#8 Lopers Start Long Homestand with Sweep of Peru

Keanrey, Neb. – The eighth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team hit .314 and got kills from 12 different players to sweep Peru State (-17, -10, -11) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the 2025 home opener for the Lopers (5-0). They have five more matches on Buckle Court in the next week, starting Thursday vs. Sioux Falls.

All 19 healthy Lopers took to the court against the NAIA Bobcats who are now 6-5. They put up a fight in the opening set, recording 12 of their 21 kills with Alejandra Villarreal leading the way.

“I thought Peru State came to play, and they are definitely a much-improved program. I like the roster that have; some of their younger players will be heard from soon and I think they’ll have a good year,” said Loper head coach Rick Squiers. “We had to play well to get control of this thing. We struggled to stop them (in the first set) and that was a little concerning on our side.”

UNK had 27 kills over the final two sets with Peru at just eight. Both teams subbed liberally and used many different lineups. Seventeen different ‘Cats played with Villarreal (six kills, seven digs) and Kalolaine (five) leading the offense.

“All of our practice drills are competitive and both sides win. We are deep at every position, and I think that’s made a little more difficult for the coaching staff to try and put this thing together and determine what our rotation is going to be,” said Squiers. “The depth has probably been as strong at it’s been in a longtime.”

Imperial junior Bryn McNair paced the Lopers as she had seven kills and hit .583 with Kansas sophomore Brynn Stowell at six kills, two blocks and hitting .315. Next, Kansas senior middle Abby Rose had five kills in six attempts (.833 pct.) and five digs. Finally, Indiana junior libero Ellie Spang had a season-best 23 digs, Missouri senior Aleena Peterson had two aces with three different setters combing for 41 assists

“All of the setters played well and that’s really had to do coming off the bench. You have to find a little rhythm, and you haven’t touched a ball for 30 or 40 minutes,” said Squiers. “They came in made good decisions and gave our hitters a chance to score.”

 

USF went 3-1 in a Florida tournament next week, falling to longtime Loper rival Metro State in four sets.