Kearney, Neb. - The 3rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team begins the 2013 campaign at home this weekend with the annual New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic.

This year, the visiting teams are Chadron State and Black Hills State (S.D.) from the RMAC, Newman University (Kans.) from the Heartland Conference, William Jewell College (Mo.) from the Great Lakes Valley Conference and South Dakota Mines, a rare Division II independent.

For the complete tournament schedule, visit the UNK volleyball schedule page. On Saturday, two matches will be played at 10:00 a.m. (North & South Courts).

Admission will not be charged until 4:00 p.m. Friday.

For a price, fans can watch most Loper matches this year thanks to America One video web streaming. You can purchase on a match-by-match basis or buy a season pass. Go HERE to see UNK's America One page; video will show up just prior to first serve.

KGFW AM 1340 is the flagship station for Loper volleyball and Brian Gallagher will handle play-by-play duties for a second straight fall. Some matches will be heard live on the radio and others will be an on-line only broadcast; check the schedule page for the complete schedule. 

This weekend, there are three on-line only UNK broadcasts (see below). Finally, UNK's live stats page is available HERE.

Loper head coach Rick Squiers, thanks to a 21-person roster, has plenty of options to replace four talented seniors off last year's 35-3 squad that won the MIAA regular season and tournament titles and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.

Sophomore Erin Seele is in line to follow the great Loper setters of the past 15 years. Since 2000, UNK has had three All-Americans at this spot (Bethany Spilde, Cola Svec and Jenna Rouzee) as well as an all-region pick (Melissa Carper).

Another second year player, MJ Massanet, may move from the right to left side to replace All-American outside Ariel Krolikowski. As the Lopers right side hitter in 2012, the dual sport Massanet came in at 3.74 digs, 1.44 kills and 1.15 assists per set while hitting .260.

Junior Steph Brand and freshmen Kinslie TeKolste have been battling to replace Massanet on the right side and have also seen time in the middle and on the outside.

Freshmen Bailey Sokolowski could replace her older sister, Katie, in the middle as the elder Sokolowski is fighting the injury bug for now. Besides three-time all-league pick Ellie Pesavento, UNK has plenty of options in the middle with the likes of sophomore Katie Morten and freshmen Katie Weber.

Junior Liz McGowan, a 2012 first-team All-American libero, may return to her defensive spot, a position where she could challenge the Lopers all-time dig record. Or, she could move to outside hitter, a place where she has registered over 150 kills as a Loper.

Finally, newcomers Kadie Baumgardner and Annie Wolfe figure to help the Lopers defense and passing game.

Next Tuesday (September 10th), NAIA power Hastings College visits the Health & Sports Center to renew a longtime rivalry.

About the William Jewell Cardinals (KGFW AM on-line)
A relatively new Division II school located right outside Kansas City, WJC is coming off a 14-17 season (7-10 GLVC). They posted a 1-3 mark vs. MIAA schools, taking a set from nationally-ranked Washburn.

Six-foot junior middle Christina Pratt ranked second on the team in kills last fall (2.19) while hitting at a .190 clip. She also ranked first in blocks (0.82). Other Cards to watch are 5-10 sophomore outside Kaylee Marquardt (2.70 dps), 5-7 senior libero Katie Damgar (5.03 dps) and 5-8 senior setter Cailynn Hayter (8.02 aps).

UNK and WJC have never met in volleyball.

About the Chadron State Eagles
UNK has won 56 in a row over Chadron, dating back to 1983. Overall, the Lopers are 72-4 against their rivals from the panhandle.

Going 5-24 (2-17 RMAC) last fall, the Eagles beat South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State along the way.

This season, second-year head coach Janel Baily brought in four JUCO transfers, including 6-0 middle Ana Kasljevic, a native of Bosnia. The top returner is 5-10 junior OH Ericka Roybal (2.14 kills & 1.70 digs ps).

About the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets (KGFW AM on-line)
The school, from Spearfish, S.D., that replaced UNK in the RMAC, BHSU went 11-19 (4-15) last fall. That included a 7-8 mark in true home matches.

BHSU's top two kill leaders return in 6-1 senior OH Caitlin Templeton (3.08 ps) and 6-0 senior OH/RS Amy O'Neill (3.15 ps). Templeton hit a solid .263 to reach her total with O'Neill serving up a team-high 24 aces.

On defense, 5-7 junior libero Kelsey Olson is back after averaging 3.52 digs

UNK is 2-0 all-time against the 'Jackets.

About the S.D. School of Mines Hardrockers (KGFW AM on-line)
A new Division II school still looking for a conference to play in, Mines went 12-19 last fall as an independent.

Six-one senior middle Justine Blade averaged a healthy 3.53 kills per set in 2012. Hitting a super .346, she also supplied 0.95 blocks per set. Also back is 5-11 senior OH Janelle Strampe (2.89 kills & 2.37 digs ps) and 5-8 sophomore libero Kayla Marchus (3.90 dps).

UNK won the only previous meeting with SDMT.