GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay volleyball team dropped a Horizon League matchup to Northern Kentucky in straight sets Saturday afternoon at the Kress Events Center, falling 25-20, 25-15, 25-19. Saturday was Senior Day at the Kress, and the Phoenix volleyball program recognized Kendall Schara and Kennedy Schmitz for all their contributions to Green Bay volleyball during postgame.
The Phoenix (15-10, 8-6 Horizon League) battled throughout the afternoon but could not slow an efficient Norse attack that hit .301 in the match while committing just six attack errors.
Offensively, Diane Pichelman, Kayla Birmingham and Gillian Koning paced Green Bay with eight kills apiece. Olivia Neumann chipped in five kills on a team-best .385 hitting percentage, and Alexa Hernandez directed the offense with 31 assists and three service aces.
Defensively, libero Macy Kline led all Phoenix players with 22 digs, while Kennedy Schmitz collected eight digs and Schara added seven. Green Bay finished with 53 team digs and five aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The opening set was tightly contested early, with the teams tied at 3-3 before Northern Kentucky used a 12-6 stretch to build a 15-9 advantage. Green Bay mounted a late push behind three consecutive service aces from Hernandez that trimmed the deficit to 23-20, but the Norse closed out the frame for a 25-20 win.
SET 2 | Northern Kentucky seized control early in the second set, racing to a 9-2 lead and never allowing the Phoenix to get closer than six points the rest of the way. Green Bay found points from Koning, Birmingham and Pichelman, but could not overcome the early deficit in a 25-15 set loss.
SET 3 | The Phoenix showed fight in the third set and stayed within striking distance for much of the frame. Consecutive points midway through the set pulled Green Bay within 14-12, and late kills from Pichelman helped cut the margin to 24-19. However, the Norse recorded the final point to secure the sweep.
GAME NOTES
» NKU outhit GB .301 to .138.
» NLU finished with 67 digs to GB's 53.
» Saturday was the seventh time Kline has finished with 20+ digs.
UP NEXT
GB will look to bounce back when they close out the regular season at Youngstown State and Robert Morris next weekend.
The Phoenix will be battling for postseason positioning heading into the Horizon League Championships. For more information, click HERE.
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