HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky volleyball hits the road for a midweek match at Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 6. First serve against the Golden Grizzlies is set for 6 p.m. ET.
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse split the weekend, dropping a four-set decision to reigning Horizon League champion Green Bay before avenging an Oct. 18 loss to UIC by sweeping the Flames, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23. Freshman
Reilly Briggs was sensational over the weekend, averaging 4.57 kills per set at a .369 clip. She led the Norse in both matches, including a career-high 18 kills against the Phoenix.
Ashton Terrill was also impressive from the back row with 5.57 digs per set and nearly had the second double-double of her career against the Flames with 17 digs and eight assists.
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. 67 spot. The Horizon League has also seen continued success in the rating percentage index as it is one of just six 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 13th in the nation with 17.86 digs per set, 56th with a .179 opponent hitting percentage and 56th with 2.39 blocks per set. This season, the Norse have held five opponents to under a .100 hitting percentage. The Norse also rank 71st nationally and first in the Horizon League with 1.53 aces per set.
MILESTONE TRACKER: In the final tournament of the nonconference slate, 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 1,471 digs and is 33 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 OAKLAND: The Golden Grizzlies had a rocky start to the league slate, but hit their stride in October with a five-match winning streak. However, that was followed up with sweeps at the hands of UIC, Green Bay and Cleveland State, and Oakland now currently sits at fifth in the league with a 6-6 mark. Oakland's offense is led by Taylor Dellinger and Jamie Walling, who rank second and third in the league with 3.44 and 3.41 kills per set, respectively. Walling has also been averaging 0.70 blocks per set, helping her rank third in the league in points (3.97 pps). Like many of the team's in the Horizon League, Oakland ranks well nationally in digs per set, sitting at 41st in the nation but just seventh in the league with 16.63 dps. The Golden Grizzlies have also performed well at the net with 2.26 blocks per set, good for 82nd nationally.
Oakland holds a 12-3 record in the all-time series with NKU. In the last meeting on Oct. 9, the Golden Grizzlies came out on top of a five-set match, 22-25, 28-26, 25-20, 18-25, 15-13. They went on to win two more five-setters, defeating Milwaukee and Cleveland State with a two-point margin in the deciding set.
