Kearney, Neb. - The 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team continued its winning ways over Nebraska-Omaha by sweeping the Mavericks Tuesday night (-15, -21, -19) at the Health & Sports Center.

A season-high crowd of 1,601 watched the Lopers improve to 24-1 while the Mavs, in the process of moving to Division I, fall to 5-22.

UNK has now won 10 of the last 11 meetings with UNO to lead the all-time series 31-23. The Mavs haven't won in Kearney since 2000 and this marks the first sweep in the series, by either team, since 2001.

Earlier this year, UNK rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Mavs in Omaha. Tonight's match didn't go as long but still featured 26 ties, 11 lead changes and several long rallies.

In set one, three unforced Omaha errors broke a seven all tie and head coach Rose Shires called a timeout to regroup her team. Another UNO service error made it 13-10 Lopers and then sophomore outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) served up four straight points.

This stretch included a kill from sophomore middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and an ace from Leitner.

UNO came back to lead the second set 16-13 after back-to-back kills by Natalie Ebke. UNK stayed within striking distance and eventually moved ahead for good, 21-20, after a block by junior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) and sophomore middle Haley Lake (Lincoln SE).

UNK closed out the set thanks to a kills by Lake and sophomore right side Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic).

In the final set, Omaha rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 5-1 to lead 18-16. However, three straight Kearney points forced UNO to take a timeout and they never led again. 

After a kill by Lake made it 20-19, Rouzee served up two aces to push the lead to three. A block by Lake and junior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) made it 24-19 and then UNO hit one into the net to end the match.

UNK had just two more kills than the Mavs, 38-36, but hit over 100 points higher (.226 to .100). UNO also had nine service errors and saw the Lopers dig up 10 more balls, 76-66.

Individually, Lake had a match-high 13 kills while hitting .462. The RMAC leader in attack percentage also had four digs and three blocks.

Four other Lopers had between five and seven kills with Rouzee handing out 33 assists, having 10 digs, three blocks, two aces and a kill.

Libero Angie Reicks (22 digs) and Brittany Hanssen (nine kills, .500 attack pct.) led UNO.

UNK plays at nationally-ranked Regis and Metro State this weekend in Denver.