Kearney, Neb. – Bailey and Katie Sokolowski combined for 22 kills to help the 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team sweep NW Missouri State (-20, -19, -21) Saturday afternoon in Maryville.
 
UNK improves to 26-3 (12-2) and keeps its MIAA regular season title hopes alive while the Bearcats drop to 11-17 (5-10).
 
Hitting .330 on the day, the Lopers trailed just twice over the first two sets and that came when Northwest scored two of the match's first three points.  
 
Ahead 20-17 in the initial set, UNK got back-to-back kills by the Sokolowski sisters to open up some breathing room. Later, Kearney closed the 'Cats out thanks to a kill by Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) and an ace by Omaha freshman Annie Wolfe.
 
For the match, each squad had three aces and nine service errors.
 
UNK led by just a 21-17 margin in set two before back-to-back unforced Northwest errors. Kearney closed things on two kills by the elder Sokolowski.
 
The third set was fairly tight as well as the blue and gold led 22-19 after a kill by sophomore outside MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.). A kill by Bailey Sokolowski, and an ace by junior libero Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic), put UNK at match point and then a kill by senior outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) ended things.
 
Katie Sokolowski had a match-high 13 kills and hit .524 with Bailey at nine kills and a match-high .571 hitting efficiency. Massanet (12) was the other Loper in double figures in kills with Leitner falling one short.
 
Defensively, five different Lopers had between six and nine digs, including freshman Kadie Baumgardner (Auburn, Kans.).
 
UNK entertains No. 11 Washburn Tuesday night and then is at No. 5 Central Missouri next Friday to close out the regular season.