Sept. 26, 2000

NKU HITS ROAD FOR UWP, LEWIS

Norse ranked 11th nationally in latest poll

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team is now 11-2 overall (5-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) after defeating Saint Joseph’s College, 15-7, 15-6, 15-13, in Regents Hall on Saturday. NKU will travel to Kenosha, Wis., for an 8 p.m. match against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday. The Norse will conclude the trip Saturday at Romeoville, Ill., with a 3 p.m. match against Lewis University. NKU is ranked No. 11 in this week’s AVCA Division II national poll. Junior outside hitter Bethany Gastright - who was named the Division II National Player of the Week this past Monday - had 17 kills and a .412 hitting percentage Saturday to lead the Norse to their 41st consecutive win in Regents Hall. Junior middle hitter Julie Hathorn added eight kills and a .571 hitting percentage for the Norse. Gastright leads the GLVC in kills per game (5.44 kpg), and she also has a .334 hitting percentage. Gastright was also named GLVC tri-Player of the Week after recording 74 kills (6.167 kpg) and a .359 hitting percentage this past week. Senior middle hitter Jessica Buroker leads the GLVC in hitting percentage (.356), and she ranks No. 9 in the GLVC in kills per game (3.72). Senior setter Bobbi Casey ranks No. 2 in the GLVC in assists per game (12.54 apg), and she is No. 6 in service aces (.48 sapg). STREAK CONTINUES: NKU’s Regents Hall winning streak is now up to 41 consecutive matches. 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. The NCAA Division II all-time record for consecutive homecourt victories is 109, set by New Haven from 1992-97. NKU has won 55 consecutive matches against GLVC opponents in Regents Hall dating back to Sept. 3, 1995, when IPFW defeated the Norse in five games. NKU also owns 39 consecutive victories against GLVC opponents after Saturday’s win. 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. ALL-TIME AGAINST UWP, LU: NKU is 8-0 all-time against Wisconsin-Parkside, and the Norse own a 17-8 record against Lewis. The Norse have beaten the Flyers 12 consecutive times. The last time NKU lost to Lewis was during the 1992 season, when the Flyers knocked off the Norse in five games.