Kearney, Neb. – The 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team started the 2011 season on the right note by beating Arkansas-Ft. Smith and Winona State Friday in Omaha.

The matches were part of the UNO Volleyball Showcase and played at Sapp Fieldhouse. In the morning, the Lopers got past the UAFS Lions (-21, -23, -15) and then in the afternoon swept the Warriors (-23, -22, -14).

On the day, sophomore right side Katie Sokolowski hit .409 and averaged 3.67 kills per set, sophomore middle Ellie Pesavento hit .350 and was at an even 3.00 kps while freshman outside Liz McGowan (3.00 kps & 3.67 dps) had an impressive collegiate debut.

Against the Lions, a program in its first full-fledged year as a Division II member, UNK registered 17 more kills, 50-33, and 11 more digs, 63-52.

The Lopers led the first set from start to finish but UAFS kept it close, trailing 23-20 after a Kearney service error. A kill by Sokolowski and an unforced Lions error put UNK ahead in the match.

The second set was even closer as a block from KatyBeth Carlson and Jettie Stec tied things at 22 and forced the Lopers to call time-out. Another Ft Smith block briefly put UNK behind but a kill from sophomore middle Haley Lake (Lincoln Southeast), and two attack errors by the Lions, gave Kearney the set.

The Lopers trailed 4-1 in the third set but then rolled, getting four kills form McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic) and Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) to win going away.

McGowan (team-high 16 digs and 10 kills) had a double double while Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and Sokolowski also had 10 kills. Finally, Lake managed a .538 attack percentage as she had seven kills and no errors in 13 attempts.

Winona began the day by beating UNO in four sets, thanks to 22 kills from freshman Bekah Saugen. UNK limited her to just three kills and a -.062 hitting efficiency but Winona still hung tough.

An ace from Saugen gave the Warriors a 22-21 lead in the first set. UNK moved ahead for good on a kill by Sokolowski and then a bad set by Winona made it 24-22. Sokolowski closed out the set with one of her match-high 12 kills.

The Lopers led the second set from start to finish but a Winona ace allowed them to trail by just a 23-21 score. Junior setter Jenna Rouzee (G.I. Northwest) recorded one of her three kills to end the set and make it 2-0 Lopers.

Like the UAFS match, UNK rolled in the final stanza, holding Winona to a -.094 (7-10-32) attack percentage.

The 12 kills by Sokolowski are one off her career high, set last October vs. Chadron State. McGowan and Pesavento each chipped in with eight kills with Lake having six and junior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) having five. In the backrow, junior Kaleigh Anderson had a match-high 19 digs.

UNK plays Augustana (S.D.) and UNO on Saturday.