DE PERE - St. Norbert College took No. 15-ranked Aurora University to four sets but succumbed in a close 3-1 setback in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener for both teams at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights fell to the Spartans by a 25-18, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22 decision.

St. Norbert battled Aurora throughout the first set, trailing 18-15 and 21-18 before the visitors took a 1-0 lead with a 4-0 closing run. The Green Knights immediately responded in Set 2, taking a 6-1 lead out of the gate and built advantages of 13-5 and 16-8. Aurora drew within two points twice but St. Norbert leveled the match 1-1 on a Barry Applewhite kill.

The Green Knights and Spartans were tied 11-11 in Set 3 before Aurora took a small lead until it was retied at 21-21. The Spartans then scored the next two points and were able to close out the win and take a 2-1 lead. The fourth set was also closely fought, with the score tied 12-12. Aurora then pulled ahead again with a small lead before the Green Knights got to within two at 22-20 and 24-22 before Aurora closed out the match.

St. Norbert hit .148 for the match with 44 kills and 25 errors in 128 attempts. Jacob Van Ooyen had a team-high 13 kills, while Kade Nelson (pictured) had 10 kills with no errors in 16 attempts. Michael Whitney finished with 41 assists.

Ryan Da Silva led the back row with nine digs, while Ryan Conway and Zach Hanse had seven each. Applewhite had three blocks, with Nelson and Noah Cullen adding two each.

Aurora hit .291, with 54 kills with 20 errors in 117 attempts. Josh McLellan had a match-high 15 kills.