Kearney, Neb. – A weekend road trip finds the 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball at Central Oklahoma Friday night and Missouri Southern State Saturday afternoon.

The Lopers (17-2, 9-2) are currently in a five-way tie for first place in the MIAA with four home matches coming up on the schedule.

The key match against the Bronchos (17-2, 9-2) will be at 7:00 p.m. with the tilt against the improving Lions (5-13, 2-8) set for 5:00 p.m. Check in the volleyball schedule page for media links.

UNK lost a five-set match to UCO (23-25, -18, -23, 21-25, 10-15) back on September 19th. Since then, UCO lost back-to-back matches to Missouri Western State and Washburn but is now riding a four-match winning streak.

In the win over the Lopers, UCO got 20 kills, 15 digs and eight blocks from junior outside hitter Barbara Jackson. The 5-9 Jackson came up big in the fifth set and currently leads the 'Chos in kills (3.84) and is third in digs (2.63).

No other UCO player had more than nine kills in the win over Kearney but five had between six and nine. One of those players was 6-2 senior middle Juliette Smith, who registered 13 blocks at the net.

As a team, UCO finished with 16.0 team blocks, holding UNK to a .157 hitting efficiency. The Lopers almost responded, having 14.0 of their own stuffs, as UCO hit .165.

Finally, junior libero Whitney Gifford had a team-high 30 digs in the win and is second in the MIAA in the category at 5.48 per set.  

Southern went 0-30 in 2012 but is improving under first-year head coach John Napier. The Lions were just two points from upsetting Central Missouri on October 10th but fell 16-14 in the fifth set. On the season, MSSU is 3-3 in five-set matches

UNK beat the Lions (-10, -20, -17) on September 20th behind 12 kills and a .435 attack percentage from freshman outside LaRose Currie (Vail, Colo.). The Lopers hit a solid .326 and served up seven aces.

Junior setter Abby Finder led Southern in Kearney with 17 assists, seven digs, six kills and a .500 attack percentage. On the season, 6-0 senior Katie Politte (3.08) and 6-1 sophomore Krishna Merriman (3.00) pace the offense with 6-1 junior Callie Whetstone among the MIAA's top blockers (1.45).

Prior to Tuesday's win over 7th-ranked Washburn, UNK led the conference in assists per set (13.52) and was second in both kills (14.19) and hitting percentage (.258).

Individually, junior Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) is second in assists (11.56) with freshman middle Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) one of four Lopers in the top 10 in hitting efficiency. She comes in at .352.

Finally, senior Liz McGowan (Grand Island) is 10th in digs at 3.85 per set. She recently has had efforts of 32 (at UCM) and 28 (vs. Mo. Western) digs.

UNK hosts Pitt State and SW Baptist next weekend. After a midweek road date at Ft. Hays, the Lopers finish their 2014 home schedule with matches against Lindenwood and UCM.