Eagles Stumble in Crossover Opener

ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ashland volleyball team got off to a rough start at the GLIAC-GLVC Crossover Tournament in Aurora, Ill., falling to Northern Kentucky in straight sets, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23.

The Eagles (11-7, 6-5 GLIAC) struggled offensively, putting together a .077 hitting percentage in the three sets.

Ashland fell behind early in the first set and trailed, 23-15, before reeling off six of the next seven points to make it 24-21, but the Norse got a kill by Shelby Buschur to close the set.

The Eagles led, 12-11, in the second set, but couldn't close as Northern Kentucky went on an 11-2 run to take a 22-14 lead it wouldn't relinquish.

AU led 22-21 in the third set after a kill by senior Sophie Paddock (Girard, Ohio/Hubbard), but the Norse scored four of the last five points of the match to secure the win.

Sophomore Brittany Snider (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) led the Eagles with seven kills, while Paddock and junior Anesia Benton (Lima, Ohio/Senior) contributed five kills apiece.

Junior Arian Martin (Independence, Ohio) finished with a match-high 14 digs and sophomore Crystal Elliott (Canal Winchester, Ohio) had 17 assists.

The Norse (15-8) hit .263 for the match and had 40 kills as a team, led by Jenn Schreiver, who had nine. Buschur hit .429 with six kills and Katie Sommer had four kills in seven attacks with no errors.

The Eagles won't have much time to stew over the loss as they will take the court later Friday (Oct. 15) at 5:30 p.m.

AU

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