In the first set, the Norse came out strong, winning seven consecutive points before a serving error finally put Cleveland on the board. From there, NKU dominated behind the offensive power of Sydney Bray and Allison Risley. Cleveland never found a way to close that gap and fell further behind. NKU secured the opening set with a remarkable 25-9 lead, sealed by a Viking serving mistake.

The second set was a completely different story. Both teams traded points in a tightly contested battle. Cleveland State ultimately pulled away, tying the match with a 25–16 win. For a moment, it looked like the game might turn into a back-and-forth contest.

But the Norse quickly found their rhythm. NKU stormed through the third set with a commanding 25–12 victory and carried that momentum into the fourth, finishing off Cleveland State 25–11. Fittingly, the final point came on another Viking serving error.

Sydney Bray led the way for NKU with a standout double-double performance: 16 kills and 15 digs while hitting an impressive .538. Freshman setter Abby Pickard also played a key role, providing 36 assists.

Statistically, NKU controlled every category. The Norse posted 47 kills compared to Cleveland State’s 29, committed fewer errors, hit at more than four times the Vikings’ percentage, and held a 7–1 advantage in service aces. Risley was particularly effective, delivering four aces.

With this dominant win, NKU improves its record to 5–7 on the season, setting a strong foundation for the upcoming stretch of matches.