HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team opens up its Horizon League schedule with two home matches this weekend. The matches also mark the first home volleyball contests of the season for the Norse, who come into the weekend with an overall record of 5-7.
 
NKU will host the Valparaiso Crusaders on Friday night at 7 p.m., and the UIC Flames on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both matches will be aired on ESPN3, and links to live stats for both matches are available at NKUNorse.com.
 
Northern Kentucky University Norse (5-7)
Valparaiso Crusaders (12-2)
Sept. 25 - 7 p.m.
Regents Hall - Highland Heights, Ky.
Series History: NKU leads, 1-0
First Meeting: Nov. 9, 1985 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana (15-6, 15-6, 15-6)
 
NKU
UIC Flames (6-7)
Sept. 26 - 3 p.m.
Regents Hall - Highland Heights, Ky.
Series History: NKU leads, 3-0
First Meeting: Nov. 5, 1980 in Ypsilanti, Michigan (19-17, 15-10)
Last Meeting: Oct. 16, 1981 in Dayton, Ohio (15-7, 15-7)
 
PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION: The first 75 fans in attendance on Friday night will receive an NKU drawstring tote bag and all fans will receive a 2015 NKU volleyball schedule poster. After the game on Friday night, fans will have the opportunity to meet the team and get autographs from the players. During the game on Saturday, the NKU Dance Team will provide a Zumba demonstration during the match as part of Health and Family Fitness Day.
 
ABOUT VALPARAISO: The Crusaders enter the match with a 12-2 record after suffering a loss in their last match to Indiana State on the road. Emily Campbell leads the way for the Crusaders with 3.82 kills per set while teammate Morganne Longoria leads the team in digs per set with an average of 3.78.
 
ABOUT UIC: The Flames enter the weekend with a record of 6-7 on the year. Before coming to NKU on Saturday, the Flames will take on Wright State in Dayton, Ohio on Friday. In their last match, the Flames suffered a 3-2 loss to Montana at home on September 19. Stephenee Yancy leads the way with 4.20 kills per set. Casey Harris leads the team in blocks per set with a 0.90 average. Shoring up the back line for the Flames is Bridget Powell with 3.37 digs per set.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse enter the weekend with a 5-7 record after losing two-straight matches on the road to Miami (Ohio) and IPFW. Leading the team in kills per set is Keely Creamer with 3.00 while teammate Keyaira Lankheit leads the team in blocks per set with 0.92. Mel Stewart and Lauren Hurley are tops in digs per set on the team with 3.95 and 2.26, respectively.
 
JULIAN CHASING 1,000: With just nine more kills, Jayden Julian will become the 17^th member of NKU's 1,000 kill club. The last Norse to accomplish the feat was Shelby Buschur in 2012. Julian ranks third on the team in kills per set with 2.57 and will look to get her 1,000^th kill on Friday night when the Norse take on Valparaiso.
 
STEWART CONTINUES TO CLIMB: Mel Stewart will surpass Liz Lamping for 11th place on the NKU career list with 16 more digs. Stewart already has 1,136 digs for her career and is averaging 3.95 digs per set this year.
 
FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTION: Heading into conference play, Haley Libs leads all Horizon League freshmen in kills with 119. Fellow freshman Keyaira Lankheit ranks 13^th in the conference in kills with 26, while Kelly Turner ranks 16^th with 13 kills on the year. 
 
BOWEN LOOKS TO CONTRIBUTE: After making her first collegiate start last Friday against Miami, Kaitlyn Bowen will look to contribute more for the Norse after a strong effortin the team's last match against IPFW. Bowen fell just one dig short of a double-double on the match. She contributed 18 assists and nine digs, while also picking up a pair of blocks.