Kearney, Neb. - After sweeping the College of St. Mary Wednesday night, the 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team remains at home this weekend as it hosts the UNK Fall Classic presented by Comfort Inn & Runza. 

Five schools --  Chadron State, Wayne State, Missouri Western State, Sioux Falls and Black Hills State (SD) -- will join the Lopers (5-0) to play 12 matches over Friday and Saturday.

On each day, first serve will be at 10:00 a.m. with matches scheduled for every two hours (10 a.m., 12, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.). Because its a tournament format, start times may get pushed back as the day goes along.

The complete schedule is HERE.

Cost of admission each day will be $ 9.00 (adults) or $ 7.00 (seniors 60 plus and youth ages 5-18). Those who cannot make it to Kearney can watch all four Loper matches on America One (for a fee) or keep track of the action via live stats.

Live stats will be active all day Friday and for the final three matches Saturday, providing the Loper football game (12:00 p.m. start) doesn't run long.

Looking at the competition, Wayne State (2-2) is currently ranked 10th nationally and has a veteran squad that includes senior outside Tali Fredrickson, one of three Grand Island natives on the team.

Chadron State has a UNK connection as first-year head coach Natasha Marquis was the Lopers graduate assistant the past two falls. She has the Eagles off to a solid 3-1 start.

The Missouri Western Griffons (2-2) will be a future MIAA rival of the Lopers. They feature 2010 MIAA Freshman of the Year Stephanie Hattey, a setter from Kearney, Mo.

Finally, Sioux Falls and Black Hills State are new Division II schools. The USF Cougars (1-4) will join Wayne in the NSIC next year while the Yellowjackets (1-3) will replace UNK in the RMAC starting in 2012.

Prior to the win over CSM, Loper junior Jenna Rouzee (G.I. Northwest) was tabbed as the RMAC Setter of the Week.  She averaged 11.00 assists per set last weekend as the Lopers went 4-0 at the UNO Volleyball Showcase.

Offensively, sophomore middle/right side Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) leads in kills at 2.75 per set with sophomore middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) at 2.69 kps and a team-best .375 attack percentage.