Kearney, Neb. - The 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team had 62 kills and 100 digs to beat 10th-ranked Wayne State in four sets (-15, 18-25, -16, -17) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

A crowd of 2,901, the eighth largest in UNK history and the biggest in Division II this fall, watched the 77th battle between the Lopers (27-1) and Wildcats  (20-7). Kearney has won 13 of the last 15 to lead the series 69-8.

In a match that featured just 12 ties and only five lead changes, UNK controlled the first set thanks to 19 kills. A 15-6 run gave the Lopers a 22-14 lead with 10 of the points coming off kills.

A block by sophomore middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and junior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) ended the key spurt.

Wayne turned the tables in the second set, smashing home 19 of their own kills to lead most of the way. Ahead 13-12, the 'Cats turned to sophomore outside Cori Hobbs, who recorded five kills as part of a 7-2 run.

After an eight minute intermission, UNK got the momentum back by opening up a 6-1 lead to start the third set. Wayne hung around until the Lopers got kills from Rouzee and junior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) to open up a 17-12 advantage.

The fourth and final set was the closest as UNK got out to an 8-5 lead before a kill by Hobbs cut the lead to 14-13. UNK scored four of the next six points thanks to two kills from sophomore middle Haley Lake (Lincoln SE) and two unforced Wayne errors.

After a Wildcat timeout, the Lopers kept up the pressure, recording two more kills and getting a block from Pesavento and Krolikowski to close out the match.

In addition to  having advantages in kills (62-52), digs (100-85) and blocks (8-7), UNK also out hit Wayne by over 100 points, .261 to .142.

Individually, Lake continued her fine play by having match-high 17 kills in 43 attempts (.326 attack pct.). She also had eight digs and two blocks.

On the outside, sophomore Ashley Leitner (16) and Krolikowski (11) reached double digits in kills with Pesavento providing nine kills and five blocks next to Lake.

In the back row, freshman libero Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic) had a match-high 25 digs with senior DS Shelby Workman (Loveland, Colo.) at a career-best 23.

Wayne saw Tali Fredrickson and Hobbs finish with 15 kills a piece. Fredrickson was also one of five 'Cats to have double digit dig totals (17).

UNK closes out the regular season this weekend at home against UCCS and Colorado Mines.