HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky volleyball returns home this weekend to host Green Bay and UIC on Friday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 2. The match against the Phoenix is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday and will be broadcast on ESPN3, while the match against the Flames will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday and carried on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse split the weekend, falling to Wright State in four sets before snapping a five-match losing skid with a sweep of IUPUI. Middle blocker
Peytton Bagwell continued to be a big presence at the net for the Norse as she recorded a career-best seven blocks in both contests, while
Anna Brinkmann led the Norse offensively with 23 kills on the weekend.
UPWARD TREND: NKU had its highest RPI in program history on Oct. 7 and has continued to stay ranked among some of the nation's top teams in the No. 82 spot. The Horizon League has also seen continued success in the rating percentage index as it is one of just seven Division I conferences to have five or more teams in the top 100, with Wright State, Milwaukee, Green Bay and UIC joining the Norse.
NORSE VS. THE NATION: NKU ranks among the nation's top-100 in several statistical categories. NKU's best statistics come from its defensive prowess, as the Norse rank 11th in the nation with 17.76 digs per set, 49th with a .175 opponent hitting percentage and 52ndwith 2.42 blocks per set. This season, the Norse have held five opponents to under a .100 hitting percentage. The Norse also rank 63rd nationally and first in the Horizon League with 1.56 aces per set.
MILESTONE TRACKER: In the final tournament of the nonconference slate, junior libero
Ashton Terrill broke into the all-time top-10 list for career digs, surpassing Amber Timmons' mark of 1,205 set between the 2001-04 seasons. Terrill currently has 1,432 digs and is 72 digs away from tying Mel Stewart (2012-15) for fifth.
Senior setter
Shelby Olsen recorded her 1,000th career dig at Green Bay on Oct. 19, becoming just the third Norse setter to amass at least 2,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career. She joins Molly Donovan (1995-98) and Taylor Snyder (2013-16) in the exclusive club.
SCOUTING GREEN BAY: The Phoenix hold a 16-6 record and are currently second in the Horizon League with a 6-2 mark, dropping decisions to Milwaukee and Cleveland State. The reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, Taylor Wolf, continues to lead the Horizon League in kills per set, while ranking 21st nationally at 4.43 kps. The Phoenix also boast the reigning Setter of the Year in Maddie Yoss, who is dishing out 10.51 assists per set, ranking 45th nationally in the statistic, while also scooping up 2.86 digs per set to rank third on the team behind Breanna Hesse's (4.51 dps) and Wolf (2.90 dps). As a team, the Phoenix rank 13th nationally and second in the league with a .146 opponent hitting percentage, and are also strong defensively with 17.20 digs per set to sit at No. 23 nationally.
The all-time series with the Phoenix is deadlocked at 7-7. In the last meeting on Oct. 19, Green Bay defeated NKU in four sets.
SCOUTING UIC: The Flames sit at 18-6 overall and 7-3 in Horizon League play. UIC has a strong balance of defense and offense as the Flames rank 22nd in digs per set (17.30), 27th in blocks per set (2.57) and 33rd in kills per set (13.57). The Flames have five attackers averaging over 2.25 kills per set, with Brookah Palmer leading the way at 2.54 kps. Velina Minkova leads the team in the back row with 4.10 digs per set, and Michelle Glover is averaging 1.30 blocks per set to lead the Horizon League and rank 29th nationally. The Flames run a 6-2 offense behind Lauren Musante and Marija Borcic, who both contribute more than six assisters per frame.
NKU holds a 9-3 advantage in the all-time series with UIC. In the last meeting on Oct. 18, the Flames won in five sets on their home court.
