HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - IUPUI freshman
Briana Brown had a solid showing with a team-high 10 kills and 11 digs, but it wasn't enough as the Jaguars fell in straight sets to Northern Kentucky on Saturday (Oct. 9), 25-17, 25-17, 25-15. NKU hit an efficient .287 and got a game-high 12 kills from Anna Brinkmann to outpace the Jaguars.
Brown put down six of her 10 kills in the opening set, but had little help from the rest of the offense. IUPUI (2-17, 0-8 HL) stayed close early on until the hosts got some breathing room on three straight points to build a 12-6 advantage. IUPUI fought back within five, but NKU came up with crucial side outs time after time. After IUPUI clawed back to 20-15, the Norse slammed the door on way to a 25-17 win.
Brown put home six of her 11 swings in the first set, but the rest of the squad accounted for just three kills on 22 attempts with eight errors.
The second set saw NKU (9-6, 5-1 HL) surge out to 5-1 and 9-4 leads before putting additional distance with four straight points to make it 16-6 before coasting to the win. IUPUI got multiple kills from four offensive sources, but still struggled with errors. On the other side, Brinkmann powered down seven kills and helped NKU hit .308 in the second.
Like the first two sets, NKU built a quick lead in the third and never looked back. The Norse led 6-2 and 11-5 before
Millai Madison came up with a kill to pause the host's momentum. Brown helped IUPUI pull within six with a kill off the NKU block at 14-8, but the Jags committed a service error on the ensuing point.
While the Jags defense showed life in the third with 15 digs and three blocks, the offense sputtered to it's worst showing of the three sets.
Maddie Haines chimed in with seven kills and
Brooke Phillips closed with 20 assists. Brown recorded her seventh kills-digs double-double of the season on Saturday and freshman
Addie Evans added nine digs.
IUPUI will return home to host Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6:00 p.m. in The Jungle. In addition, that contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
