Match notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team remains in the Bluegrass State when the Norse travel to Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday to close out a string of three road matches in five days. First serve from McBrayer Arena is set for 6:30 p.m.
Links to live stats and video for the match are available at nkunorse.com.
The Norse (8-14) are looking to bounce back from road losses to Atlantic Sun Conference foes Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast.
Keely Creamer averaged 3.86 kills per set and attacked at a .561 clip on the weekend to lead the Norse, including a 17-kill performance against FGCU to tie a career high.
A WORD ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY: The Colonels have pulled themselves within a game of .500 at 11-12 overall with a four-match win streak that includes victories over Eastern Illinois, Wright State, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. Ashley Edmond leads the Colonels offense, averaging 3.29 kills per set over the season, while Alexis Plagens is averaging just under three kills a set as well. EKU runs a dual-setter rotation, with Abbey Cvelbar and Mallori Moffat combining for 10.4 assists per set. Rachel Vick has 61 blocks this year to head up the net defense while Dena Ott holds down the back line, averaging 4.46 digs per set and leading the Colonels with 25 service aces on the year.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE COLONELS: Shelby Buschur had 12 kills and attacked at a .611 clip to lead NKU to a 25-23, 25-23, 25-13 win over EKU on Oct. 23, 2012. It marked NKU's 20
th win of the 2012 season and gave NKU its 20
th consecutive 20-win season.
Kelly Morrissey added 10 kills and
Haley Lippert chipped in nine. Rachel Vick had a match-high 14 kills to lead EKU. The win snapped a four-match losing streak for the Norse against the Colonels and gave NKU a 12-8 lead in the all-time series between the teams.
CLOSING OUT NON-CONFERENCE PLAY: NKU will play its final non-conference match in Tuesday's trip to Eastern Kentucky. NKU has a 5-7 record in non-conference play this season after posting a 13-1 mark outside of A-Sun play last year. NKU has played a challenging schedule, including matches against top-25 opponents Michigan (No. 7) and Purdue (No. 21) and RPI top-100 foes Xavier, Clemson and Cleveland State.
CREAMER CAPS A STRONG WEEK: Keely Creamer had one of her best weeks of the season on the swing down to Florida, picking up 27 kills, including the career-high 17-kill performance against Florida Gulf Coast. Creamer now ranks third among A-Sun freshmen, averaging 2.17 kills per set. Additionally, her six blocks on the weekend gives her 66 total blocks, ranking her third among league freshmen.
SNYDER STEPS UP: Freshman setter
Taylor Snyder averaged 12.5 assists per set last week to push her season average to 10.56 assists per set to move up to third overall among A-Sun setters. Lipscomb's Caitlin Dotson stands atop the league with 12.94 assists per set and ETSU's Jamie Rutledge is second with 11.09 assists per set.
BIG IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE: NKU will be looking to keep alive its six-match winning streak against Kentucky-based teams. Last year, the Norse claimed victories over Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, while in 2011 the Norse took two wins each from Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan while playing in Division II.
