UNK Volleyball: #7 Lopers Rebound from Season-Opening Loss

Kearney, Neb. – The seventh-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team rebounded from a season-opening loss on Thursday night to sweep both Biola (Calif.) and Dallas Baptist Friday in Texas.
The Lopers (2-1) finish up the “Dallas Classic” vs. Mississippi Christian (0-2) at 10 a.m.
UNK dropped a tough second set to former RMAC rival Colorado Mesa (-17, -29, -17) in the tourney and season opener. The Blue & Gold was up 18-12 and 23-20, but the Mavericks (2-1) fought off four set points to rally. Overall, outside Ashlee Macias and middle/right side Addie Ritterbush combined for 29 kills as Mea out hit UNK by a .295-.136 margin.
This morning against the Biola Eagles (-19, -24, -25), the Lopers rallied from a 23-20 hole in the second set to move ahead 2-0 on the scoreboard.  A 6-1 closing run included two kills from outside Carly Purdy (North Platte) and a combined block from middle Sydney Davis (Dannebrog) and right side Brynn Stowell (Olathe, Kan.).
In set three, Biola was up 15-7 and 16-9 before UNK rallied. Back-to-back kills from Purdy and an unforced Eagles error made it 24-23 and then teams traded points. Finally, another unforced BU error ended the match. Purdy (15 kills, .316 pct.) and Davis (eight kills, .467 pct.) paced the offense with Davis one of four Lopers to have four block assists.
UNK had another big block (10.0) against the home standing Patriots (-23, -21, -20). Davis had six assisted stuffs with senior bright side Bryn McNair (Imperial) at four and three others with three apiece.
Each set went down to the wire with the Lopers taking each thanks to some timely plays and unforced DBU errors. Purdy (13) and Stowell (nine) combined for 22 kills with libero Ellie Spang (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and outside Grace Schmedding (Olathe, Kan.) both at 14 digs. Finally, freshman setter Ellie Eckman (Lincoln SW) had 20 assists and 10 digs.