Nov. 21, 1999

NKU WINS GREAT LAKES REGION TITLE

Norse outlast Northwood to advance to the Elite 8 for second straight year

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A year ago, Northern Kentucky University won the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional championship in routine fashion with an easy four-game victory against Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

On Sunday, NKU repeated as Great Lakes Region champions with a 17-15, 15-7, 8-15, 21-19 win over Northwood University.

But this four-game win was anything but routine. Especially the fourth game, which provided the Regents Hall crowd with some of the most exciting, exhausting and exhilarating play in the history of NKU volleyball.

One minute it was Jenny Jeremiah (22 kills, 27 digs) coming up with a key dig or a clutch kill. The next minute it was Jessica Buroker (19 kills, 26 digs) doing the same. There were also key plays by Greta Grinstead (two service aces, 23 digs, four assisted blocks), Bobbi Casey (76 assists, six kills, 15 digs) and Bethany Gastright (21 kills, 17 digs) in the fourth game. Denise Barhorst also had a key block in the fourth game and finished with 15 kills, seven digs, a solo block and five assisted blocks.

As a result, NKU outlasted the Timberwolves to extend its winning streak to 25 consecutive matches. NKU also won its 34th straight match in Regents Hall and improved to 32-1 heading into the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, which will be held at Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 2-4.

Northwood, which had won 21 straight matches before falling on Sunday, was led by Romana Moravkova’s 33 kills. Dena Zizkova had 21 kills and 33 digs for the Timberwolves, who finished the season with a 27-8 record.

NKU will face North Alabama (35-6) in the Elite Eight at Kellogg Arena on Dec. 2. The time of that match will be announced this week.

Great Lakes Regional All-Tournament Team

Jessica Buroker, NKU

Bobbi Casey, NKU

Morgan Buckner, Ferris State

Meirong Lu, Northern Michigan

Romana Moravkova, Northwood

Jenny Jeremiah, NKU