Kearney, Neb. – Another top-ranked club awaits the 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team as they close out the regular season Friday night in Warrensburg, Mo.

After falling in five sets to 11th-ranked Washburn Tuesday, the Lopers (26-4, 12-3) have to bus down to 5th-ranked Central Missouri (27-1, 13-1) to take on the Jennies.

First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. with live stats and an America One broadcast available.

While UNK is locked into the third spot for the MIAA Tournament, UCM can win the regular season title and earn the tourney's No. 1 seed by beating the Lopers and then Fort Hays State on Saturday.

The Ichabods (14-1 MIAA) can take the title by winning at Lindenwood and seeing the Jennies lose once this weekend.

The Jennies, 56-3 at home since 2010, have lost only once all season, a four-setter at Emporia State on October 23rd.

Of late, UCM has had some battles, rallying from a 2-1 hole to win at Missouri Western State on November 8th and winning the prior three matches all in four sets.

A powerful attack is led by 6-0 senior Taylor Goodness, currently at 4.02 kills per set and a .304 attack percentage. She also is tied for the team lead in solo blocks with 13.
 
Four other Jennies average between 2.00-2.83 kills per set, including 5-9 sophomore Carly Sojka and 6-0 freshman Haley Thompson.
A middle, Thompson hits .333 and averages a team-best 0.82 blocks per set.
 
In the backrow, sophomore Annie Reilly averages 5.36 digs per set with senior Julia Bates (11.05 assists, 2.36 digs, 1.28 kills and 0.45 blocks per set) running the show.
 
UNK has not only beaten UCM the last three times the two have met but also won each in straight sets. That included two wins in Kearney at the end of last season.
 
With the series now tied at five a piece, the Lopers haven't been in Warrensburg since the 1980's.
 
Next Tuesday, November 19th, the Lopers host an MIAA first round game at 7:00 p.m. The likely opponents are Emporia or Missouri Western.