HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Finally home for a spell, the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team returns to action this weekend against Atlantic Sun Conference foes Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast.
The Norse (17-3, 5-2 A-Sun) take on Stetson for the first time in program history on Friday at 6 p.m. The home weekend concludes on Saturday against FGCU at 3 p.m. Each match will be available via webcast at ASun.tv.
NKU returns home for seven of its next 10 contests after having spent seven of the last eight weekends competing on the road. NKU sports a 2-1 home record, having dropped a decision earlier this year to Lipscomb before sweeping a league weekend against North Florida and Jacksonville.
Last weekend, the Norse lost a heartbreaking five-set match at East Tennessee State, dropping the final set by a 15-13 score. NKU rebounded to take a 3-1 win against USC Upstate.
A WORD ABOUT STETSON: The Hatters (4-20, 0-7 A-Sun) snapped a 12-match losing streak last weekend with a 3-0 victory over Savannah State. Their attack is led by Kaley Melville, who averages 2.93 kills per set. Defensively, Monique Russell leads the way at 4.22 digs per set while Ellen Hawks has 83 total blocks. The Hatters employ a two-setter system, with Kayla Weller (4.09 assists per set) and Kelli Carneal (4.49 assists per set) sharing distribution duties.
A WORD ABOUT FGCU: The Eagles (12-7, 7-0 A-Sun) responded to a five-match losing streak by rattling off eight-consecutive victories, the most recent being a 3-1 midweek tilt against Bethune-Cookman. FGCU features a well-balanced attack, with four players boasting 139 or more kills on the season, led by Jill Hopper, who had 153. Olivia Mesner enters the weekend ranking third in the A-Sun in blocks (1.02 per set), while Whitney Masters leads the back line, averaging 3.25 digs per set.
LAST TIME AGAINST FGCU: Erika Fonseca had 13 kills and attacked at a .423 clip as the Eagles defeated NKU, 3-0 (30-9, 30-17, 30-22) to open the 2006 regular season. The Norse were paced by Tristen Dye, who had six kills on the contest. Liz Holmes chipped in five kills as the Eagles defense held the Norse to a -.058 hitting percentage on the match, the only previous meeting between the teams.
ACCURATE ATTACK: The Norse continue to boast one of the A-Sun's most efficient attacks, as the team's combined .251 hitting percentage leads all league schools. Additionally, the Norse boast two of the league's top four players in attack percentage in
Jenna Ruble (.350, ranking first) and
Shelby Buschur (.322, ranking fourth) while setter
Jenna Schreiver leads the league with 11.49 assists per set.
BATTLE FOR SECOND: NKU will be looking to climb the ranks in the A-Sun standings this weekend, as both remaining undefeated teams – FGCU and Lipscomb – will play on Friday in Nashville, Tenn. A Lady Bisons win on Friday combined with an NKU victory on Saturday would put the Norse in a tie for second place in the league.
RPI ON THE RISE: The Norse climbed eight places in this week's RPI rankings to No. 153. The ranking represents an eight-position jump over last week's initial No. 161 position. NKU remains as the second-highest ranked team in the A-Sun, trailing Lipscomb, which checks in at No. 113.
OUT WITH THE NEW: NKU's Friday match against Stetson will mark the final time in 2012 that NKU will face a brand new opponent. Aside from the second half of the A-Sun's double round robin schedule, NKU will face Eastern Kentucky for the 20
th time in team history on Oct. 23.
THE LONG WAY HOME: Teams looking to best the Norse so far this season have had to put in hard work to get the result. Each of NKU's three losses on the season have come in five-set matches, one at home (Lipscomb), one on the road (ETSU) and one on neutral ground (Manhattan).
