Liz Holmes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - In terms of competition, this is the most challenging road trip the Great Lakes Valley Conference has to offer in volleyball. And Northern Kentucky University is set to begin that difficult journey this weekend.

NKU travels to Evansville, Ind., on Friday for an 8 p.m. match against defending GLVC champion Southern Indiana at the PAC Arena. The following day, the Norse will conclude the trip with a match against GLVC preseason favorite Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

NKU is 17-4 overall, 5-2 in the GLVC. Southern Indiana - having played one of the toughest schedules in the nation - is 14-9 overall, 6-3 in the GLVC. SIUE is 16-5 overall, 6-2 in the GLVC.

The Norse posted a four-game victory at Wheeling Jesuit last Thursday in a non-conference match. A pair of service aces by Andrea Lanham late in the second game keyed NKU’s victory.

Wheeling Jesuit owned a 29-28 lead and had already won the opening game by a 30-26 score. Lanham, however, served up an ace to tie the second stanza at 29-all, and she followed that with another ace to give NKU a 30-29 lead.

The Norse wrapped up the game with the next point and went on to defeat Wheeling Jesuit, 26-30, 31-29, 30-20, 30-12.

Lanham, a junior setter and a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, finished with 43 assists, seven digs and four aces. Lanham enters this weekend with 2,951 career assists at NKU.

NKU sophomore middle hitter Liz Holmes leads the GLVC in hitting percentage (.345) and kills (4.11 kpg). Holmes is also tied with teammate Lynne Fischesser for second place in the GLVC in service aces at 0.57 sapg.

NKU is ranked ninth in the latest NCAA II Great Lakes Region poll. The top eight teams in that poll will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament in November. Southern Indiana and SIUE are tied for sixth place in the rankings.

The winner of the GLVC Tournament, which will be played on the campus of the No. 1 seed Nov. 10-12, receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Rockhurst currently leads the GLVC with an 8-1 record.