ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland University volleyball program concluded its regular season with a four-set loss to Northern Kentucky (25-22, 26-28, 13-25, 19-25) on Saturday afternoon inside the Athletics Center O'rena. 

As a team, the Golden Grizzlies (15-14, 9-9 HL) led the match with 11 blocks and added eight service aces. Senior Kerra Cornist controlled the net with a team-leading seven blocks, while redshirt freshman Anna Nie ranked second on the team with four stuffs. Junior Haley Brown tallied a career-high three aces. 

Oakland featured a balanced attack, as three individuals finished with six or more kills. Redshirt freshman Patti Cesarini totaled a team-high 11 kills, while senior Brittany Welch was close behind with eight spikes. 

Senior Jessica Riedl had an all-around performance with a team-high 14 assists, eight digs, and three blocks. Redshirt freshman Kennedy Dolmage impressed with 12 digs and added eight digs. Fifth-year senior Lindsay Wightman had a team-best 18 digs.

Oakland opened the Horizon League contest with a comeback 25-22 set victory. The Golden Grizzlies trailed 21-17 in the period but responded with an 8-1 run to finish on top. Five different Golden Grizzlies had blocks in the set, resulting in a total of eight block assists. Offensively, Cesarini had three kills on eight tries. 

OU led for most of the following set, finding itself with a late 21-17 advantage. However, the Norse answered back by tying the match at 24-all. The teams went back-and-forth before NKU ultimately won 28-26. 

Northern Kentucky proceeded to take the following two sets to clinch a four-set decision. In the fourth frame, Oakland trailed by one, 16-15, but the Norse then went on a 4-0 run, which was too much for the Golden Grizzlies to overcome. 

The Golden Grizzlies will turn their focus to the Horizon League Championship quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 19, at the conference's top seed site. 

Highlights