Aug. 27, 2001

CHIA MAKES NKU COACHING DEBUT TUESDAY

Norse play host to Charleston (W. Va.) at 7 p.m. Tuesday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team will open the season at 7 p.m. Tuesday when the Norse play host to the University of Charleston (W. Va.) in Regents Hall. Carlos Chia makes his NKU head coaching debut Tuesday night after serving the past seven years as an assistant coach with the Norse. Chia replaces Mary Biermann, who retired as head coach following last season. Chia inherits an NKU program that owns four consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference championships and has made four straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Norse return four starters from last year’s 27-7 team that advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament. NKU owns a 206-32 record during the past seven seasons, and the Norse advanced to the 1999 NCAA Division II Final Four. NKU features All-GLVC outside hitter Bethany Gastright. A year ago, Gastright recorded 600 kills and a .320 hitting percentage. She also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors and recorded at least 30 kills three times last season. Gastright, a graduate of Holy Cross High School, enters her senior season with 1,149 career kills (No. 6 in Norse history). NKU met Charleston in Regents Hall last season, and the Norse posted a 15-7, 15-3, 15-8 win over the Golden Eagles. NKU leads the all-time series with Charleston, 2-0.