NKU takes on Grand Valley State at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Hillsdale, Mich.
Official Midwest Regional Web site link
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team plays Grand Valley State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Hillsdale, Mich.
NKU enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 20-13 overall record and is the No. 7 seed. The Norse, who finished fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings, earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in the program's history.
Grand Valley State enters the NCAA Tournament with a 23-6 overall record and is the No. 2 seed. The Lakers finished as runner-up in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament last Sunday, dropping a five-set decision at Hillsdale.
NEARING 1,000: NKU junior outside hitter
Noelle Peterson enters the NCAA Tournament with 969 career kills. She is looking to become the 14th player in Norse history to reach 1,000 career kills.
NCAA HISTORY: NKU has participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament nine previous times (1981, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '07 and '08). NKU won regional championships in both 1998 and '99. The Norse advanced to the national semifinals in '99 before losing to eventual national champion BYU-Hawaii.
In its most recent appearance in 2008, NKU swept past Lewis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Allendale, Mich. The Norse then dropped a five-set decision to Saginaw Valley State in the regional semifinals.
In 2003, NKU advanced to the regional championship match with wins against Findlay and previously unbeaten Northern Michigan at Marquette, Mich. The Norse then lost to Grand Valley State in the regional championship.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST GVSU: Earlier this season on Oct. 15, Grand Valley State swept past NKU in three sets at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover in Aurora, Ill. The Lakers won that match by scores of 25-21, 25-13, 25-20. NKU hit just .054 in that match.
Sarah Drennen led the Norse with nine kills.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Grand Valley State owns a 21-4 advantage against NKU in the all-time series. The Lakers have beaten the Norse five consecutive times.
NKU's last win against Grand Valley State occurred on Sept. 12, 2003, when the Norse pulled out a five-set thriller in Regents Hall by scores of 30-25, 30-20, 24-30, 24-30, 17-15.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for this weekend's NCAA Tournament will be $10 for adults and $3 for students. Those prices will get those fans into all matches for one day of competition. There will be no weekend passes for sale. Fans who want to attend multiple days of competition will have to buy a new ticket on the second day, and another new one on the third day.
