Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 5th-ranked Central Missouri Jennies got a combined 45 kills from Carly Sojka and Taylor Goodness, and used a big rally, to defeat 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in five sets (25-27, -27, -15, 19-25, -12) Saturday night in the MIAA Tournament Championship in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
The Jennies improve to 32-1 and likely will host the NCAA Central Regional in two weeks (Dec. 5-8). The NCAA announces the 64-team field tomorrow night.
 
In a match that featured an incredible 32 ties and 15 lead changes, UNK (28-6) was poised to take a 2-0 lead. After scoring the last three points to win the first set, the Lopers were up 17-12 in the second.
 
However, UCM chipped away, tying things at 22 thanks to a block by Goodness and Hayley Thompson. For the night, the Jennies had 12.0 team blocks.
 
UCM had two set points, 24-23 and 25-24, but kills by freshman Kinslie TeKolste (Lincoln SE) and senior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) kept the Lopers alive.  

UNK then served for the set, 26-25 and 27-26, after two unforced Sojka errors. But, like the first set, a team scored three straight to win.
 
After UCM controlled the third set, UNK did the same for the fourth. The Jennies then roared out to a 10-2 advantage in the deciding frame.  

The Lopers used two kills by TeKolste and two by Pesavento to score four straight and force UCM to call a timeout. UNK tacked on another point thanks to an ace by freshman Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian).
 
But, Central scored three of the next five points, two being Sojka kills, to take the match.
 
A 5-9 sophomore outside hitter, Sojka had a double double (26 kills and 20 digs) while having only five errors in 56 attempts (.375 attack pct.).  In the middle, Goodness provided 19 kills and three blocks with three other Jennies having at least four blocks. Finally, libero Annie Reilly had 28 digs, seven assists and four aces.
 
Kearney saw seniors Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) and Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) each have 15 kills with Pesavento having 14 in 29 swings with no errors (.483 attack pct.).
 
On the outside, TeKolste had 11 kills, six digs and two blocks. Finally, sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) had 51 assists, 24 digs, six kills and two blocks with junior libero Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic) at 22 digs and three assists.