Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Katie Sokolowski had 14 kills to help the 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team outlast Missouri Western State (-22, -22, -21) Tuesday night in an MIAA Tournament  first round match at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK (27-5) takes on 8th-ranked Washburn Friday at 5:00 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo. The top-seeded Central Missouri Jennies are hosting the semifinals and finals.
 
In match that featured 26 ties and 11 lead changes, UNK grabbed a 1-0 lead thanks to Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) having seven kills of her kills in the first set. She reached that total with no errors in 12 attempts (.583).
 
UNK trailed 8-7 in the next set but a kill by freshman Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) made it 9-8 and the Lopers didn't trail again. However, the Griffons never got too far behind, getting a block by Jordan Chohon and Amanda Boender to make it 23-21.
 
Two kills by senior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) were sandwiched around another block by Chohon and Boeder.
 
Western rebounded from a 6-1 hole in the third set to have leads of 10-8, 13-9 and 17-12. A 5-0 UNK run featured four kills but the Lopers didn't grab the lead again until back-to-back hitting errors by Western made it 21-20.
 
Overall, UNK recorded 17 more kills than the Griffons, 43-26, but hit just .108. The Lopers did benefit from 11 Western service errors while digging up 82 balls (27.3 avg).
 
Individually, Sokolowski hit a team-best .429 (14-2-28) with Pesavento at eight kills and a .316 efficiency and the younger Sokolowski at six kills and a .385 attack percentage.

Finally, sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) had a team-best 19 digs while also having 37 assists and one of UNK's two aces.