LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine Volleyball team returns to Knights Hall for the first time since Feb. 6 as the Knights host Liberty in ASUN Conference matches on Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13. 
 
Despite the long layoff from home games, the Knights (3-9, 2-6 ASUN) are returning after winning their last two, knocking off North Alabama in five sets this past Saturday and Sunday.  Helping propel the Knights to the victories was senior middle/right side Abbie Oetting who was rewarded with ASUN Player of the Week accolades earlier this week.  The senior from Fort Wayne, Indiana became the first Knight to win a weekly volleyball honor from the ASUN.
 
Oetting turned in back-to-back stellar performances.  In Saturday's win, she put down 17 kills while hitting .412 and adding seven assisted blocks with a service ace. On Sunday, she tied a career high with 18 kills and hit at a .275 clip. Oetting's two assisted blocks on Sunday tied her with former teammate Margaret Horihan for the Bellarmine school record for most in a career with 206.
 
The Knights have another player inching her way up the career list.  Senior libero Karleigh Wilson is up to exactly 1200 digs in her career, which places her fifth all-time at Bellarmine.  The New Castle, Indiana native also turned in a solid weekend turning in back-to-back season highs in digs with 24 and 27.
 
Both Sam Rickert and Kalli Mau have served time as the Knights' primary setter. Rickert is averaging 8.3 assists per set while Mau has been dishing out 7.2 per frame.
 
The visiting Flames enter the week on a four-match losing skid, but it's one with which the Knights can identify as Liberty faced ASUN leader Kennesaw State in four straight matches.  On the year, the Flames are 2-7 overall with a 2-6 mark in league play. The Lady Flames' 2-7 record may be a bit deceiving as Liberty has faced the 16th-toughest schedule in the nation so far, as its opponents have totaled a .675 combined winning percentage.
 
Liberty comes in with a reputation for strong play at the net, currently ranking 32nd nationally with 2.61 blocks per set while Lydia Burts is the ASUN leader and ranks 9th in the nation with 1.54 blocks per set.
 
Offensively, Trinity Watts and Julia Mangum lead the Liberty attack with 82 and 81 kill respectively. Amaya Williams is the playmaker is averaging just over eight assists per set while junior libero Lilly Kruse is the digs leader with 99 on the season.
 
Friday's match is set to begin at 7 p.m. with Saturday's start time being 5 p.m. Prior to the match on Saturday, Bellarmine will honor its four seniors:  Oetting, Wilson, Kristen O'Toole, and Izzie Salameh.