Kearney, Neb. – The 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team rebounded from a four set loss to Colorado School of Mines Friday night by sweeping Colorado-Colorado Springs Saturday.

The Lopers (14-1, 4-1 RMAC) are currently tied with four teams for first place in the East Division. Two of those schools, Metro State and Regis, are nationally-ranked and will visit the Health & Sports Center this weekend.

On Saturday in the Springs, UNK hit .348 to take all three sets from the Mountain Lions (-19, -15, -21). This marked the first league loss for UCCS (9-5, 4-1).

The first set was a battle as they were 10 ties and five lead changes. A kill from junior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) and a block from sophomores Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) broke a 12 all tie and the Lopers just built its lead from there.

In winning the second set by 10 points, Kearney jumped out to a 15-9 lead. Springs, however, didn't go away as they led the final set 4-1. Eventually, UNK got the lead back and was ahead 23-20 after a kill from the Lions' Alex Wood.

Kills from outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) and Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) ended the set and match.

UNK recorded 52 kills in 112 swings with only 13 errors. Sophomore middle Haley Lake (Lincoln SE) had the hottest hand, having eight kills and no errors in 15 attempts (.533 attack pct.). Next to her, Pesavento had a team-high five blocks and seven kills with Leitner (16) and Krolikowski (11) combining for 27 kills on the outside.

Krolikowski also dug up 10 balls and had two blocks. In the back, freshman Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic) had a team-high 18 digs.

Things got off to a decent start Friday at Mines (9-5, 3-2 RMAC). The Lopers hit .310 (16-3-42) to win the first set 25-16. Never trailing, UNK saw the Orediggers have eight errors in that first frame.

Mines, however, managed to take the next two sets, 25-22 and 25-20, before hitting .467 to win the fourth set 25-9. UNK hit -.051 (6-8-39) in that set, finishing the night at a season-low .169 (53-23-177).

Lake had another big effort, having 14 kills and hitting a team-high .345. From the outside, Leitner (14) and Krolikowski (12) reached double digits in kills with both digging up 11 balls as well. Finally, McGowan had a match-high 25 digs.

Mines saw Jackie Stabell (18 kills, 10 digs, .318 attack pct.) and Holly Hutchison (13 kills, nine digs, .345 attack pct.) have big nights. The 'Diggers hit .243 in the match (60-19-169) and also recorded seven team blocks.

The second and third sets were similar as each was tied at 12. UNK got down 17-13 in the second but eventually went ahead 20-19 on a Lake kill.

Mines scored the next three points to take a 22-20 lead, one they wouldn't give back. The sets final two points came on two kills from Hutchison. In the third set, an 8-4 Mines run put them up 20-16 and forced UNK to call two timeouts.

A kill by Lake cut the deficit to 22-20 but the 'Diggers recorded three straight kills to take a 2-1 match lead.