The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women’s volleyball team swept the Owls of UMaine-Presque Isle winning 3-0 in a North Atlantic Conference match on Saturday morning. The Badgers improve to 11-9 overall and 3-0 in conference play with the win.

Nikola Knapova and Lauren Havill led the Badgers with nine kills each. Ashley Emery contributed eight kills and eight digs of her own. Mason Lores earned 30 assists in the match and Knapova tallied 14 digs.
NVU-Johnson opened the first set with an early 6-4 lead before a series of errors let the Owls gain a one point advantage. Down 22-20, the Badgers fought back to win three straight points including a kill by Knapova to steal a 23-22 lead. Back to back kills by Knapova and Aleesia Smith captured the win for NVU-Johnson in the first set by a score of 25-23.

Johnson controlled the first half of the match, running away with an early 13-5 lead with four Badgers contributing kills in the effort. The Owls bounced back to earn six straight points to cut the Badgers lead to two points. Two service aces, a kill, and an assist by Aleesia Smith pushed NVU-Johnson’s lead and they never looked back winning the second set 25-18. The Owls kept the score close throughout the third set but they were unable to close the gap as the Badgers sealed the match victory by a score of 25-20 in the final set.