Kearney, Neb. - The 10th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team shook off a slow start and recorded 12 blocks to beat Colorado School of Mines in four sets (22-25, -15, -19, -16) Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (12-3, 5-0 RMAC) remains unbeaten in league play while the Orediggers (10-3, 4-1), a 2009 NCAA Tournament team, lose their first RMAC match of the season.

This marked the 600th collegiate win for Loper head coach Rick Squiers. He has recorded 366 wins at UNK, 206 at Hastings College and 28 at Seward (Kan.) County C.C. Including time at the high school level, his career mark now stands at 673-147.

Mines was playing shorthanded tonight as star outside hitter Elizabeth Serra-Hsu  was out with injury. Little used Megan Otting (10 kills, four blocks, three digs) played well in her absence.

The 'Diggers came out on fire, recording 18 kills and hitting .295 to take the first set by three points. A kill by Otting broke a 16 all tie and Mines didn't trail the rest of the set.

UNK, which recorded at least 14 kills in each set, eventually took control of the match as Mines had just 25 kills the rest of the way. For the night, the Lopers hit .217 and registered 61 kills while the 'Diggers came in at .116 with 43 kills.

Outsides Ariel Krolikowski (18 kills) and Kelsey Werner (14 kills) led the offense with freshman middle Ellie Pesavento having 12 kills and hitting a team-best .360. Finally, senior middle Jeri Walkowiak had six of her 14 kills in the fourth and final set.

Defensively, the Lopers got eight blocks from Walkowiak, four from freshman right side Katie Sokowlowski (Kearney Catholic H.S.) and three from Werner. In the back row, senior libero Katlyn Heiserman had 22 digs with senior setter Cola Svec digging up 21 balls. She also had 50 assists and three blocks (one solo).

Mines was led by Anna Padget-Smith (11 kills, four blocks) and Jackie Stabell (10 kills, seven digs, three blocks).

UNK hosts Hastings Wednesday before hitting the road to take on two nationally-ranked teams, Regis and Metro State, next weekend in Denver.