Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The 3rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team went 3-1 this weekend at the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver by beating Truman State (-20, -22, -19) and West Florida (21-25, -24, -13, -14) Saturday.

The Lopers (8-1) ended up winning the "Silver" bracket. Six-time defending national champ Concordia-St. Paul, now with its setter back in the lineup, went 4-0 to win the tournament.  

Against the 17th-ranked UWF Argonauts, senior outside Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) had a career-high 20 kills and hit .390 with middles Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) and Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Maria) providing 18 kills and six blocks.

Also, senior middle/right side Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic), who has been out with injury, returned to the court and had eight kills and hit a solid .319.            

UNK was just two points away from a 2-0 deficit but got a kill from Leitner and block from Sokolowski and Leitner to tie things at one. The Lopers then rolled over the final two sets.  

Against 15th-ranked Truman, junior libero/outside Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic) had a team-high 13 kills and dug up 10 balls with Leitner (12) and Pesavento (10) also reaching double digits in kills.

Back-to-back kills gave Kearney a 23-21 lead in the second set. The Lopers then closed out the set thanks to a kill by sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.).

Fort Hays State comes to town Tuesday night to start MIAA play.