Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team returns home for a key weekend of Great Lakes Valley Conference action this weekend, beginning Friday night when Drury visits Regents Hall for a 7 p.m. showdown.

NKU also plays host to Rockhurst at 3 p.m. Saturday. Both matches can be heard live on the Internet at www.nkunorse.com.

Drury enters Friday with a 14-5 overall record, and the Panthers are 3-1 in the GLVC. Rockhurst is currently 13-2 overall, 3-1 in the GLVC.

NKU enters the weekend with a 9-7 overall record, and the Norse are 2-1 in the GLVC. Sarah Drennen hammered down 15 kills and recorded 13 digs to lead NKU to a 25-15, 25-16, 18-25, 25-14 win against Maryville on Saturday. Drennen also attacked at a .379 clip. Noelle Peterson added 11 kills and hit .455 for the Norse.

NKU attacked at a .299 clip for the match as setter Kelly Morrissey dished out 36 assists and added five kills. Kylee Tarantino continued her outstanding play in the back row by collecting 22 digs.

NKU later posted a 25-16, 25-23, 25-16 win against William Jewell in a non-conference match. Peterson led NKU with 10 kills and hit .500. Tarantino added 20 digs for the Norse, who limited William Jewell to a .069 hitting percentage. Anna Prickel finished with 12 digs for NKU.

GLVC LEADERS: NKU's Shelby Buschur leads the GLVC in kills per set at 3.84. Norse setter Jenna Schreiver is No. 1 in the GLVC in assists per set at 10.75.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST DRURY: On Oct. 3, 2009, Kim Nemcek recorded 17 kills and hit .484 to lead NKU to a four-set triumph over Drury at Springfield, Mo.

NKU pulled out the match by scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23. Noelle Peterson added 16 kills for NKU, while teammate Sarah Drennen collected 15 kills. The Norse rallied from a 21-18 deficit in the fourth set with a 7-2 run to end the match. Nemcek hammered down two kills during the match-ending run.

Jenna Schreiver directed the NKU offense to a .300 hitting percentage and finished with 45 assists.

NKU is 5-1 all-time against Drury. The Norse are 2-0 against the Panthers in Regents Hall, 2-1 at Springfield, Mo., and 1-0 on neutral floors.

DIG PINK PROMOTION: NKU will hold its second annual Dig Pink promotion on Oct. 22 when Indianapolis visits Regents Hall. The Dig Pink promotion is to help raise money for breast cancer awareness, and breast cancer survivors are invited to attend the match that evening. Dig Pink volleyballs will also be raffled off to assist in raising funds for breast cancer awareness. Call 572-7665 for more information.