Kearney, Neb. - The schedule is about to get a lot tougher for the 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team as the Lopers head to Denver, for the last time as an RMAC member, to face Regis and Metro State.

Right after playing the 25th-ranked Rangers (19-6) on Friday night and the 10th-ranked Roadrunners (19-4) Saturday afternoon, UNK returns home to face 13th-ranked Wayne State Tuesday night.

Fans not making the trip to Denver can follow both matches via live stats. For a fee, fans can also watch the matches via America One. Note the Metro match will be at 4:00 p.m. Central and the Ranger match starts at 8:00 p.m. Central.

Next weekend, a talented Colo.-Colo. Springs teams visits and then No. 21 Colorado School of Mines is the Lopers final opponent for the 2011 regular season.

UNK (24-1, 13-1 RMAC), who is third in the all-important Central Region rankings, will look to beat Regis for a 29th straight time. Earlier this year in Kearney, the Lopers swept the Rangers (-12, -15, -11).

Coming off a 3-2 loss at Mines, Regis is 7-3 at home and has overcome the loss of 2010 RMAC Freshman of the Year Christina Henzgen, who is out with injury.

A balanced attack includes DePaul transfer Kyndell Highland (2.96 kps, 0.60 dps), freshman outside Jessica Wojcik (2.18 kps, 2.35 dps) and junior middle Caitlin McDonnell (2.55 kps, .263 attack pct.).

Finally, Regis ranks second in the RMAC in opponent hitting percentage (.115) thanks to 2.20 blocks per set.

Long-time Loper rival Metro is coming off back-to-back 3-2 road wins. In each case, the 'Runners beat Mines and UCCS after balling behind 2-0.

Winners of five straight, a senior laden team is led by RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Bri Morley (3.58 kps, 2.20 dps, 35 aces) and RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Ngoc Phan (5.07 dps). Another senior, middle Emily Greenhalgh (3.19 kps, 0.60 bps), is also having a big year.

UNK beat Metro in four sets (-10, 23-25, -7, -24) back on Sept. 30th. While the Lopers domianted sets one and three, Metro easily could've won the fourth and made it a five-set match. On the year, Metro is 2-3 in matches that go the distance.

Hoping to give head coach Rick Squiers his 25th win over Metro, the Lopers currently lead the RMAC in five major categories; kills (14.53 ps), assists (13.47 ps), digs (18.06 ps), attack percentage (.306) and opponent attack percentage (.095). 

Individually, middles Haley Lake (.412) and Eliie Pesavento (.363), along with right side Katie Sokolowski (.351), rank 1-2-3 in the league in attack percentage.

Career wise, Pesavento is at an even 500 kills, junior outside Ariel Krolikowski is at 588 digs and 582 kills with junior setter Jenna Rouzee at 1,032 assists.