Box Score Kearney, Neb. - In a heavyweight fight, the 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team not only won the final three sets but also scored the last three points in the match to upset 3rd-ranked Washburn (22-25, 18-25, -13, -25, -17) Saturday night in Topeka, Kans.

The win gives the Lopers (30-2, 16-1) the MIAA regular season title and makes UNK the top seed in next week's conference tournament.

Kearney also beats the Lady Blues (30-2, 15-2) for the second time this year and ends their 51 match home court winning streak, which dated back to September 2009 and is the seventh longest such streak in Division II history.

Getting off the mat after dropping the first two sets, and scoring the final two points of the fourth set, UNK was down 7-3 in the final frame.

This set featured eight ties and four lead changes with the Lopers fighting off match point at 15-14 thanks to a kill by junior outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW).

A block by Leitner and junior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) followed, forcing Washburn to burn a timeout. They fought off match point with a kill by Jessica Kopp and then reached match point again when UNK committed its 20th unforced error of the evening.

That was the last mistake by the Lopers as Leitner tied things with her 16th kill, Washburn followed with its 20th unforced attack error and senior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) smashed home her match-high 20th kill to end the festivities.

In the fourth set, UNK led most of the way but the Lady Blues chipped away, tying the set at 24 and again at 25. However, the Lopers got back-to-back kills to force a fifth set.

The top offensive team in the MIAA, UNK finished with 70 kills and a .183 efficiency. Washburn, the second best offensive team in the league, had 67 kills and a .159 hitting percentage.

Also showing how close things were, each team dug up 111 balls. UNK recorded six more team blocks, 14-8, and had three fewer service errors.

The 14 blocks (four solo and 20 assisted) are a new season high and mark only the third time in 2012 the Lopers have reached double digits in stuffs.

To reach 20 kills, Krolikowski swung 61 times with five errors (.246 pct.). She also had 18 digs and three blocks. Leinter came off the bench to have 16 kills in 55 swings (.145 pct.) with Pesavento recording a team-best seven blocks and six kills.

Also in the middle, junior Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) had 14 kills on 40 swings with freshman right side MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) supplying a season-best 11 kills, 23 digs and four blocks.

Finally, sophomore libero Liz McGowan (GICC) had both of UNK's service aces and a team-high 35 digs and senior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) had her normal all-around effort; 57 assists, 17 digs, six blocks (four solo) and three kills.

Of note, McGowan becomes the 24th Loper to reach 1,000 career digs (1,013).

Washburn had four reach double figures in kills, led by Hillary Hughes (18) and Jessica Fey (15) with Courtney Churchman having 23 digs.

The Lopers host an MIAA Tournament first round match Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.