Kearney, Neb. – The 9th ranked University of Nebraska Kearney volleyball team went 3-0 this past weekend, beating Western State (-18, -16,-18) on Thursday night, Mesa State (-17, -12, -20) Friday night, and Fort Lewis (-17, -16, -22) Saturday night.

The Lopers (21-3, 12-0 RMAC) have now won 38 straight RMAC regular season matches, one off its own league record.

On Saturday, UNK played its third match in three days against a Skyhawks (12-8, 6-6 RMAC) team that is tied for second place in the West Division.

Kearney came out strong in set one by grabbing a 6-3 lead. Fort Lewis wouldn't get closer then two points the rest of the way and three straight unforced 'Hawk errors allowed UNK to win the set by eight.

Early on in the second set, each team traded points before UNK broke a 3-3 tie on a FLC attack error. UNK used that error to its advantage by scoring four of the next five points to lead 7-4.

Just as in set one, the Lopers kept a five point lead for most of the way and won the set by nine points.

The third and final set featured was much closer as there were 11 ties and four lead changes.

The Lopers snapped a 20-20 tie with a service ace from senior setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn) and back to back kills by freshman right side Katie Sokowlowski (Kearney Catholic H.S.). FLC did get the deficit down to one point, 23-22, but a kill from freshman middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian H.S.) and an unforced effort ended the match.

Senior middle Jeri Walkowiak had a team-best 12 kills with fellow Grand Island naive Ariel Krolikowski having 11 kills and 10 digs from her outside hitter position. Also, Sokowlowski had nine kills in 16 swings (.562 attack pct.).

The night before, UNK swept West Division leader Mesa State (14-8, 8-4 RMAC). The Mavericks had already beaten, 3-2, the Lopers in a non-conference match during the UNK Fall Classic.

In set one, Mesa grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on the strength of two Loper hitting errors. UNK tied things at four on a kill by Walkowiak, then got a kill from senior Kelsey Werner (Grand Island) to lead 5-4. From that point on. MSC got no closer than three points.

Unlike set one, set two would see the Lopers jump out to 5-2 lead in part to a strong serving run by Krolikowski. Winning the set by 13 points, UNK also got strong serving from senior Setera Michaels (North Platte H.S.).

Set three would see Mesa score six straight to take an 11-6 lead. UNK came back to tie it at 18 and then back to back kill from Walkowiak made it a two point Loper lead. Three Mav errors, one from a block by Pesavento and Krolikowski, ended the night.

Recording 21 more kills then Mesa, Walkowiak paced the offense again (11 kills) with Werner at nine and Pesavento and Krolikowski at eight a piece. Senior libero Katlyn Heiserman (Machester, Ia.) was one of three UNK players to reach double digits in digs (13).

Against Western State (9-10, 4-8 RMAC), the Lopers scored the first five points of the mach and never trailed in winning set one by seven points. 

Things got a bit tougher in the second set as there were eight ties and five lead changes. UNK took a time out with things tied at 15 and came out after the break with three straight to regain control. A kill from Walkowiak then ended the set.

A 4-1 run in the third and final set broke a five all tie and UNK just cruised from there. Pesavento led the team in kills (12) with Sokolowski having nine kills and hitting at a .571 clip. Svec (13) led the Lopers in digs and also had two block assists.

UNK remains on the road with a match at Colorado Christian on Friday.