July 27, 2001

NKU FAVORED IN GLVC PRESEASON POLL

Norse picked by coaches to win fifth straight GLVC championship

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship by the GLVC coaches. NKU, which has won four consecutive GLVC championships and made four straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, returns four starters from last year's 27-7 team. NKU advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament last season and finished with a No. 20 ranking in the national poll. 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 graduate of Holy Cross High School. A year ago, Gastright recorded 600 kills and a .320 hitting percentage. Gastright enters her senior season with 1,149 career kills, which ranks No. 6 in Norse history. GLVC Volleyball Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses) 1. Northern Kentucky (7) 2. Lewis (1) 3. Southern Indiana (2) 4. Quincy (1) 5. Southern Illinois Edwardsville 6. Missouri-St. Louis 7. Indianapolis 8. Wisconsin-Parkside 9. Saint Joseph's 10. Bellarmine 11. Kentucky Wesleyan