Sept. 12, 2000

NKU PREPARES TO MEET QUINCY, UMSL

12th-ranked Norse begin GLVC play this Friday against Quincy

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team, now 6-2 after losing twice last week, will open up Great Lakes Valley Conference play this weekend by hosting Quincy University (7 p.m. on Friday) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2 p.m. on Saturday) in Regents Hall. The Norse lost to Grand Valley State on Friday, 7-15, 15-12, 15-8, 15-13, and then dropped a 15-2, 11-15, 15-12, 15-6 decision to Northwood (Mich.) on Saturday. NKU bounced back to defeat Ferris State 15-12, 8-15, 5-15, 15-13, 15-13 to finish the two-day tournament at Midland, Mich., with a 1-2 record. NKU is now ranked No. 12 nationally in the Division II poll. The Norse were ranked No. 3 nationally last week prior to the two losses to Grand Valley State and Northwood. Quincy owns a 5-7 record going into Friday’s match at NKU, and Missouri-St. Louis is currently 6-4. NKU has won 37 consecutive matches in Regents Hall entering Friday’s match with Quincy. The last team to beat NKU in Regents Hall was the University of New Haven, which knocked off the Norse in four games on Nov. 9, 1997. Since then, NKU won three consecutive matches in the GLVC Tournament to capture the 1997 conference title. The Norse then posted back-to-back unbeaten seasons at home (15-0 in 1998, 18-0 in 1999), and NKU is 1-0 at home this year. NKU has won 51 consecutive matches against GLVC opponents in Regents Hall dating back to Sept. 3, 1995, when IPFW defeated NKU in five games. GLVC WIN STREAK: NKU owns 34 consecutive victories against GLVC opponents. The last time NKU lost to a GLVC opponent was on the road at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville on Sept. 25, 1998, when the Cougars defeated the Norse in five games. GASTRIGHT LEADS GLVC: Junior outside hitter Bethany Gastright leads the GLVC with an average 5.12 kills per game. Gastright also ranks No. 9 in the GLVC at .47 service aces per game. BUROKER NO. 1 IN HITTING PERCENTAGE: NKU senior middle hitter Jessica Buroker leads the GLVC in hitting percentage at .357. Buroker also ranks No. 7 in the GLVC with 3.75 kills per game. CASEY NO. 2 IN ASSISTS: NKU senior setter Bobbi Casey ranks No. 2 in the GLVC with an average of 12.34 assists per game.