Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Ashley Leitner and sophomore MJ Massanet combined for 24 kills to power the 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team to a sweep of 15th-ranked Wayne State (-13, -24, -12) Tuesday night in the Health & Sports Center.
 
A crowd of 2,308, the 16th largest in school history, watched the Lopers (15-2) hand the Wildcats (12-4) a second straight loss.
 
To beat Wayne for a 69th time, UNK roared out of the gates, taking the first set by 12 points. Recording 14 kills, the Lopers held the 'Cats to a negative 116 (5-10-43) efficiency in getting out to leads of 10-5 and 18-9.
 
As expected, Wayne fought back and the second set featured six ties and two lead changes. UNK used a 12-8 run to break an nine all tie and seemingly was in good shape to take a 2-0 match lead.  
 
This spurt featured three kills by Leitner (Lincoln SW), two from Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) and a block by the Sokolowski sisters, Katie and Bailey.
 
However, Wayne not only came back but took a 24-23 lead after three straight stuffs by Alyssa Fraudendorfer and Elizabeth Gebhardt.
 
Serving to tie things at one, WSC sent one into the net, one of six such errors on the night. UNK took advantage of the miscue by getting back-to-back kills by Massanet to steal the momentum back and go up 2-0.
 
The third and final set was much like the first as UNK held leads of 15-4 and 20-6. The Lopers recorded four aces in this final stanza, two coming from junior libero Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic).
 
For the match, UNK hit .254, over 200 points higher than Wayne (.041). The Lopers also had 16 more digs, three more blocks and were plus three in the serve game.
 
The MIAA leader in kills, Leitner had 14 and also provided 11 digs and a block. Next, Massanet finished with 10 kills, 15 digs, three assists and a block.
 
Playing for the first time in three weeks, senior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) had four kills and hit .308 with McGowan digging up a match-high 20 balls.  

Finally, sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) handed out 33 assists, had 10 digs, blocked two balls and had three kills.
 
Lexi Malm played the final two sets and led Wayne with six kills and a hit .545 attack percentage.
 
UNK heads to the East Coast on Thursday to face the Pace University (N.Y.) Setters on Friday and the Merrimack (Mass.) College Warriors and the University of New Haven (Conn.) Chargers on Saturday.