MILWAUKEE – In yet another nailbiter matchup, it was the Northern Kentucky Norse who narrowly escaped with a three set win on Saturday afternoon, winning 25-23, 25-22, and 25-23 over the Milwaukee Panthers.
 
Milwaukee was led by Josie Noble, who picked up 11 kills and four blocks, while Bella Lipski had another strong performance with 10 kills and four blocks. Ella Schuetz had nine kills and eight digs, with Kara Erdmann leading the way with 20 digs in the loss.
 
Sydney Bray led Northern Kentucky with 15 kills, and Allison Risley had 14. Abbigail Pickard dished out 38 assists and was a dig short of a double-double, while Risley led the team with 15 digs followed by libero Lucy Cluxton with 13.
 
"Matches don't get much closer than that," noted head coach Susie Johnson. "We had a great response today after last night's loss and competed at a high level against a very good Northern Kentucky team."
 
In set one, the Norse led 6-2 and did not allow the Panthers to even the score despite regular pushbacks by Milwaukee. The Panthers were able to get within one on several occasions including at 6-5, 13-12, 14-13, 19-18, and 24-23, but NKU was able to get the final kill to win the set by two.
 
The second set saw a similar blueprint to the first with an early Northern Kentucky lead. Ultimately, the Panthers were able to even the mark at 18 apiece and led 21-20. However, the Norse scored the next four to take a 24-21 lead and eventually won 25-22.
 
Northern Kentucky led 17-13 midway through the third before Milwaukee responded with seven unanswered points to take a three-point lead. After two points from the Norse, Milwaukee got a kill from Schuetz to make it 21-19. NKU then fought back and scored four of the next five to lead 23-22, before Schuetz tied it again at 23. The road team eventually won with back-to-back kills to complete the sweep.
 
"We need to learn to execute in big moments," Johnson added. "That will make a big difference for this young team."
 
The match saw a total of 12 lead changes and five ties throughout, as many team statistical categories were relatively close in comparison. NKU led in kills (46-41), assists (45-38), aces (5-3), digs (57-52), while Milwaukee led 10-6 in blocks.
 
Milwaukee will look to regroup and return to action on Friday as the team heads to Ohio to take on Wright State. The first match will begin at 5:00 p.m. (CT) inside CJ McLin Gymnasium.