Sept. 21, 2000

NKU TO HOST IPFW ON FRIDAY

Norse look to extend home winning streak to 40 on Friday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team, which posted a 15-9, 12-15, 15-7, 16-14 win at the University of Indianapolis on Wednesday night, will play host to Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. Friday in Regents Hall. NKU is now 9-2 overall, 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU is ranked No. 12 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. The Norse will also play host to Saint Joseph’s College at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Norse have won 39 consecutive home matches entering Friday night’s match against IPFW (8-5). NKU also has won 53 consecutive matches against GLVC opponents in Regents Hall dating back to Sept. 3, 1995, when IPFW defeated the Norse in five games. NKU now owns 37 consecutive victories against GLVC opponents after Wednesday’s victory at Indianapolis. 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. NKU junior outside hitter Bethany Gastright had 30 kills and six blocks Wednesday night to lead NKU. It was the third time this season Gastright has recorded at least 30 kills in a match. Gastright leads the GLVC in kills per game (5.42) and has a .333 hitting percentage. Senior middle hitter Jessica Buroker added 19 kills at Indianapolis and leads NKU in hitting percentage at .367. A YEAR AGO AGAINST IPFW: NKU defeated IPFW twice last season, knocking off the Mastodons in five games at Fort Wayne, Ind., on Sept. 24, and later taking a 3-0 victory against IPFW in the championship match of the GLVC Tournament in Regents Hall. NKU has now beaten IPFW six consecutive times. IPFW’s last victory against the Norse came during the championship match of the 1996 GLVC Tournament at Fort Wayne, Ind.