Kelly Morrissey has helped NKU post a 15-2 record.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A key weekend on the volleyball court looms for Northern Kentucky University.
NKU, ranked No. 13 nationally in the Division II poll, participates in the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover this Friday and Saturday. The Norse are 15-2 overall and have won five consecutive matches.
The two-day event will be held in Aurora, Ill., with teams from the GLVC squaring off against foes from the GLIAC. Both conferences are in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region, making the matches during the crossover crucial for the upcoming regional polls that will determine the NCAA Tournament field.
NKU is the No. 2 seed from the GLVC and will face GLIAC No. 5 seed Ashland (9-6 overall) at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the opener. NKU already owns a 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 win over Ashland earlier this season and is 17-6 all-time against the Eagles.
NKU also plays GLIAC No. 1 seed Ferris State (15-1 overall) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Norse wrap up the two-day event Saturday at 1 p.m. by meeting GLIAC No. 3 seed Northern Michigan (11-6 overall).
Ferris State is ranked No. 11 nationally, while Northern Michigan is No. 25 in the poll. Ferris State is 15-1 overall and has won 10 straight matches. The Bulldogs have not lost a set during that streak.
NKU has not met Ferris State since Sept. 13, 2003, when the Norse posted a 30-24, 30-24, 24-30, 30-27 victory over the Bulldogs in Highland Heights, Ky. Northern Michigan and NKU last squared off on Oct. 17, 2009, and the Wildcats defeated the Norse, 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 21-25, 15-13 at Indianapolis, Ind., during the regional crossover.
NKU is 5-5 all-time against Ferris State, and the Norse are 7-11 all-time against Northern Michigan.
READY TO JOIN THE CLUB: NKU senior middle hitter
Kim Nemcek has 984 career kills entering this weekend. She is looking to become the 15th player in Norse history to join the 1,000-kills club.
Nemcek is No. 4 nationally in hitting percentage at .457. She leads NKU with 3.45 kills per set and 42 total blocks.
MOVING UP: NKU junior setter
Jenna Schreiver enters this weekend with 3,141 career assists, which is No. 7 in Norse history. Schreiver needs just six assists to move past Shawn Casey (3,146 assists) for sixth place on the list. She is currently third in the nation in assists per set at 12.14.
