HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team hits the road once more for nonconference action in Edwardsville, Illinois, where the Norse will take part in the Cougar Classic, hosted by SIU Edwardsville.
 
Northern Kentucky University Norse (0-3)
Louisiana Tech University Lady Techsters (2-2)
Sam M. Vadalabene Center – Edwardsville, Ill.
Sept. 4 – 5:30 p.m. Eastern/4:30 p.m. Central
Series History: First meeting
 
NKU
University of Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1)
Vadalabene Center – Edwardsville, Ill.
Sept. 5 – 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central
Series History: NKU leads, 1-0
First meeting: Oct. 14, 1977 at Memphis, Tenn. (NKU 15-4, 12-15, 15-9)
 
NKU
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars (1-2)
Vadalabene Center – Edwardsville, Ill.
Sept. 5 – 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central
Series History: NKU leads, 15-7
First meeting: Sept. 17, 1995 at SIUE (NKU 10-15, 15-8, 15-6, 15-8)
Last meeting: Sept. 6, 2014 at NKU (NKU 25-18, 21-25, 25-9, 23-25, 15-9)
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH: The Lady Techsters took a 3-1 win over Jackson State on Tuesday evening to run their record to .500 entering this weekend's action. Angela Papach leads the way for Tech offense at 2.79 kills per set. Hannah McRee's seven blocks lead the defense at the net, while Alejandra Aviles has averaged 3.86 digs per set on the back row.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS: The season's opening weekend saw the Razorbacks, at home, take straight-set wins over McNeese State and Army before falling to Kansas. Pilar Victoria's 49 kills (4.45/set) led the way as the junior took almost half of the team's swings on the weekend. Kori Ortiz averaged four digs per set to pace the back row and Chanell Clark-Bibbs averaged better than a block per set.
 
ABOUT SIUE: The Cougars stand at 1-2 on the season, opening with a win over Akron before dropping matches against Drake and DePaul. Kristen Torre leads the offense from the middle, collecting 39 kills on a .440 hitting percentage. Carley Ramich is averaging a block per set, while Katie Shashack has 45 digs so far this season.
 
1,000 DIGS: Senior libero Mel Stewart eclipsed a milestone on Saturday when she became the 17^th member of NKU's 1,000-dig club. Stewart entered the season with 970 digs in her career and has picked up 40 so far in three matches. The performance puts her 15^th all-time at NKU and 25 digs behind Tristen Dye (2004-07) for 14^th on the list. Jenny Jeremiah (1996-99) holds NKU's career record with 2,050 digs.
 
1,000 KILLS…ALMOST: Jayden Julian has pushed past 900 kills on her career after the first weekend of 2015 and has her eye on the 1,000-kill club herself, standing 98 kills short of the mark. Sixteen other players in NKU history have amassed 1,000 kills during their careers, the most recent being Shelby Buschur (2009-12), who finished with 1,206. The record is held by current NKU head coach Liz Hart (2004-07), who had 1,850 over her career.
 
BACK TO EDWARDSVILLE: This weekend will mark the first time that NKU has taken the court at the Vadalabene Center since the 2007 season, when NKU and SIUE were both Division II members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Current NKU coach, then sophomore, Liz Hart picked up seven kills and five blocks as the Norse fell short, 3-0 (30-25, 30-24, 30-26).
 
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER: Freshman outside hitter Haley Libs has had a strong showing in her opening weekend of collegiate volleyball, picking up 24 kills (2.67 per set) to rank second on the team in the category. In addition, Keyaira Lankheit has been solid blocking, leading the team with eight total rejections.
 
SERVE, SET AND SAVE: Taylor Snyder was a triple threat for the Norse last weekend, firing on all cylinders in NKU's matches in the Queen City. The redshirt junior setter not only averaged 10.9 assists per set, but also picked up a team-high four service aces on the weekend and ranked second on the team with 3.11 digs per set as well.
 
TRENDING UPWARD: Despite the final results from last weekend's effort, Coach Hart has much to be pleased with in her team's performance from the previous week. After three grueling matches against tough squads, team averages are up across the board in kills (13.1 vs. 12.9), assists (12.3 vs. 12.1) and digs (17.7 vs. 15.8) are all up significantly from NKU's finishing marks last year.