Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team emptied its bench to beat NW Oklahoma State (-12, -16, -15) and Henderson State, Ark. (-9, -5, 23-25, -6) Friday at the Southwest Baptist Crossover Tournament in Bolivar, Mo.
 
This two-day tournament allows MIAA schools to face Great American Conference (GAC) institutions. The Central Region is made up of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference). 
 
This morning, the Lopers used 16 different players to keep the Rangers (0-15) winless on the year.

Trying to shake off some rust, junior outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) recorded a team-high 12 kills and hit .500 with freshman MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) having a season-best 10 kills and hitting at a .300 clip.
 
As a team, UNK was at .384 and recorded 25 more kills than NW Oklahoma. Defensively, sophomore Molly O'Brien (Overland Park, Kans.) dug up 13 balls and freshman setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) handed out 17 assists.
 
In the afternoon, the Lopers used 15 players to beat a Reddies team that is now 3-14 on the season. UNK allowed just 20 total points in the three sets it won and recorded a staggering 35 more kills than Henderson, 58-23.
 
Leitner (11 kills & .375 attack pct.) had another strong effort as did senior outside Ariel Krolikowski (10 kills & .600 attack pct.) and junior middle Ellie Pesavento (11 kills & .500 attack pct.).  Leitner and Krolikowski reached these marks in just two sets with UNK using mainly underclassmen in the set it lost.
 
Also in this match, senior Kaleigh Anderson (Lincoln SW) dug up 17 balls in three sets and senior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) had 38 assists, six digs, two blocks and a kill over three sets.
 
The competition will be tougher tomorrow when the Lopers face the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms and the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns.