#4 Lopers Sweep Newman Again

Senior outside Emilee Lane had 10 kills and senior middle Abby Rose hit .500 as fourth-ranked Nebraska Kearney swept Newman (-11, -24, -18) Saturday afternoon in Wichita.

This was the only meeting this year between the Lopers (23-2, 10-2) and Jets (2-21, 0-12). UNK is now 18-0 all-time vs. NU with 17 of the victories coming in three sets.

This sweep was a little bit more difficult as Newman made UNK work for it in both the second and third sets. The Lopers hit .476 (11-1-21) to roll in set one but it was a back-and-forth affair all second set.

The Jets led 10-6 and then rallied from a 20-17 deficit to move ahead again. A 6-2 spurt was capped by a combined block from freshman outside Sky Miller and sophomore outside Avery Kelley. That made it 23-22 NU, but Lane recorded three straight kills, sandwiched around one for the Jets, to give the Lopers set point. They took advantage and moved ahead 2-0 after an unforced error.

UNK jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the final set, but Newman came back to have things tied at 10 and then were up 15-13 after an ace by junior outside Josie Weers. However, a rare 10-0 Loper spurt followed that featured two aces from Indiana libero Ellie Spang and two kills apiece from Lane and Imperial junior Bryn McNair. Finally, Rose was in on the final two points thanks to a block assist and kill.

Lane reached her kill tally in just 21 swings (.429 pct.) with Rose at nine in only 14 attempts. Next, North Platte outside Carly Purdy had eight kills with Missouri junior middle Mia Berg at a team best six blocks. Finally, Spang had 12 digs and three aces.

An Omaha Westside graduate, Miller (15 kills, .373 pct.) paced the Newman attack.

UNK hosts the two teams, Washburn (21-2, 10-2) and Emporia State (18-4, 9-2), it lost to next weekend at Buckle court.