NORTHFIELD, VT. – The senior duo of outside hitter Ivana Batur (Zagreb, Croatia) and middle hitter April Byllaardt (Stormville, N.Y.) combined for 11 of Norwich University's 19 kills in a three-game loss to NCAA Division II St. Michael's Sept. 6.

Byllaardt, topping the Maroon and Gold in attacks for the second straight match, finished with six kills and a .333 attack percentage to go with three service aces. Batur contributed five kills and two solo blocks. Freshman outside hitter Alex Palmer (South Windsor, Conn.) registered a team-high 14 digs.

Norwich (3-2) rallied back, after dropping the first game 25-14, and pulled with one at 24-23 before a service error ended game two. Coach Amanda Cuiffo's team held the lead at two stages early in game three before the Purple Knights (2-3) compiled a big point streak midway through for the 25-18 decision.

The Cadets open the 2011 Great Northeast Athletic Conference slate Saturday, Sept. 10, with matches at Suffolk College against the Rams and the Sharks of Simmons College. Norwich faces Suffolk at 12 p.m. and Simmons at 2 p.m.