Kearney, Neb. - The 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball starts its final turn in the RMAC with three road matches in three days. 

The Lopers (9-0) play at New Mexico Highlands Thursday and then visit Colorado State-Pueblo Friday night. Both of those matches start at 8:00 p.m. Central. On Saturday, UNK will play at 5:00 p.m. Central at Adams State.

For real time updates throughout the weekend, go to the Central Region live stats page.

Since Rick Squiers became head coach in 1999, UNK hasn't lost to Highlands or Pueblo and suffered just one loss, in the RMAC Tournament, to the ASC Grizzlies.

Highlands is currently 5-3 and coming off a Monday night home sweep of the U. of the Southwest. A young Cowgirls teams is led by sophomore outside Darian Muller (3.96 kps) and freshman outside Shivaughn Hatt (3.08 kps) as well as freshman libero Sheila Olaechea (5.00 dps), who hails fro Peru.

HU is averaging over 12 kills per set but ranks last in the RMAC in blocks (1.52). That lack of defense doesn't bode well against a Loper team leading the RMAC in kills (14.55 ps).

Pueblo, led by first-year head coach Jen Gomez, has the current RMAC Offensive Player of the Week in senior middle Bernadette Pitre. She is leading the league in attack percentage (.430) while averaging 3.45 kills and 0.97 blocks per set.

Another T-Wolf to watch is U. of Houston transfer Kacy Griffin, averaging 10.72 assists per set.  A much more veteran squad than Highlands, Pueblo is off to a 4-4 start.

Finally, Adams has won six of its first eight matches and is paced by junior outside Dominique Davis (3.62 kps), one of the top players in the West Division.

Senior AJ Palmer (3.97 dps) is again back at libero with newcomer Mikaela Hoelsken (2.47 kps) providing some punch from the outside. Adams hits just .187 as a team but is holding the opposition to a .139 effort.

Besides kills, UNK leads the RMAC in attack percentage (.306), opponent attack percentage (.077), assists (13.69) and digs (17.34).

Highlands, CSUP and Adams will look to slow Loper outsides Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) and Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW), who ranked 1-2 on the team in kills at the UNK Fall Classic.

The opposition then has to worry about middles Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and Haley Lake (Lincoln SE) as well as right side Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic). Each hit over .400 in the Classic last weekend

Next week, UNK hosts Hastings College Tuesday night and then hits the road again for RMAC matches at Mines and Springs.