a different idea with a set up from Torie Houston, Hoying spiked the ball leading to a huge kill to finish the set 25-21. The Norse would take a 1-0 lead.
The second set was no different for the Norse, jumping out to an early 7-4 lead with help from multiple attack errors from the RedHawks. Miami would cut into NKU’s lead and would instead tie the game 8-8. With each team going on little runs themselves, this game found itself tied again at 12-12. The Norse would go on a 4-0 run with two kills from Joy Banks, climbing back up to 16-12. The game would get as close at two points with the Norse leading 23-21. NKU would go up 24-21 with a kill from Allie Siefke that led into the match point. The Norse would win the set 25-21 by a team service ace. The Norse took a 2-0 lead.
The third set was dominated by NKU, going up 5-2 early and never looking back. The RedHawks didn’t lead one time throughout the whole set. The Norse won the set 25-14 while aso hitting a .345 percent in the set, the highest rate they’ve posted in a set this season. The Norse also kept the RedHawks under a .071 hitting percentage.
NKU battled offensively with an efficient attack, finishing the match with a .260 hitting percentage as a team. Banks continued her dominant start to the season with another double-double, her fourth in a row and sixth of the season. Cluxton’s 13 digs marked her 10th straight match with 10 plus digs. Bray led in kills with 11. The Norse finished with five blocks, led by Ivey Stocks’ three rejections. Lainey Green had the most assists for the Norse with 22 and zero errors.
NKU won the Groen Family McDonald’s Invitational going undefeated. The women will hit the road next weekend to begin playing Horizon League matchups with a trip to Cleveland State on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28.