Kearney, Neb. – The 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team rolled past Chadron State and Sioux Falls to help head coach Rick Squiers earn his 700th career win Saturday at the Health & Sports Center.

The matches were part of the UNK Fall Classic presented by Comfort Inn and Runza. The Lopers (9-0) and 10th-ranked Wayne State (6-2) each went 4-0 in the tournament; those two teams will meet later this year in Kearney.

Missouri Western State (4-4) went 2-2, Black Hills State (2-5) and Sioux Falls (2-7) went 1-3 and Chadron State (3-5) went 0-4.

This afternoon, UNK dispatched of the Eagles (-14, -13, -13) in a non-RMAC match and then swept the Cougars (-16, -7, -12) tonight.

Squiers reached the 700 win milestone with the victory over Chadron, which is led by former Loper graduate assistant Natasha Marquis.

In his 22nd year coaching volleyball, Squiers has now won 394 matches at UNK (13th year), 206 at Hastings College (six years), 73 at the high school level (two years) and 28 at the junior college level (one season).

Against Chadron, outsides Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) and Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) combined for 23 kills and 15 digs with right side Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) at nine kills and a .667 attack percentage.

Leitner continued her strong play as she had a career-best 16 kills, and a .483 hitting efficiency, against Sioux Falls. Sophomore middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) chipped in with 12 kills and a .500 attack percentage.

Freshman Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic) paced the defense as she had double digit dig totals in both wins.

For the weekend, UNK hit .388 and held the opposition to a .023 effort. Krolikowski (3.83) and Leitner (3.00) led the team in kills per set with Krolikowski also hitting a sizzling .473 (46-3-91).

UNK is at New Mexico Highlands, Adams State and CSU-Pueblo next weekend to start RMAC play.