Kearney, Neb. – The 10th ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team swept Fort Lewis (-13, -26, -18) in a quarterfinal match of the RMAC Volleyball Tournament Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK improves to 27-4 on the season while the Skyhawks ends the season at 15-12. The Lopers swept an earlier meeting with FLC back on Oct. 16, in Durango, Colo.

Kearney now will play 5th-seed Regis, a 3-1 winner over 4th-seed Colorado Mines, Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in one semifinal match. The other side of the bracket has No. 2 Mesa State vs. No. 3 Metro State and 4:30 pm.

In the first set, the Lopers jumped out to an early 13-7 lead by getting kills from sophomore outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island), freshman middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian), freshman right side Katie Sokowlowski (Kearney Catholic) and seniors Kelsey Werner (Grand Island) and Jeri Walkowiak (Grand Island).

Fort Lewis would get within eight points, 16-8, before the Lopers closed the set out on a nine to five run.

The second set would be a different story; the set would see eight ties and two lead changes. The 'Hawks held a two point lead midway through the set, 13-11, before UNK came back to grab a 20-17 advantage, thanks to a block from Pesavento and Sokowlowski and an ace from setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn).

FLC battled back toward the end of the set, scoring two straight to tie things at 24. UNK scored the next point off of kill by Werner to lead but a Loper service error gave Fort Lewis life.

The two teams traded points before UNK got kills from Werner and Walkowiak to win the set and lead 2-0 in the match.

The Skyhawks raced out to a 6-2 lead in the third set by getting three total kills from Kristin Stephan and Adriana Siaz, a block and two unforced UNK errors.

UNK tied things at nine and then grabbed a 13-10 lead.  Strong serving runs by Krolikowski and sophomore defensive specialist Kaleigh Anderson (Lincoln SW) eventually put away Fort Lewis, 25-16.

The Lopers were lead in kills by Walkowiak (12), who also hit .345 and had two blocks. Werner (11) and Krolikowski (10) each reached double digits in kills with Svec having a double-double with 35 assists and 16 digs.

Other Tournament Scores
3 Metro State defeats 6 Western New Mexico, 3-1 (-15, -20, 21-25, -20)
2 Mesa State defeats 7 Colorado-Colorado Springs, 3-1 (23-25, -17, -20, -19)
5 Regis defeats 4 Colorado School Mines, 3-1 (23-25, -17, -20, -19)