Northern Kentucky University women’s volleyball hosted the back-to-back defending Horizon League champions Wright State on Tuesday evening for the “Battle of I-75.” 

Before the game, Northern Kentucky honored Torie Houston for hitting the 1,000-assist mark as a Norse and Joy Banks for 1,000 career kills. 

The Norse came out competitive to start the game, as points flew back and forth until the Norse had three kills in a row to take the 12-9 lead. Directly after, a service error by Lainey Green started a 7-1 run for the Raiders. 

The Raiders would keep the lead the rest of the set until a kill by the Raiders’ Haley Robinson ended the first set, with Wright State taking it 25-19.

The second set started out promising for the Norse, as a kill by Joy Banks ignited a 5-0 run for the Norse and delivered them a 7-3 lead. The Raiders then had a dominating comeback, as a kill by Raiders’ Mya Ayro started a 18-2 run that would end the set 25-12. 

Throughout the set, the Norse struggled offensively, with only five kills and six errors, and a -.036 hit percentage, allowing the Raiders to take the set with ease. 

The Raiders would start the next set up 2-0, and a kill by Sydney Bray would start the back and forth trade of points; however, the Norse could never take the lead. As NKU trailed 19-14, two kills by Joy Banks and two attack errors would leave them only trailing by one, 19-18. The Raiders were able to hold off the Norse, however, and a kill by Raider Reilly Zegunis would end the set 25-21. Wright State would take the 3-0 sweep over the Norse. 

The Norse struggled offensively, hitting .155 compared to Wright State’s .306, and the Raiders would dominate in kills 46-35. 

Joy Banks would lead the Norse with 16 kills, recording more than 10 for the ninth game in a row. Lucy Cluxton would lead with 17 digs, Allie Siefke with three blocks and Lainey Green with 13 assists. 

With a 3-0 win, the Raiders climb to 11-1 in conference play, 19-4 overall. The Norse fall to 5-7 in conference play, 9-14 overall. 

The Norse will travel to Wisconsin to take on Green Bay Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., followed by a second match on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m., as the Norse look to bounce back after a four-game losing streak.