Northern Kentucky's volleyball team showed resilience but ultimately fell to Green Bay in a five-set match. After a three-set loss on Friday night, the Norse returned stronger for the Saturday afternoon rematch. They managed to secure sets two and three, but Green Bay rallied back in the fourth set and secured the victory.
The final score was Northern Kentucky 2, Green Bay 3 at the Kress Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This result brought Northern Kentucky's record to 9-16 overall and 5-9 in the Horizon League, while Green Bay improved to 11-15 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Three players from Northern Kentucky achieved double-digit kills. Sydney Bray led with 15 kills and a hitting percentage of .364. Allison Risley and Joy Banks both recorded double-doubles; Risley had 14 kills and 14 digs, while Banks contributed 13 kills and 14 digs. The setters Lainey Green and Torie Houston provided significant support with 24 and 19 assists respectively.
Defensively, Northern Kentucky totaled nine blocks and accumulated 81 digs. Allie Siefke was notable for her blocking efforts with five assists, while Lucy Cluxton led all players with a match-high of 25 digs.
In the first set, Northern Kentucky started strong with an early lead but lost momentum as Green Bay responded with an eight-point run to take the set. In set two, NKU overcame a tie at 19 points by going on a four-point run to win it. They carried this momentum into the third set, achieving a .300 hitting percentage for consecutive set victories. However, Green Bay dominated the fourth set with an early lead that forced a decisive fifth set where they maintained control throughout.
Looking ahead, Northern Kentucky will conclude their regular season with four home matches beginning against Oakland on Friday, November 8.
Fans can keep up with Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's volleyball team through their social media channels: @NKUNorseVB on X (formerly Twitter), @NKUNorseVBall on Instagram, nkunorsevball on Facebook, and their YouTube channel NKU Norse.