HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball embarks on its final three-match tournament of the regular season this weekend, heading south for the Bruins Classic, hosted by Belmont University.
 
The Norse open the weekend on Friday, taking on Liberty at 5 p.m.  Saturday's action sees NKU taking on the hosts Belmont at 10:30 a.m. before closing out the weekend with a rematch against Wright State at 4:30 p.m. Links to live stats for all contests and video of the Belmont match can be found at nkunorse.com.
 
NKU stands at 7-3 on the season after a dramatic five-set victory over Evansville on Tuesday evening. Jenna Ruble came through with a career-high 20 kills to lead a Norse offense that put four players in double digits for kills. Mel Stewart added 24 digs and Taylor Snyder (56 assists, 17 digs) and Jayden Julian (13 kills, 13 digs) each posted double-doubles.
 
A WORD ABOUT LIBERTY: The Flames enter the weekend at 9-4 on the year after posting a 3-1 record at the Brown Invitational. Liberty dropped a five-set decision to Central Connecticut State before rattling off wins over Brown, UMass Lowell and Fairfield to close out the tournament. Caroline Douglas and Hannah Weidner key the Flames' attack, each averaging over three kills per set. They'll take their passes from Caila Stapleton, who is putting up 10.24 assists per set. Jade Vorster heads up the defense at the net, averaging better than a block a set, while Gabrielle Shipe's 4.32 digs per set paces the back row. Friday's match will be the first ever between the Norse and the Flames.
 
A WORD ABOUT BELMONT: The Bruins will carry a 3-7 record into their home tournament, having gone 1-2 in a tournament at Middle Tennessee last weekend, the lone win coming at the hands of Virginia Tech. Scarlet Gable and Arianna Person are neck-and-neck leading the attack, each averaging about 2.6 kills per set. The setting duties fall to Emma Price, who averages just under nine assists per set. Up front, Alex Martin leads the blocking brigade with 31 total blocks on the year, while Elle Ivancich paces the back row defense with 3.26 digs per set. Belmont and NKU will meet on the court for the first time ever on Saturday.
 
A WORD ABOUT WRIGHT STATE: The Raiders stand at 3-8 on the season, dropping a midweek match to Eastern Kentucky before going 1-2 at the Chattanooga Classic.  Their lone win on the weekend came at the expense of Mississippi Valley State. Katie Klusman has taken over the team lead in kills, averaging 2.7 per set on the season. Haley Garr's 31 blocks leads the net defense and Jessie Thornton keys the back row defense, ranking 12^th in the nation at 5.38 digs per set.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST THE RAIDERS: Saturday's match will be the second time that NKU and Wright State have faced off this season, as NKU swept the Raiders on Sept. 2 to begin a seven-match slide for Wright State. Jayden Julian picked up 15 kills and attacked at a .481 clip and Megan Wanstrath added 11 kills in the win. Mel Stewart led the defense with 10 digs, while Lauren Hurley added nine. The win gave NKU a one-match edge in the all-time series, 12-11.
 
FIFTH SET FIRE: The Norse have gone to the deciding fifth set twice this season, both times pulling out a victory. In addition to the win over Evansville on Tuesday night, the Norse bested SIU Edwardsville in five sets at the Northern Kentucky Volleyball Invitational two weeks ago. In the two matches, NKU has hit .279 combined in that fifth set while holding opponents to an .021 attack percentage. The Norse were strong in the long game last year as well, compiling a 7-2 record in five-setters, hitting .250 in those deciding sets while holding opponents to a .116 hitting percentage.
 
RUBLE ROCKS REGENTS: Jenna Ruble's 20-kill performance against Evansville on Tuesday called back to a five-set victory over Mercer back on Nov. 1, 2013, for a couple of reasons. The 20 kills set a career high for the senior, eclipsing her previous mark of 18 kills, which was set in that win over Mercer. Additionally, Tuesday marked the first time since that Mercer matchup that an NKU player has posted a 20-kill game, as Jayden Julian had 22 kills in last year's win.
 
CONFERENCE PLAY LOOMS: This weekend marks the final matches before the Norse open Atlantic Sun Conference play the following weekend. NKU will return to Nashville to take on preseason favorite Lipscomb in what has become a traditional A-Sun opener for both teams. First serve from Allen Arena will come at 7:30 p.m., with the match broadcast on ESPN3.