Kearney, Neb. – The 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball blitzed # 25 Augustana (-18, -15, -16) Wednesday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.

UNK improves to 5-0 while the Vikings, also members of the Central Region, drop to 3-2 on the young season.

Last November, the Lopers ended Augustana's season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 3-2. While UNK returns nearly everyone from that match, Augustana is in more of a rebuilding mold in 2009.

The Lopers depth and experience showed as five different players at least seven kills with three players digging up at least 10 balls.

Kearney jumped on the home team right out of the gates, blocking five balls in the first set to hold the Vikings to a .050 attack percentage (10 kills, eight errors, 40 attempts). UNK finished the match with 10.0 team blocks with Grand Island juniors Jeri Walkowiak and Kelsey Werner having six a piece.

In the second set, Augie hit at an even lower percentage (.000) as they had seven kills and seven errors. UNK, meanwhile, finished the night at a .255 clip and had just 16 errors all night.

Elkhorn junior outside Chelsie Carson paced the UNK offense as she had seven kills in 10 swings, good for a .700 attack percentage. Werner and Broken Bow senior middle Nikki Scott each tied for the team lead in kills (nine) with Walkowiak having seven as well.

In the back row, Humphrey senior libero Kelli Wemhoff dug up a team-best 17 balls. Finally, Elkhorn junior setter Cola Svec had 37 assists, 11 digs and three kills.

UNK plays two matches Friday and two matches Saturday in the St. Cloud State Invitational. Live stats are available for all four matches; a link is available at www.lopers.com.

The Lopers return home to play Nebraska-Omaha next Wednesday and then open up RMAC play Thursday against Colorado Christian at 6:00 p.m. The CCU match was originally set for Friday but moved up a day to accommodate Christian's travel plans; the Cougar soccer team plays UNK on Thursday at 7:00 p.m