The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team has consistently been in contention for the league championship since entering the Horizon League in 2015.
The Norse (18-13) headed north Sunday hoping to bring home the gold after losing in the title game to the University of Illinois at Chicago last year. NKU gave a good effort, but could not stop the run of the rival Wright State Raiders in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23) loss. Wright State (28-3) has won 23 games in a row completing a second undefeated run through the Horizon League regular season and tournament in three years.
Both teams made 16 hitting errors. But Wright State had 131 attempts to 109 for Northern Kentucky resulting in 49 kills to 34 for the visitors and hitting percentages of .252 and .165 respectively. Fifth-year senior libero and the Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player Jenna Story made the difference for Wright State with 19 digs.
“The atmosphere was crazy. It was a huge stage,” said Liz Hart, NKU head coach. “Once we got into rhythm, we were able to get some things going. Wright State has five solid hitters and you can’t forget Jenna Story in the back.”
Northern Kentucky had 53 digs, 34 assists, one ace and nine blocks to 48 digs, 45 assists, six aces and seven blocks for Wright State. Graduate student outside hitter Anna Brinkmann and middle blocker Abby Kanakry made the all-tournament team. Brinkmann had 13 digs, one ace and seven kills with Kanakry recording 10 kills and two blocks.
“This team has meant everything to me. I’ll never forget it,” Brinkmann said. “We worked hard to get here. Wright State just has a great team.”
A number of Norse contributed in the losing effort. Junior outside hitter Skyy Smith had seven kills and three blocks and junior setter Katy Yopko had 15 assists and 11 digs.
Senior right side hitter Callie Martin and junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Sam Ott earned all-tournament team honors for Wright State. Martin had 12 digs and seven kills with Ott recording 13 kills.
Fifth-year starting setter Lainey Stephenson, a 2018 Notre Dame Academy graduate, could not play because of an injury for the Raiders. But senior setter Katie Meyer continued her solid play with 40 assists.
The Norse have made it to the tournament semifinals in all eight seasons in the Horizon League, advancing to the championship game four times in the last five years. They won it in 2019 before losing to the University of Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.