Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team needed to win the final two sets to beat Emporia State (27-29, -12, 23-25, -24, -4) Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the Lopers (13-0, 4-0) first-ever regular season MIAA home match. The Hornets (9-5, 3-2) have now lost to the current No. 1, No. 2 (SW Minnesota State) and No. 3 (Washburn) squads.
 
In a match that featured 18 ties and six lead changes, UNK didn't trail once over the final two sets. The Lopers grabbed a 4-1 lead in the final set on the strength of two unforced Hornet errors and a kill by junior middle Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic).
 
Emporia had to call another timeout soon after as they recorded two more unforced errors, giving Kearney a 9-3 lead. UNK kept the pressure on, recording three straight kills by three different players, to open up a nine point cushion. 
 
A kill by sophomore Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic), and a block by McGowan and junior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian), closed out the two-hour match.
 
The Hornets were just two points from an upset win as they rallied from an 18-9 hole in the fourth set to tie the match at 24. However, the Lopers got a kill from Sokolowski and an ace from senior setter Jenna Rouzee (GI Northwest) to force a fifth set.
 
Rallies were the story all night as UNK tried to come back from a 17-10 deficit in the first set. Reaching set point three different times, the Lopers couldn't close out  the Hornets as ESU got a kill and a block to win 29-27.
 
Overall, UNK tallied 65 kills and hit .167 with Emporia at .098 with 57 kills. The top blocking team in the MIAA, ESU had 14.0 team stuffs to the Lopers eight with Kearney having an advantage in digs (113-90) and service errors (7-3) while recording three fewer service errors.
 
Individually, senior outside Ariel Kroliowski (Grand Island) had a team-highs in kills (18) and blocks (five) while also digging up nine balls. Next, Sokolowski had 15 kills and three blocks with Pesavento hitting a team-best .276 and smashing home 13 kills.
 
Senior Kaleigh Anderson (Lincoln SW) played libero over the final four sets and finished with 27 digs while McGowan, switching to outside hitter starting with the second set, had 22 digs and five kills.
 
Emporia State was paced by outsides Paige Vanderpool (18 kills, 17 digs, five blocks) and Megan Buckner (14 kills, seven digs, six blocks).
 
Undefeated Washburn (13-0) comes to the Health & Sports Center Saturday at 4:00 p.m.