Kearney, Neb. – The 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will try and beat Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma for the second time in 2013.

The Gorillas (14-6, 4-6) are getting hot at the right time, having won eight of their last nine matches. Running a unique offensive system, Pitt is led by Crystal Whitten, who is third in the MIAA in kills per set (3.72).
 
Hitting just .179, she also provides 2.46 digs per set.  Freshman outside Madison Mosier (2.63 kills & 0.62 blocks ps) is the other Gorllia to watch out for.
 
Swept (-11, -21, -14) by the Lopers in September, Pitt was led by Whitten (10 kills & eight\ digs) and 5-9 senior libero Jordan Rehm (11 digs).
 
A young UCO squad (18-7, 6-5) came to Kearney with an unblemished record but is just 8-7 since falling to UNK in three close sets (-23, -14, -23).

Hosting Fort Hays State Friday night, the Bronchos have a balanced offensive attack that is paced by 5-9 sophomore outside/right side Barbara Jackson.
 
Hitting .226 on the season, she ranks fifth in the MIAA in kills at 3.48 per set.  She also supplies 2.54 digs and 0.45 blocks per set and had a double double (15 kills & 14 digs) in the loss at UNK.
 
Other Bronchos to watch are 5-10 freshman middle Allison Barr (2.64 kills ps), 6-2 junior middle Juliette Smith (2.11 kills & 1.18 blocks ps) and 5-9 senior libero Tate Hardaker (5.64 digs ps).
 
On Tuesday night in a four-set win in Kansas, senior middle Ellie Pesavento became just the 24th Loper to reach 1,000 career kills.
 
Despite battling an ailing shoulder throughout her Kearney tenure, she not only reached four figures in kills but did so efficiently, currently having a .352 career attack percentage.
 
Fellow seniors Ashley Leitner (887) and Katie Sokolowski (884) could join Pesavento in the 1k club if the Lopers can string together some postseason wins.
 
Also in the record books, junior libero Liz McGowan (1,413 career digs) is about to pass setters Danielle Shum (1,420) and Cola Svec (1,427) on the UNK career digs list. Sooner rather than later, she'll become only the seventh Loper to reach 1,500 career digs.
 
McGowan, splitting time between outside hitter and the backrow this fall, currently leads the Lopers in digs (301) and is second in digs per set (3.96).
 
For a second straight week, UNK has a Tuesday night match as the Emporia State Hornets come to town November 5th.