Kearney, Neb. – The 10th ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team swept matches from Regis Friday night (-19, -18, -18) and nationally ranked Metro State (-24, -21, -29) on Saturday afternoon.

UNK improves to 15-3 and 7-0 in the RMAC while Metro falls to 10-5 and 5-2 in the RMAC. The Lopers have also won the last 12 regular season matches against the Roadrunners and 25 straight against Regis (8-6, 4-2 RMAC).

As expected, the Metro match was a battle as it featured 30 ties and 12 lead changes. Last November, the 'Runners beat UNK, 3-2, in the RMAC Tournament finals.

Metro State came out strong, scoring the first three points of the match on kills by Emily Greenhalgh (18 kills in 55 swings). However, UNK came back quickly to tie things at five and then the two teams battled back and forth.

Back-to-back kills from sophomore outside Ariel Krolikowski (14 kills, 10 digs) gave the Lopers a 23-22 lead. Another kill from the G.I. naive tied things at 24 and then a Metro error, and kill from freshman right side Katie Sokowlowski (nine kills, .562 attack pct.) gave UNK a 1-0 match lead.

The Roadrunners started set two like the first one by scoring the first two points and eventually leading 6-2, forcing UNK to take a timeout. After the quick break, the Lopers took a 9-8 lead and Metro was the team calling a T.O.

Both teams had small scoring runs before the Lopers closed out set two by scoring five of the last six points to grab a commanding 2-0 lead.

Metro wouldn't go easily, however, as they came back from a 4-1 third deficit to tie things at 10. UNK eventually grabbed a 18-15 lead but the 'Runners tied things at 22 on a kill from All-American outside Bri Morley (15 kills). 

Both teams served for match point but the other club managed to tie things back up. UNK caught a break when senior libero Katlyn Heiserman (Manchester, Iowa) dug up a ball that then went over the net for an unlikely kill and a 28-27 Loper lead.

A kill from freshman middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) then ended things. 

For the match, the Lopers out dug, 72-69, and out blocked, 8.0-5.0, the Roadrunners but Metro registered three more kills, 52-49. UNK was more efficient, hitting 35 points higher then the home team (.208 to .173).

Individually, Heiserman finished with 21 digs, senior middle Jeri Walkowiak (Grand Island) had 10 kills and three blocks and senior setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn) had 37 assists, 14 digs, four kills and two blocks.

Walkowiak (13 kills, three blocks, .500 attack pct.) and Pesavento (10 kills, .381 attack pct.) came up big in a win over a Regis team that has been ranked nationally this year.

The Lopers did struggle in set one with the Rangers tying things at 17 on a kill from All-RMAC outside Jessica Howe. But, an ace from Krolikowski started a 3-0 run that Regis didn't recover from.

UNK took a timeout early in the second set after getting down 7-3. The Lopers stormed back to take a 16-12 lead and force the Rangers to called timeout. That didn't help to much as UNK kept its lead at three the rest of he way.

In the third and final set, UNK led all the way after things were tied at one. Two kills from Pesavento ended the set and match.

Heiserman (20) led the way in digs with sophomore DS Kaleigh Anderson (11) and Svec (10) also reaching double figures in the category.

UNK returns to action on Tuesday night against Chadron State.