UNK Volleyball: #6 Lopers Easily Sweep NAIA Warriors

Kearney, Neb. – The now sixth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team served up a season-high 10 aces and got kills from 12 different players to sweep Sterling College (-11, -13, -11) Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Beginning a four-match homestand, the Lopers (21-1) face travel partner Fort Hays State (10-8) Friday night and then get the weekend off.

This was a countable match for the Warriors (12-11) who hail from Sterling, Kan. They used 16 different players with seven having a kill. Sterling returns to NAIA action Saturday at Evangel (Mo.).

There were just five ties and three lead changes as UNK out hit SC by a .290-.000 margin. The Warriors had 21 kills and 21 errors, 17 of the unforced kind, but also dug up 45 balls.

“They played really good defense. We took some great swings…they block touched a lot of balls, they slowed balls down, we got blocked a little, they dug some hard-hit balls,” said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. “They came to play and had the right mentality. I’m sure they took some things away from this match and we appreciate them coming up here. It’s hard to find home matches.”

Recording its 42nd straight win over an NAIA foe, the Lopers got six kills apiece from outsides Carly Purdy (North Platte), Emilee Lane (Hays, Kan.) and Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) and middle Abby Rose (Lindsborg, Kan.). Lane reached her tally in just eight swings (.750 pct.) with Rose at 10 attempts (.400 pct.) and providing two blocks at the net.  

“There were a couple of things we wanted to see tonight. We wanted to make sure Carly got swings on both pins and we accomplished that. I thought she handled herself well,” said Squiers. “Rhyan (Mock) came in and played good volleyball for us, we need to keep getting Trista (Marx) involved so she was able to come in and do some good things.”  

In the backrow, libero Alli Wiese (Mattawan, Mich.) and DS Addyson Mock (Stilwell, Kan.) had 15 kills apiece with freshman setter Julia Davenport (Papillion-LaVista) at two aces and nine assists.

“Elli (Mehlin) played well coming off the bench and had a nice service run. Julia did some setting as well and it’s so hard to get your backup setters any kind of game reps at all,” said Squiers. “Everyone was as sharp as they could be, and we didn’t make a bunch of errors.”

Libero Makenna Linden (20 digs) and outside Chloe Schmidt (eight kills, two digs, two blocks) paced the Warriors.