TULSA, Okla. -- Northeastern State volleyball made its debut against outside competition Monday evening, taking a set from Oral Roberts in a 3-1 exhibition match at the Mabee Center.
The exhibition marked the first on-court action against another program for the RiverHawks, who are entering their inaugural season as an NCAA volleyball program. NSU fell 25-22, 25-17, 17-25, 25-14, but battled throughout the opening set and earned its first set victory in the third.
NSU came out strong in the first set, jumping to a 9-4 advantage behind a pair of service aces from
Tiyana Bhatte and early attacking errors by Oral Roberts. The Golden Eagles responded with an 8-0 run to take a 12-9 lead, but the RiverHawks continued to compete and remained within reach before ORU secured the 25-22 win.
After Oral Roberts took the second set, NSU answered in the third.
The RiverHawks opened the frame with a 9-0 run and never trailed. Bhatte's serving helped spark the early surge, while
Poliana Lazarini contributed a pair of kills during the opening stretch. NSU maintained its advantage throughout the set and closed out the 25-17 victory, giving the program its first set win against another collegiate team.
Lazarini led the RiverHawks with nine kills and 10.5 points, while
Paige Miller added eight kills and 12 points. Bhatte finished with nine assists, three service aces and nine digs.
Sydney Dunkleberger recorded a team-high 11 assists, while Lazarini and
Jordyn Berger each posted nine digs.
NSU finished the exhibition with 30 kills, 27 assists, 47 digs and seven blocks.
The RiverHawks return to action Friday, Aug. 28, in Joplin, Missouri, for their next matches.
