NKU’s Tristen Dye

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team begins its 2005 campaign Friday with a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

NKU will play matches against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Friday. The Norse will conclude their trip Saturday with matches against Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Puerto Rico-Cayay.

The four schools in Puerto Rico are NCAA Division II affiliates and compete as independents. NKU has never faced any of the schools in Puerto Rico in volleyball.

NKU welcomes back four starters from last year’s 22-9 squad, including three All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers. Liz Holmes, a 5-foot-10 middle hitter, finished with 397 kills and a .327 hitting percentage in 2004. She was named GLVC Freshman of the Year and earned second team All-GLVC honors. In addition, Holmes collected a team-leading 89 blocks as a freshman and added 39 service aces.

Andrea Lanham, a 5-9 junior setter, earned first team All-GLVC honors after posting 1,471 assists (a GLVC-leading 13.13 apg) and serving 28 aces. Lanham finished 13th nationally in assists and was No. 2 in the Great Lakes Region.

Lynne Fischesser earned second team All-GLVC honors as a right-side hitter in 2004. Fischesser, one of the most versatile players in the GLVC, collected 275 kills and 316 digs a year ago. She finished No. 2 in the GLVC in service aces last season at 0.50 sapg (56 total aces).

Sophomore outside hitter Tristen Dye finished with 144 kills and 17 service aces, and she is expected to play a major role in 2005. Freshman right-side hitter Kristina Eisenmenger, an excellent blocker and attacker, earned All-Region honors while a prep standout at Notre Dame Academy last fall. She had 225 kills and 80 solo blocks as a senior.