Kearney, Neb. – The 12th ranked University of Nebraska Kearney volleyball team began conference play with a sweep of New Mexico Highland 3-0 (-7, -11, -12), Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK would jump out to a ten to two lead in the first set. Freshman middle hitter Ellie Pesavento (Omaha, NE/ Marian) would record three kills and three of her team high five blocks early on in the set. Nebraska Kearney would go on to close out set one with a 15-5 scoring run.

The Cowgirls would score the first point of the second set on an attack error by sophomore outside hitter Jena Isaacson (Holdrege, NE/ Holdrege). The Loper would score the next five points to led 5-1. Highlands would get no closer than seven points of the Lopers at 13-6. UNK would go on to win set two by the score of 25-11.

True Freshman outside hitter Ashley Leitner (Lincoln, Ne/Southwest) would get her first career kill and start in set three, that would give UNK a 13-6 lead. Highlands got within five points of the Lopers midway through the set. The Lopers would close out the match on 10-2, getting kills from junior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island, NE/Grand Island), another true freshman middle Morgan Fisher (Wood River, NE/ Wood River) and sophomore setter Jenna Rouzee (Grand Island, NE/Northwest; to win set three 25-12.

For the night UNK would have a season high in blocks with nine. Pesavento would lead the team in kills with 11 on 24 attacks to hit .375. Senior setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn, NE/Elkhorn) would hand out 22 assist and record two kills on four attacks to have a hitting percentage of .500.

Nebraska Kearney takes on Colorado State University-Pueblo at 7 pm tomorrow night.