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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s Liz Holmes is slamming and pounding the volleyball so effectively that she now ranks No. 2 nationally in the latest NCAA Division II statistics. Holmes is attacking the ball at a .481 clip and barely trails Tampa’s Erin Clark (.484) for the top spot in the nation in hitting percentage. The senior middle hitter from Mercy High School in Cincinnati has converted 328 kills in 553 attempts with 62 errors this season. A two-time honorable mention All-America selection by the AVCA, Holmes has led NKU to a 17-4 record this season and a No. 22 national ranking. She has been at her best against many of the nation’s top teams, as evidenced by her 23 kills and .450 hitting percentage last week during a four-game win over then-No. 12 Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. Holmes also added 18 digs in that NKU victory, which snapped SIUE’s Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season winning streak at 37. She followed that performance a day later with 20 kills and a .704 hitting percentage during a sweep of Southern Indiana. Holmes needs 79 kills to pass Bethany Gastright (1,702 kills) for the top spot in Norse history, and she is looking to become just the third NKU player to earn first team All-America honors. Jessica Buroker (1999) and Kristin Koralewski (2003) are currently the only two NKU players to be named to the AVCA All-America first team. As a team, NKU ranks No. 2 nationally in hitting percentage at .310. Tampa leads the nation in hitting at .328. NKU junior setter Natalie Forbes is No. 7 nationally in assists at 13.17 apg. The junior from Highlands High School leads the GLVC in that category. Junior right-side hitter Kristina Eisenmenger is 19th nationally in hitting at .381. NKU plays at Missouri-St. Louis on Thursday night. A year ago, the Tritons swept the Norse in St. Louis by scores of 30-21, 30-23, 30-27, marking the first time in history Missouri-St. Louis defeated NKU in volleyball. The Norse own a 17-1 advantage in the all-time series. NKU also plays at Missouri-Rolla on Friday night, and concludes the road trip Saturday afternoon with a match at Quincy. |
