HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – In their first match at Regents Hall this season, the Golden Grizzlies battled hard but fell to the Northern Kentucky Norse in three sets.
SET ONE: OAKLAND 16, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 25
At the start of the first set of the evening, the Norse quickly got ahead of the Golden Grizzlies, scoring the set's first six points. Although Libby Smith responded to the run with a kill, Northern Kentucky answered right back.
Halfway through the first set, the Norse continued to build a stifling lead over the Golden Grizzlies, going on a 5-0 run to make the score 12-1 in favor of Northern Kentucky. Gentry Brown broke up the run with a kill, and Oakland and Northern Kentucky started to trade points.
Although the Golden Grizzlies started to close the gap with some attacking play from Ainsley Guse and Tyler Linkhart that sparked a run, the Norse's hot start to the set was too much for Oakland to overcome as Northern Kentucky took set one.
SET TWO: OAKLAND 15, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 25
The Golden Grizzlies got off to a much better start in set two. After the Norse took the early lead, Oakland responded with two back-to-back kills from Smith and Linkhart to tie things up, staging the scene for a competitive second set.
With the Golden Grizzlies and Norse in a stalemate to start the second set, the Norse began to pull away midway through. A kill from Joy Banks shifted the momentum towards Northern Kentucky's side, as they led Oakland, 16-8.
Despite the once-comfortable lead the Norse had built, the Golden Grizzlies slowly started to chip into the lead as the set two progressed. A Linkhart kill jumpstarted a 6-1 Oakland run, bringing the Golden Grizzlies within three points of the Norse.
Even though Oakland came close to taking the lead back, the Norse remained in the driver's seat the rest of the set, scoring six-straight points to claim the second set of the evening.
SET THREE: OAKLAND 11, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 25
In the match's third set, the Golden Grizzlies and the Norse were neck-and-neck at the start. However, Northern Kentucky quickly took control of the set, scoring eight consecutive points to break the gridlock.
Oakland was able to piece together a run of their own, responding with three-straight points highlighted by a block from Rachel Rossman and Guse, but the Norse regained control of the set shortly after, expanding on their lead.
With another large deficit to make up for, the Golden Grizzlies let the Norse get the better of them in the third and final set, resulting in a hard-fought loss.
At the end of the match, Linkhart led the Golden Grizzlies in kills with six, while Rossman had a team-high 15 assists and three blocks. Additionally, Emily Wichmann led the team in digs, tallying ten.
Up next, the Golden Grizzlies will look to get back on track with a rematch against the Norse tomorrow at Regents Hall. The first serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and the game will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
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