De Pere – In the opening match of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference season, the St. Norbert College women’s volleyball team delivered a commanding sweep of Marian University at the Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.
Dominant start sets the tone
The Green Knights never fell behind, taking an early 4-1 lead in the first set and quickly expanding the margin to 12-4, highlighted by four consecutive kills from senior outside hitter Alli Clark. St. Norbert built a 22-12 advantage before closing the set 25-16.
Second set expands the lead
St. Norbert opened the second set with a 6-0 run, eventually stretching the lead to 19-9. The Sabres struggled to respond, and the Green Knights secured the set 25-12, taking a 2-0 match lead.
Closing out the third set
In the third set, the Green Knights surged ahead 10-3 and maintained control despite a brief Marian rally that narrowed the gap to 15-12. A decisive five‑point run, featuring two kills from junior Anna Kudick, pushed the score to 20-12. St. Norbert sealed the match with a final kill by Brooklyn O’Malley, winning 25-20.
Statistical highlights
St. Norbert posted a .330 hitting percentage, recording 36 kills on 100 attempts with only three errors. Clark and junior Kirsten Klatt each contributed eight kills, while Kudick and senior Annabel Stevenson added seven apiece. Setter Keira Ashenfelter tallied 27 assists, and the team recorded six service aces, two of which came from Clark.
Defensively, junior Maddie Kitowski led the back‑row with 11 digs, followed closely by Kudick with 10 and both Clark and Ashenfelter with nine each. Klatt contributed five blocks, including three solo blocks.
Marian’s effort
Marian University managed a .067 hitting percentage, with 34 kills on 120 attempts and 26 errors. Freshman Khloe Walling led the Sabres with a match‑high 10 kills, but the team could not overcome the Green Knights’ early momentum.
The victory positions St. Norbert strongly as they begin conference play, reflecting the depth and preparation of the program under head coach John Doe (name placeholder). Fans can look forward to upcoming matchups as the Green Knights aim to continue their winning trajectory this season.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
