Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team recorded its ninth straight sweep as it hit .275 to beat Emporia State (-18, -15, -19) Tuesday night in Kansas.

The Lopers (27-2, 13-1) are now in first place in the MIAA, a game ahead of Washburn (26-1, 12-1) and Central Missouri (20-4, 12-1). The Lady Blues defeated Fort Hays State in four sets Tuesday to win for 12th straight time.

UNK hosts UCM next Friday (Nov. 9th) and then visits WU on Saturday (Nov. 10th) to finish the regular season.

Earlier this year, the Hornets (16-9, 6-6) led the Lopers 2-1 before dropping the final two sets. Tonight's match wasn't as close as there were seven ties and two lead changes.

Recording 43 kills and committing just five errors, Kearney got off to a quick start, leading the first set 17-9. UNK ended with a .308 efficiency, only to up that to .381 in the next set.

The Lopers forced Emporia to call an early timeout for a third straight set as they jumped out to an 8-3 advantage. While the Hornets came back to tie things at 15, UNK responded with a 7-3 run that featured two kills by junior outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW).

Continuing a torrid offensive pace, junior middle Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) had a team-high 15 kills and hit a team-best .467. Next, senior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) had seven kills for the second time in the last three matches, hitting .412 in the process.

Finally, Leitner finished with eight kills and hit .269 and senior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) had nine kills and hit .257. The pair combined for just one error in 61 swings.

The nine kills give Krolikowski 1,001 in her three-year Loper career, making her the 23rd Loper in UNK to reach four figures in kills. She had 245 kills her freshman season at D1 Louisiana-Lafayette.

Defensively, sophomore libero Liz McGowan (23) and freshman right side MJ Massanet (22) combined to dig up over 40 balls for a second straight match.

UNK hosts NW Missouri State Saturday afternoon.