Northern Kentucky University opens up its Horizon League volleyball schedule with two home matches this weekend, marking the first home matches of the season for the team who come into the weekend with an overall record of 5-7.
The Norse will host the Crusaders from Valparaiso on Friday night at 7 p.m. and the Flames from UIC on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both matches will be aired on ESPN3, and links to live stats for both matches will be available at NKUNorse.com.
Valparaiso brings a record of 12-2 in the contest and NKU won the only previous meeting of the schools back in 1985.
UIC is 6-7 and NKU is undefeated in three previous meetings, the most recent in 1981.
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.
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 3-3 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.
JAYDEN JULIAN CHASING 1,000: With just nine more kills, Jayden Julian will become just the 17th member of NKU’s 1,000 kill club. The last Norse to accomplish the feat was Shelby Buschur in 2012. Jayden ranks third on the team in kills per set with 2.57 and will look to get her 1,000th 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 on the season and will look to keep climbing the list this weekend and the remainder of the season. Stewart averages 3.95 digs per set on the year.
From NKU Athletics