Match notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team looks for a return to its winning ways this weekend, hosting East Tennessee State and South Carolina Upstate for Atlantic Sun Conference matches in Regents Hall.
The Norse will host ETSU on Friday evening at6 p.m. It's Gold Rush Regents, fans wearing gold to the match receive $1 off admission and the first 300 fans through the gates receive a #GoGold tumbler. Saturday afternoon's match against USC Upstate will take place at 3 p.m., and attendees of NKU's Family Weekend receive free admission to the game by presenting their name badge.
Fans planning to attend the game should park in Lot S – the gravel lot at the corner of John's Hill Road and Kenton Drive, adjacent to the Bill Aker Baseball Complex – or in the Kenton Drive parking garage. Those that can't make it to Regents Hall can follow the match at nkunorse.com and ASun.TV.
The Norse enter the weekend with a 5-10 overall record, still seeking their first win in A-Sun play after dropping a pair of matches in the Sunshine State last weekend.
Megan Wanstrath led the Norse with 11 kills in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-17) loss to North Florida, while
Taylor Snyder notched her seventh double-double of the season with 44 assists and a team-high 15 digs in a 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-14, 25-17) loss to Jacksonville.
A WORD ABOUT ETSU: After claiming their first A-Sun Tournament championship last year, the Buccaneers are off to another strong start, boasting a 9-6 overall record and a spotless 3-0 mark in A-Sun play. ETSU boasts two players who rank among the nation's leaders statistically – Megan Devine's 4.7 kills per set ranks ninth in the nation and Meredith Hardy is fifth in the country, averaging 1.55 blocks per set. As a team, the Buccaneers' .257 hitting percentage is tops in the A-Sun.
LAST TIME AGAINS THE BUCCANEERS: Hardy had 25 kills and Devine posted a double-double with 18 kills and 14 digs to lead ETSU to a 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 27-25, 22-25, 15-10) victory over NKU on Oct. 27, 2012.
Shelby Buschur led the Norse offense with 15 kills and
Kelly Morrissey added 14 kills and 10 digs.
Jenna Schreiver was two kills shy of a triple-double with 46 assists and 10 digs. The result swung the all-time series in favor of ETSU, 2-1.
A WORD ABOUT USC UPSTATE: The Spartans enter the weekend with a 1-10 overall record, with their lone win coming against A-Sun foe Mercer two weeks ago. Kayla Eversgerd is averaging 2.73 kills and 2.98 digs per set to lead the team in each category. Emily Koelling's .203 hitting percentage also leads the club.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE SPARTANS: Buschur had 18 kills and five blocks and
Kelly Morrissey added 10 kills to lead NKU to a straight-set (25-20, 25-22, 25-15) win over USC Upstate on Oct. 26, 2012.
Jenna Ruble added nine kills and
Kylee Tarantino had 18 digs to lead the defensive effort. The win completed a sweep of the season series for the Norse in the first ever meetings between the teams.
PRICKEL MAKES HER MARK:
Anna Prickel made her indelible mark on the NKU program, becoming the 16
th woman in school history to collect 1,000 digs over her collegiate career. The fateful save was made in Saturday's loss at Jacksonville, a match in which Prickel had 12 digs on the day. She enters Friday's match with 1,001 career digs, tied with Jessica Buroker for 15
th all-time.
THE FIRST 100 MATCHES: On Saturday at Jacksonville, head coach
Liz Hart coached her 100
th match, all at Northern Kentucky University. She has amassed a 70-30 coaching record in that span, beginning in the 2010 season when she took over an 8-8 club and led the Norse to a postseason bid. Last year, Hart coached the Norse to a 25-7 record, including a 12-6 mark in the A-Sun.
GETTING BACK ON TRACK: The Norse are hoping to avoid their first four-match conference losing streak since 1991, when the Norse dropped matches to IPFW, Ashland, Saint Joseph's (Ind.) and Lewis to open conference play as members of the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. Since that time, NKU has posted winning conference records in every season, including four perfect conference seasons (1994, 1997, 1999, 2001).
