UNK Volleyball: #10 Lopers Win Two Close Sets, Sweep Bearcats

Outside hitters Emersen Cyza and Emilee Lane combined for 21 kills and libero Lauren Taubenheim dug up 22 balls to help No. 10 Nebraska Kearney get past Northwest Missouri

(-27, -23, -16) Friday night in Maryville.

UNK (24-3, 14-3) takes the season series from the Bearcats (14-11, 9-8) and moves to 6-3 in true road matches. The Lopers head to Missouri Western State on Saturday night and have another road trip next weekend.

The Bearcats had the Lopers on the ropes in set one, erasing an 11-6 deficit to lead 23-21. While the Lopers tied things up, Northwest reached set point after a kill by outside Olivia Dir. That would be the first of three set points for the 'Cats with UNK fighting off each one. A 3-0 set finishing run by the Lopers came as the result of a service error, ace by setter Peyton Neff (North Platte) and a kill by Cyza (Alliance).

The first set featured 12 ties and seven lead changes and set two was more of the same with nine ties and three lead changes. UNK trailed 16-13 but went on a 10-4 run to regain the momentum. Lane (Hays, Kan.) had two kills in this stretch with Czya serving up an ace. While the 'Cats got within 24-23, a kill from right side Jaden Ferguson (Lincoln SW) made it 2-0 on the scoreboard.

UNK then rolled in set three, out hitting NW by a .378-.167 margin. Ferguson had four kills in eight swings, middle Trista Marx (Limon, Colo.) did one better with four kills in seven attempts and Lane found the court five times in eight attempts.

Cyza ended up with 10 kills, four digs and three block assists, Lane provided 11 kills and a .267 percentage with Ferguson, returning to her alma mater, warming up late to the tune of seven kills, 13 digs, a solo block and going six for six in serve receive. UNK took advantage of eight NW service miscues while having three aces of its own.

Next, Marx had seven kills, four blocks and hit an even .400 with Taubenheim going 31 of 33 in serve receive, in addition to her defensive tally. Finally, Neff had 35 assists, 10 digs, four kills, two block assists and an ace.

Northwest was led by outside Lauren Casey (14 kills), middle Gabrielle Gartner (12 kills, three blocks, .345 pct.) and libero Kyah Luhring (27 digs).