Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team hit .342 and .352 to sweep both Newman (-18, -15, -14) and Fort Hays State (-14, -15, -11) Saturday at the Health & Sports Center.

The matches were part of the Best Western/Runza Fall Classic. UNK won the tournament with a 4-0 mark, Bemidji was second at 3-1, Newman went 2-2 and Fort Hays State was winless.

After a 4-0 start, UNK is hitting .362 as a team while holding its opponents to a .089 effort.

This morning against the NU Jets (2-2) from Wichita, Kan., UNK got 10 kills from senior outside Erica Burson (Gross Catholic) and eight kills from junior middle Jeri Walkowiak (Grand Island).

Sixteen different Lopers played in the 1:10 match with redshirt freshman Jenna Isaacson (Holdrege) and sophomore Alex Miller (Grand Island) earning their first starts. Another change in the lineup was junior Katlyn Heiserman (Manchester, Ia.) starting at libero; she tied junior setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn) for the team lead in digs with 14.

Finally against Newman, tournament MVP Nikki Scott (Broken Bow) had nine kills in 13 swings for a stellar .692 attack percentage.

In the final match of the tournament, UNK again used 16 players with Isaacson and Miller starting once more and Hesierman being the Lopers' libero.

UNK quickly jumped out the Tigers, having 17 kills and hitting .455 in the first set. For the match, Burson led the way with 10 kills while Walkowiak had nine and Scott added seven. Heiserman led the defense with 13 digs with Isaacson and senior Shannon Clausen (Beatrice) each having two blocks.


Other Saturday Scores

Newman 3, Rockhurst 2 (23-25, -22, 10-25, -21, -11)

Bemidji State 3, Fort Hays State 0 (-23, -17, -22)

Bemidji State 3, Rockhurst 0 (-19, -24, -19)


All-Tournament Team

Nikki Scott, UNK (MVP)

Erica Burson, UNK

Cola Svec, UNK

Jeri Walkowiak, UNK

Brie Groskreutz, Bemidji State

Courtney Bitter, Bemidji State

Amy Shorette, Newman