Game notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team embarks on its 2013 regular season this weekend, taking part in the Xavier Invitational tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Norse will face some top-notch competition, taking on Clemson, host Xavier and 2012 national semifinalist Michigan. Friday's match against Clemson will take place at 5 p.m., while the Norse will take on Xavier at 11 a.m. on Saturday followed by Michigan at 1 p.m. Live stats for each match will be available at nkunorse.com.
In the team's inaugural season of Division I play, NKU compiled a stellar 25-7 record, including a 12-6 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. However, 2013 presents a new look for the Norse, as six seniors from last year's squad depart, including a pair of all-conference performers, and five newcomers will take the court for the Black and Gold for the first time.
Key players returning for the Norse include middle blocker
Jenna Ruble, who led the A-Sun with a .353 hitting percentage last season, outside hitter
Jayden Julian, who was a solid all-around contributor last year, and defensive specialists
Anna Prickel and
Mel Stewart, who will key a young back row for the Norse.
The Norse will be looking for a new setter to emerge between junior
Kiersten Ham and redshirt freshman
Taylor Snyder.
A WORD ABOUT CLEMSON: The Tigers finished the 2012 season with a record of 21-10 and shared fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a league mark of 12-8. The team will look to replace its top two blockers, Sandra Adeleye and Alexa Rand, both of whom graduated last season. Setter Hannah Brenner returns for her senior season after averaging just over 10 assists per set last year.
LAST TIME AGAINST CLEMSON: It's been 33 years since the Norse and Tigers last met, tracing their competitive roots back to the days of the AIAW. In 1980, NKU hosted the AIAW Southern Regional at Regents Hall, defeating Clemson on Day 2 of the event, 2-1 (16-14, 14-16, 15-9). The Lady Norse finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, defeating Clemson as well as Virginia Tech while losing to Tennessee and Kentucky. NKU leads the all-time series with Clemson, 2-0, with the previous meeting coming in the 1979 season.
A WORD ABOUT XAVIER: It is a season of transition for the Musketeers, who open their first season of play as members of the Big East Conference. Xavier returns four starters, including three Atlantic 10 all-conference honorees, to join a nationally recognized recruiting class looking to improve on a 21-11 overall mark and an RPI rank of 54 to end the season just short of selection to the NCAA Tournament. Sarah Brown (390) and Alex Smith (291) topped the team in kills last season, with Brown adding 33 service aces and Smith leading the way with 102 total blocks.
LAST TIME AGAINST XAVIER: The Norse and Musketeers last battled almost 20 years ago in the Queen City, with Xavier laying claim to a three-set sweep of the Norse, 15-8, 15-7, 15-7, on Oct. 18, 1993. In a series that began in 1975, with NKU's inaugural year of intercollegiate volleyball, the teams are knotted at eight wins each all-time.
A WORD ABOUT MICHIGAN: The Wolverines came just a few points short of playing for a national championship in 2012, going to a fifth set against eventual champion Texas before seeing their season come to an end. Michigan returns this season on everyone's radar, earning a No. 7 ranking in the AVCA's preseason coaches poll, but are picked to finish third in the Big Ten Conference. Three Wolverines have earned Preseason All-Big Ten recognition, including seniors Lexi Erwin and Jennifer Cross and junior Lexi Dannemiller.
LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN: NKU and Michigan have met three times in their respective histories. The last match between the teams came on Oct. 3, 1981, at the Michigan State Invitational, with the Wolverines claiming a 2-0 (15-3, 15-9) victory. Michigan has won two of the three matches between the teams.
PRESEASON POLL: NKU was picked sixth in the A-Sun preseason coaches poll. Florida Gulf Coast was picked to repeat as regular season champions, while East Tennessee State, Lipscomb, North Florida and Jacksonville rounded out the top five.
STERNER SCHEDULE: Compared to the 2012 fixture, the Norse are challenging themselves mightily with the 2013 schedule, opening up against three teams that finished the 2012 season in the top 55 of the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a metric used to select and seed teams for the NCAA Tournament. Last year, NKU's non-conference opponents averaged a 245.6 RPI ranking the previous season, with just one (Morehead State) ranking in the top 100. This year, that ranking rises to 152.3 for an average non-conference opponent, with six opponents (and conference rival Lipscomb) finishing in the top 100.
RANKED OPPONENTS: Two teams on NKU's schedule were ranked in the AVCA preseason coaches poll. Michigan, which NKU will take on this weekend at the Xavier Invitational, opens the season as the No. 7 team in the country, while Purdue stands at No. 16 in the rankings. NKU will meet Purdue at the Active Ankle Challenge on Sept. 21.
SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT FACES: NKU senior
Kaela Jo Freppon will be on familiar territory this weekend at the Cintas Center. The outside hitter transferred to NKU this season after spending four years with the Xavier program. Freppon missed the entire 2012 season due to injury and was granted a fifth year of eligibility. While at Xavier, Freppon amassed 194 kills, 273 digs, 50 service aces and 36 total blocks in 61 matches.
CHASING 1,000: Senior defensive specialist
Anna Prickel will be looking to break the 1,000 dig plateau during her senior season. Entering the 2013 season, Prickel has 774 career digs and needs 227 to pass Jessica Buroker for 10th all-time at NKU.
RUBLE'S RETURN: The Norse will look for big contributions from returning middle hitter
Jenna Ruble, who compiled 239 kills and 82 total blocks during the 2012 season. The junior also hit .353 last season to lead all A-Sun attackers in efficiency.
