-----Liz Holmes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University will play host to NAIA powerhouse Georgetown (Ky.) at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Norse’s 2006 home opener.

NKU is 5-7 overall after dropping a three-game decision at Indianapolis last Saturday.

The Norse are 2-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Five of NKU’s seven losses have come against nationally ranked teams.

NKU will also play host to Wheeling Jesuit at 3 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall.

NKU junior middle hitter Liz Holmes enters the Georgetown match with 985 career kills. Holmes, a graduate of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, is looking to become just the 11th player in Norse history to reach 1,000 kills.

Georgetown, which plays at Lindsey Wilson on Wednesday night, is ranked 16th nationally in the NAIA poll. The Tigers finished with a 40-10 record last season and advanced to the NAIA Tournament.

NKU holds a 21-5 lead in the all-time series with Georgetown (Ky.). The two teams last met on Oct. 1, 2002, when the Norse defeated the Tigers in four games. Nicole Salisbury recorded 21 kills and a .529 hitting percentage to lead NKU to a 30-20, 24-30, 30-20, 30-16, that night in Regents Hall.

Sophomore right-side hitter Kristina Eisenmenger leads NKU in kills with 143, and she is attacking at a .317 clip. Junior outside hitter Tristen Dye is No. 2 on the team with 122 kills.

Senior setter Andrea Lanham averages 10.62 assists per game. Lanham, a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, currently ranks No. 2 in Norse history with 3,902 assists. Molly Donovan is NKU’s all-time career leader with 4,971 assists.

In the loss at Indianapolis last Saturday, Lynne Ross recorded 10 kills and attacked at a .588 clip to lead the Greyhounds to the sweep by scores of 30-27, 30-28, 30-19. The Norse hit just .154, while Indianapolis finished at .283.

NKU built a 25-21 lead in the second game and appeared to be on the verge of taking the set after Holmes converted a kill to give the Norse a 28-25 advantage. Indianapolis rallied, however, and scored the final five points to win the second game.

On the final point, Ross blocked an attack by Holmes to give the Greyhounds a 30-28 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third game, Indianapolis hit .379 and coasted to the victory. Eisenmenger led NKU with 14 kills, and Dye finished with 10 kills.