Match notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – After a rough opening weekend at the Xavier Invitational, the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team will look to rebound at home on Tuesday against Wright State. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a 2013 NKU Volleyball schedule poster and NKU students can enjoy a pregame tailgate party sponsored by John Morrell beginning at 4:30 p.m. The game will be carried on ASun.TV, and live stats will be available at NKUNorse.com for those unable to make it to Regents Hall.
The Norse opened the season 0-3 after running a challenging gauntlet against Clemson, Xavier and No. 7 Michigan. In each match, the Norse went down 2-0 early, but battled back in Set 3 and, against Clemson and Xavier, claimed set victories.
A WORD ABOUT WRIGHT STATE: The Raiders enter Tuesday's contest with a 1-3 record, having closed out the Western Carolina Invitational with a victory over another Atlantic Sun Conference squad in South Carolina Upstate. Heidi Splinter has emerged as an overall leader for the team, averaging over four kills per set and totaling 44 digs, while Marisa Aiello is hitting .271 for the Raiders and leads the team with nine total blocks. Defensively, Miranda Puthoff's 47 digs lead the team.
LAST TIME AGAINST WRIGHT STATE:
Kelly Morrissey had 14 kills and 10 digs to lead the Norse to a straight-set victory over the Raiders, 25-19, 30-28, 25-22.
Shelby Buschur and
Jayden Julian were also in double-figures for kills, claiming 11 each, while
Kylee Tarantino led the way defensively with 11 digs and
Jenna Ruble added four total blocks. Wright State holds the edge in the all-time series, 11-10.
CAREER HIGHS: While several Norse freshmen set their competitive bars last weekend at the Cintas Center, a pair of returners had career matches of their own.
Jayden Julian's 14-kill performance against Xavier topped her previous career high of 11, set three times last season. Additionally,
Mel Stewart set her career digs mark at 15 with her match against Clemson on Friday, besting her previous career mark of 12, set against Evansville last season.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Setter
Taylor Snyder was honored over the weekend as a part of the Xavier Invitational all-tournament team. Snyder picked up a double-double in her match against Xavier, totaling 35 assists and 10 digs, and averaged just over nine assists per set on the weekend.
WANSTRATH WAKES THEM UP:
Megan Wanstrath provided a major spark for the Norse on the weekend in a couple of matches. Against Clemson, Wanstrath entered the match in Set 3 and came up with a pair of quick kills and a block to set the tone for a set victory. She would finish the match with six kills on 11 attacks (.545) and two total blocks. The sophomore returned to action against Michigan and earned four kills and three blocks in the contest.
