Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Kearney, Neb. – Senior Ariel Krolikowski and juniors Ellie Pesavento and Katie Sokolowski each averaged 3.00 kills per set to lead the 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team to a 3-0 record at the Vulcan Classic this weekend in Hawaii.

UNK swept Augustana (-21, -19, -24) on Friday and then got past the host Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans in four sets (-14, -9, 17-25, -12) before sweeping a talented British Columbia team from Canada (-21, -25, -19).

Minus outside hitters Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) and Abbey Schueth (Ewing) due to injury, UNK juggled its lineup but still hit .297 in the tournament and averaged 19.90 digs per set.

Krolikowski (Grand Island) had a team-high 39 kills in the tourney and also recorded 2.40 digs per set. Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic), now in the middle, hit .421 and smashed home 30 kills with Pesavento (Omaha Marian) hit a team-best .443 and recorded 30 kills and 10 blocks.

Among other Lopers, senior libero Kaleigh Anderson (Lincoln SW) was at a super 6.20 digs per set and senior setter Jenna Rouzee (Grand Island NW) came in at 11.00 assists, 2.90 digs and 1.40 kills per set.

In the season opener against Augie, UNK finished the first set on a 7-4 run to win by four. Sophomore Liz McGowan (Grand Island CC) had one of the Lopers four kills during this stretch with the other points coming off unforced Viking errors.

After rolling in the second set, Augie tied the third set at 20 on a kill by Courtney Ysker. However, UNK forced got a kill by Krolikowski and an ace from sophomore Molly O'Brien () to moved ahead 23-21 and forced Augie to call a timeout.

The Vikings did grab a 24-23 lead but a service error, and back-to-back hitting errors, gave UNK the set and match.

Against Hilo, the Lopers hit .331 and allowed the Vulcans just 23 points over the first two sets. Krolikowski (16) and Pesavento (15) paced the offense with Anderson (19) one of four players to have a double digit dig total.

The UBC Thunderbirds, who also beat Augie and Hilo, hit .272 in a losing effort to the Lopers. Sokolowski (14) and Krolikowski (11) had reached double figures in kills as UNK hit .291 as a team.

In the first set, UBC led 21-20 but kills from McGowan and Pesavento, along with an ace from freshman MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) helped the Lopers rally and take a 1-0 match lead.

The Canadians also led the next set late, 21-18, but UNK rallied again on the strength of five kills, a block and an ace from Rouzee.

Lisa Barclay (18 kills, 8 digs, .341 attack pct.) and Shanice Marcelle (7 kills, 12 digs) led UBC and are also members of the Canadian national team.

UNK hosts its annual fall classic next weekend with St. Cloud State coming to the Health & Sports Center Thursday night.