HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team begins its second run through the Horizon League table this weekend with road matches at UIC and Valparaiso.
 
Friday's match at UIC will take place at 8 p.m. Eastern before Saturday's matinee at Valpo, with first serve set for 5 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN3, with links to live stats available at NKUNorse.com.
 
Northern Kentucky University Norse (8-12, 3-5 Horizon)
UIC Flames (11-11, 4-4 Horizon)
Flames Athletic Center (500); Chicago, Ill.
Oct. 23 – 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern
Series History: NKU leads, 3-1
First meeting: Nov. 5, 1980 at Ypsilani, Mich. (NKU 19-17, 15-10)
Last meeting: Sept. 26, 2015 at NKU (UIC 21-25, 25-18, 25-23, 26-24)
 
NKU
Valparaiso University Crusaders (19-5, 5-3 Horizon)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000); Valparaiso, Ind.
Oct. 24 – 4 p.m. Central/5 p.m. Eastern
Series History: Series tied, 1-1
First meeting: Nov. 9, 1985 at Fort Wayne, Ind. (NKU 15-6, 15-6, 15-6)
Last meeting: Sept. 25, 2015 at NKU (Valpo 25-15, 32-30, 20-25, 25-23)
 
ABOUT UIC: The Flames have kept pace, sitting one spot above the Norse at fifth in League play with a .500 record. Stephenee Yancy continues to be a dominant force at middle blocker for the Flames, averaging 4.48 kills per set to lead all League players. Additionally, she's averaging almost a block a set to lead the team. Alyssa Ehrhardt is also in the offensive mix at 2.70 kills per set. Last time against the Norse, Yancy led the way with 26 kills and Ehrhardt added 15 as UIC took a 3-1 victory at Regents Hall on Sept. 26.
 
ABOUT VALPO: The Crusaders are looking to close in on a spot in the Horizon League Championship with a strong showing this weekend against NKU and Wright State. Like Yancy, Emily Campbell stands as one of the League's top attackers, averaging 4.21 kills per set on a .255 hitting percentage. Morganne Longoria averages 4.31 digs per set to pace the back row. Last time against the Norse, Campbell posted 22 kills and Allison Ketcham had 17 kills and a team-best 25 digs as the Crusaders took a 3-1 win on Sept. 25.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse dropped the first two sets to Oakland by two points each, including a 31-29 decision in the opener, as the Golden Grizzlies claimed a 3-0 win over the Norse last Friday night at Regents Hall. Haley Libs posted 13 kills and nine digs to lead the Norse while Taylor Snyder dished out 34 assists and picked up 10 digs. Kelly Turner added 11 kills and Mel Stewart paced the defense with 14 digs.
 
MORE DOUBLES: Taylor Snyder claimed her seventh double-double of the season, and the 40^th of her career, with her performance last Friday against Oakland. The Oakland match made it back-to-back double-doubles for the junior setter, who also accomplished the feat against Cleveland State.
 
FIND THE FINISH: Through the first round of League play, NKU posted a 3-5 record, dropping eight sets by the two-point minimum and taking four of those beyond the 25-point threshold.
 
IN THE HUNT: NKU remains in the hunt for a postseason berth, currently ranking sixth in the Horizon League. The top six teams will qualify for the Horizon League Championship, to be played Nov. 20-22 at the site of the regular-season champion.
 
UP NEXT: The Norse return home next week for three matches in Regents Hall to wrap up the home half of the 2015 schedule. The action kicks off on Tuesday against local rival Wright State. First serve is set for 7 p.m.