HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The RMU volleyball team secured one of its biggest victories of the 2026 season Friday night, knocking off second-place Northern Kentucky in a five-set thriller, 3-2, at Regents Hall.
The Colonials (4-16, 2-7 #HLVB) handed the Norse (13-8, 8-2 #HLVB) just their second Horizon League loss of the season. Northern Kentucky entered Friday's match sitting second in the conference standings with an 8-1 league record.
RMU opened the match with a 25-19 victory before Northern Kentucky responded by taking the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-18. Facing a 2-1 deficit, the Colonials battled back to capture the fourth frame, 25-23, before completing the road upset with a 15-13 victory in the decisive fifth set.
Freshman Lauren Decker powered the RMU attack with a match-high 22 kills while adding 18 digs for a double-double. Layla Todd also recorded a double-double, finishing with 14 kills and a career-high 24 digs, while Keira Hornung turned in an efficient performance with 11 kills on a .391 hitting percentage and a team-high eight blocks.
Setter Kenlee Barnard directed the Colonials' offense with 49 assists while adding 16 digs, four service aces and three blocks. Defensively, Anahi Alvarado anchored the back row with a match-high 34 digs.
As a team, RMU finished with 111 digs compared to 101 for Northern Kentucky while also holding advantages in kills (62-53), assists (58-47) and service aces (8-5).
HOW IT HAPPENED
RMU set the tone from the opening serve, using a strong finish to take control of the first set.
With the score even at 12-12, Decker delivered consecutive kills before a Barnard-Hornung block pushed the Colonials in front. RMU continued to build momentum from there, eventually extending its advantage to 21-13.
The Norse attempted to close the gap late, but Hornung put the finishing touch on the frame with a kill to secure a 25-19 RMU victory.
The Colonials' offense registered 18 kills in the opening set while their defense held Northern Kentucky to just eight kills and a .043 hitting percentage.
Northern Kentucky responded in the second frame, using a mid-set run to create separation before evening the match with a 25-20 victory. The Norse carried that momentum into the third set, pulling away late for a 25-18 decision and a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Facing a must-win fourth set, the Colonials answered.
After Northern Kentucky scored the first two points of the frame, RMU responded by winning seven of the next eight to surge ahead, 7-3. Barnard provided a spark from the service line with a pair of aces during the stretch, while Hornung and Decker combined for a block.
RMU continued to control the frame and eventually built its largest advantage at 20-12, putting the Colonials five points away from forcing a deciding set.
Northern Kentucky refused to go quietly.
The Norse chipped away at the eight-point deficit and eventually pulled within one at 24-23. With NKU threatening to erase RMU's advantage, Decker delivered when the Colonials needed her most, putting down the set-clinching kill for a 25-23 victory and forcing a fifth frame.
The deciding set was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, featuring nine ties as neither side could establish significant separation.
RMU moved ahead, 8-7, following a service ace from Maddie Siphakongviseth, but Northern Kentucky answered and eventually grabbed an 11-10 advantage.
Decker responded with a kill to even the score at 11-11 before Hornung followed with another to put RMU back in front, 12-11. After the Norse tied the frame once again, Decker came through with another kill to give the Colonials a 13-12 edge.
Barnard then stepped to the service line and delivered an ace, giving RMU match point at 14-12.
Northern Kentucky fought off the Colonials' first opportunity, but Decker made sure there would not be another.
The freshman put down her match-high 22nd kill of the night to seal a 15-13 fifth-set victory, completing the comeback and giving RMU its second Horizon League win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Lauren Decker paced the Colonials with a match-high 22 kills while adding 18 digs, three blocks and a service ace for her double-double.
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Layla Todd registered 14 kills and a career-high 24 digs, also recording a double-double.
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Keira Hornung finished with 11 kills on 23 attacks with just two errors, posting a match-best .391 hitting percentage while adding a team-high eight blocks.
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Kenlee Barnard filled the stat sheet with 49 assists, 16 digs, four service aces and three blocks.
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Anahi Alvarado led all players with 34 digs.
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Five Colonials reached double figures in digs as RMU accumulated 111 digs as a team.
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RMU held Northern Kentucky to a .141 hitting percentage for the match.
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The Colonials finished with advantages in kills (62-53), assists (58-47) and service aces (8-5).
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RMU totaled 62 kills, 58 assists, eight aces, 10 blocks and 111 digs.
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The victory improved RMU to 4-16 overall and 2-7 in Horizon League play, while Northern Kentucky fell to 13-8 overall and 8-2 in conference action.
UP NEXT
RMU continues its Horizon League road swing Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Colonials travel to Wright State. The match will wrap up a two-match weekend in the Buckeye State for RMU.
