Kearney, Neb. – After a trip to the East Coast, the 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team takes a 16-hour round trip this weekend for one match at Lindenwood University in suburban St. Louis.

The reason for just one match this week has to do with Truman State leaving the league after last fall as they were the Lions travel partner.

UNK (18-2, 4-1) and LWU square off Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. from St. Charles, Mo. Live stats and an America One broadcast is available.

The Lions, who host Ft. Hays Friday night, are coming off back-to-back five set losses to non-MIAA foes Missouri St. Louis (Oct. 8th) and Illinois-Springfield (Oct. 15th). Lindenwood also suffered a five set loss to Missouri Western back in September.
 
Coming off a 15-17 (5-13) 2012 season, LWU is led by 6-0 sophomore middle Kayla Guyot (2.67 kills and 0.77 blocks per set, & .305 attack pct.) and 5-11 freshman middle Aleah Rosenau (2.57 kills per set).
 
Guyot prepped at St. James Academy, the same school that produced Loper junior Molly O'Brien while Rosenau is a York graduate.
 
Also, junior setter Emma Brydels (9.20 assists & 3.29 digs per set) began her career at Division I Marquette.
 
Ranking among the lower half in the MIAA in most offensive categories, Lindenwood lost in straight sets (-10, -7, -19) last year in Kearney.
 
On the UNK side of the net, senior middle Ellie Pesavento needs 29 more kills to become the 24th Loper, and the fifth middle since 2000, to reach 1,000 career kills.
 
Still working her way back after missing some time due to injury, Pesavento has been efficient as usual as she is second in the league (.375) in attack percentage to Haley Thompson of Central Missouri (.381).
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Running the Loper offense that is among the best in the nation is sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.). She is at 11.24 assists, 2.41 digs and 1.16 kills per set while hitting at a .296 clip.
 
Seele also is one of five players with a double digit ace total (20) and has recorded 25 blocks at the net.
 
Returning home early Sunday morning, UNK has a quick turnaround as Missouri Western comes calling Tuesday night. Then, the Lopers host Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern next weekend.