The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team (4-0) returns to action on Friday when it travels to take on Illinois (5-1) at Illinois Soccer Stadium at 8 p.m.
The match is the final nonconference tilt before NKU opens Horizon League play on Sept. 18 at Youngstown State. The match is also NKU’s first contest since Aug. 30, due to a cancelation on Sept. 4 when the Norse were slated to take on Xavier at home.
The Norse earned a pair of shutout victories over The Citadel and Charleston Southern by scores of 4-0 and 1-0. Against The Citadel, redshirt junior Aubrey Muench scored a pair of goals to lead the Norse to their victory over the Bulldogs.
At Charleston Southern, Schocker recorded four saves en route to posting her first solo shutout of the season. Junior Katelyn Newton netted her first goal of the season on an assist from sophomore Jessica Frey 50 seconds into the start of the second half for the 1-0 win.
ABOUT ILLINOIS: The Illini (5-1) split their last weekend of action at the Husky Nike Invitational where they suffered their first loss of the season, coming against Washington by a score of 2-1. Illinois went on to defeat Portland, 1-0 in its most recent match. Redshirt senior Jannelle Flaws scored Illinois’ lone goal against Portland and leads all of NCAA Division I in points (19), goals (eight), and game-winning goals (four).
Flaws has scored a goal in four of Illinois’ six contests, including a hat trick against Saint Louis. Clair Wheatley is the only Illini goalkeeper to see action between the posts this season, totaling 540:00 minutes, two shutouts and a .806 save percentage.
NORSE NOTES:
Not only will Friday’s match be the first meeting between Illinois and NKU, but it also marks the program’s first contest against a Big Ten opponent. Illinois is one of 10 new opponents included on the 2015 slate. The Norse are a perfect 2-0 this season in first-time meetings after earning wins over The Citadel and Charleston Southern. Of the 10 new opponents, six are members of the Horizon League.
Despite playing just four matches, tied with Milwaukee for the least number of matches played in the Horizon League, NKU leads in total points (46), assists (18) and total shots (101). Cleveland State ranks second in each category with 43 total points, 11 assists and 86 shots through seven contests. NKU is also the only undefeated Horizon League team and the only squad to eclipse three wins so far.
Just one week out from beginning Horizon League play, sophomore Macy Hamblin ranks first in the League in multiple categories. The categories include shots and shots per game (29/7.25), points and points per game (eight/2.00) and assists and assists per game (four/1.00).
UP NEXT: The Norse open Horizon League play for the first time with a trip to Youngstown State on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. NKU will then return home on Sunday, Sept. 20 to take on nonconference opponent Toledo at 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.
Northern Kentucky volleyball set for weekend tournament at Evansville
The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team hits the road once more for tournament action, taking part in the Dunn Hospitality Tournament this weekend, hosted by the University of Evansville.
The Norse will take on the host Purple Aces, as well as Western Illinois and Jackson State over the weekend. Live stats for all matches are available at NKUNorse.com.
ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks are in search of their first win of the season after dropping a three-set match at Saint Louis in midweek action. Peyton Crosser leads the offense, averaging 2.55 kills per set, while Abby Skryd is posting up eight assists per set as well. In the back row, Kaili Simmons is picking up 3.18 digs per set.
ABOUT JACKSON STATE: The Tigers are also winless on the season, looking for success in this weekend’s action. JSU boasts a pair of conference Player of the Week honorees in outside hitter Taija Thomas, who recorded 44 kills over four matches last weekend, and setter Jenna Siddiqui, who recorded five service aces and seven blocks to go with 101 assists.
ABOUT EVANSVILLE: The Purple Aces hope to snap a four-game slide this weekend after falling to Tennessee in midweek action, 3-1. Evansville boasts a pair of players who stand in the top 10 in several statistical categories. Genesis Miranda ranks second in total attacks (412), third in total kills (153) and points per set (5.64) while Kim Deprez stands fourth in total digs (162).
LAST TIME OUT: NKU was on the road once again, this time in midweek action at Eastern Kentucky, where NKU was defeated in straight sets. Haley Libs and Keely Creamer led the Norse offense with eight kills each and Mel Stewart added 16 digs. Kelly Turner turned in a season-best four kills on .375 hitting.
LIBS LIGHTING IT UP: Freshman outside hitter Haley Libs was a firecracker in last weekend’s Cougar Classic, hosted by SIU Edwardsville. In a 2-1 weekend for the Norse, Libs posted 47 kills on .350 hitting across 13 sets. Entering this weekend, she is ranked 10th in the Horizon League overall and is the League’s highest-ranked freshman with 3.16 kills per set.
TIME FOR TWENTY: Libs also set a milestone last weekend with her 20-kill effort in a 3-2 win over SIU Edwardsville on Saturday. It was the first 20-kill performance by a Norse player since Jenna Ruble had 21 against South Carolina Upstate last season. Libs is also the sixth Horizon League player this season to post 20 kills in a match.
CHASING A CENTURY: Head coach Liz Hart enters this weekend with a coaching record of 98-56, needing two wins to eclipse the 100-win plateau for her career. Hart became the interim head coach at NKU 12 matches into the 2010 season and earned the permanent job the following year.
ADD A ZERO: Jayden Julian is also chasing down a milestone, standing at 940 career kills entering this weekend. The senior outside hitter needs 60 kills to become the 17th member of the 1,000-kill club, and the first to join since Shelby Buschur in 2012, who finished her career with 1,206 kills.
From NKU Athletics