Kearney, Neb. - The 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will have one of its toughest weekends of the season as No. 9 Metro State and No. 22 Regis visit the Health & Sports Center this Friday and Saturday.

A "White Out" is scheduled for the Roadrunners (12-2, 4-1 RMAC) match, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The date with the Rangers (12-3, 4-1 RMAC) starts at 4:00 p.m. and is "Dig the Cure/Think Pink" Night.

Fans that cannot attend can keep track of the Loper via live stats or, for a fee, watch the matches on America One.

The 'Runners have had more success -- four wins -- in Kearney than any other team in the Rick Squiers era (1999-present). Outside of the setbacks to Metro, UNK has had only nine other home setbacks the last 13 years.

Metro is led by the RMAC Preseason (outside Bri Morley) and RMAC Defensive (libero Ngoc Phan) Players of the Year as well as senior setter (Darcy Schwatzman) and a senior outside (Emily Greenhalgh). 

Owning a sweep of No. 6 SW Minnesota, Metro's losses have come in five sets to No. 5 Washburn and to Western New Mexico. Morley, a long time thorn in the side of the Lopers, is averaging 3.26 kills and 2.34 dis per set while ranking first in the RMAC in service aces (0.51).

Phan is at 5.09 dps with Greenhalgh (3.28 kps, .251 attack pct.) having a big senior season. Last year, Metro won at the Health & Sports Center, 3-2 (-21, 18-25, 20-25, -21, -12), but lost the rematch in the RMAC Tournament finals, 3-1 (21-25, -24, 12-25, 20-25).

In his first match in the RMAC, Squiers suffered a 3-0 loss at Regis in 1999. UNK hasn't lost since, winning 27 in a row over the Rangers.

Led by 2010 RMAC Freshman of the Year Christy Henzgen (3.38 kps, 2.38 dps), Regis cracked the rankings early in September with their only losses coming to Metro, No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul and to Florida Southern.

A balanced attack includes DePaul transfer Kyndell Highland (2.77 kps), a senior outside hitter.

UNK bounced back from a loss at Colorado Mines last Friday by sweeping Colorado-Colorado Springs Saturday. Outsides Ashley Leitner (3.44 ps) and Ariel Krolikowski (2.82 ps) continue to lead the team in kills with middles Ellie Pesavento (.362) and Haley Lake (.403) ranking fourth and first, repsectively, in the RMAC in attack percentage.

Defensively, the Lopers lead the league in digs per set (17.4) while also blocking 2.1 balls per set. Freshman Liz McGowan (4.62) is UNK's leader in digs with Lake ranking first in blocks (0.80).

Next week, the Blue & Gold are at Chadron State (Thursday) and Colorado Christian (Friday).