Kearney, Neb. – The 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team got 12 kills from both middle Nikki Scott and outside Erica Burson to beat a game Western New Mexico squad (-24, -22, -19) Saturday night in Silver City N.M.

A day earlier, the Lopers (20-1, 11-0 RMAC) easily got past a one-win New Mexico Highlands squad (-11, -12, -16). The win over Western (9-10, 7-4) was the Lopers 14th straight.

In Saturday's first set, Western got a kill from Natali Murdock (10 kills, three blocks) to reach set point. UNK tied things up on a kill from Scott (12 kills, .440) and then an unforced error from Western forced the Mustangs to take timeout. The break didn't help as a kill from Burson (12 kills, .three blocks) gave UNK a 1-0 lead.

UNK led the second set by only a 23-21 score after a block from Murdock and Jordan Johnston. The Lopers closed Western out this time on kills from Burson and junior Kelsey Werner (seven kills, two blocks). The third set featured seven ties but UNK led for the majority, finishing off the Mustangs for good on a solo block from junior outside Chelsie Carson.

For the match, UNK had a slight lead in both kills, 45-42 and digs, 69-67. The Lopers did out hit Western by nearly 100 points. 205 to .113. Also for the Lopers, junior middle Jeri Walkowiak had eight kills, three blocks and hit a match-high .571.

Against Highlands, six different Lopers had four kills as the Cowboys fell to 1-18 on the season. Walkowiak returned from the disabled list to have five kills in five swings.

After a home match with Hastings College Wednesday night, UNK heads out West again, facing West Division leader Mesa State and Fort Lewis next weekend.