-----Andrea Lanham

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team will meet Wheeling Jesuit and Palm Beach (Fla.) Atlantic in the opening round of the Ashland Tournament on Friday.

The Norse will also meet defending NCAA Division II national champion Grand Valley State at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Lakers are ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II preseason poll. NKU will conclude the tournament with a match against No. 9 North Alabama at 1 p.m. Saturday.

NKU enters the two-day event with a 1-4 record. The Norse lost to three nationally ranked teams (Florida Gulf Coast, Tampa and Lock Haven) last weekend in Florida.

HOLMES NEARS 1,000 KILLS: NKU junior middle hitter Liz Holmes enters Friday with 924 career kills.

SETTING THE TABLE: NKU senior setter Andrea Lanham has 3,649 career assists and ranks No. 2 in school history. Lanham needs 1,323 assists to pass Molly Donovan(4,971 assists) as the Norse’s career leader in that category.

NORSE BEGIN GLVC ACTION SEPT. 5: NKU begins Great Lakes Valley Conference play Sept. 5 with a match at Kentucky Wesleyan. The Norse will continue GLVC action on the road Sept. 8 at Saint Joseph’s, and close the trip the next day with a match at Indianapolis.

NKU plays its home opener Sept. 14 against Georgetown (Ky.).