Kearney, Neb. - Middle blockers Jeri Walkowiak and Ellie Pesavento combined for 29 kills and four blocks to help the 9th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team get by Colorado Christian (-21, -19, -19) Friday night in Lakewood, Colo.

This was the Lopers (22-3, 13-0 RMAC) only match of the weekend as they play at Chadron State this coming Tuesday. With the win over the Cougars (14-11, 7-6 RMAC), UNK wins its 39th straight RMAC regular season match, tying its own record set between 2003-05.

Against an improving CCU program, the Lopers found themselves in a battle as the first set featured 16 ties and 10 lead changes. A kill from sophomore outside Erica Brown allowed the Cougars to tie things for the 10th and final time, 20-20.

Back-to-back kills from senior outside Kelsey Werner (Grand Island) and freshman right side Katie Sokowlowski (Kearney Catholic) opened up a two-point Loper lead. A block by Werner and Walkowiak tallied another point and CCU was forced to call a timeout.

A kill from Walkowiak, her seventh of the set, gave UNK a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set, UNK got out to a 16-9 lead but had to sweat a bit as a CCU service ace cut the Loper lead to just trhee, 22-19. However, Christian followed up that ace with a service error and then UNK won the set thanks to a kill from Pesavento and an unforced error by Brown.

UNK led the third and final set from start to finish with kills from Sokowlowski and Walkowiak ending the match.

Walkowiak had match-highs in kills (17) and attack percentage (.600) while also providing four digs. Pesavento had 12 kills and hit .500 with Sokowlowski recording six kills, three blocks, three digs and a .364 hitting efficiency.

On the outside, Grand Island sophomore Ariel Krolikowski had eight kills and a team-high 16 digs.

Five different CCU players had between four and nine kills, including middle Andi Weber (seven kills, 13 digs, two blocks).

Besides the Eagles on Tuesday, UNK hosts Metro State and Regis next week.