Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Freshman middle blocker
Tara Ziegelbein had 17 kills and outside hitters
LaRose Currie and
Kinslie TeKolste came up big late as the 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team held off Lindenwood in four sets (-19, -10, 24-26, -27) Friday night in St. Charles, Mo.
With the win, the Lopers (14-1, 6-1) avenge last year's road setback to the Lions (4-11, 1-6).
UNK was poised for a sweep as they led 19-14 in the third set. However, Lindenwood closed on a 12-5 run that was highlighted by seven kills and three team blocks.
The Lopers fought off set point twice but an unforced hitting error ended things and swung the momentum towards the Lions.
They quickly pounced on UNK, grabbing leads of 5-1, 7-3, 13-9 and 16-11 in the fourth set. Two kills from sophomore outside
Kinslie TeKolste and two more from Currie helped the Lopers come back, cutting the deficit to 22-19 and forcing LWU to call timeout.
A kill from sophomore middle
Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) broke a 23 all tie and gave UNK its first lead of the set. The two teams then traded kills before one by TeKolste (Lincoln SE) made it 28-27. Finally, the match ended when the Lions hit one long.
UNK had one more kill in the match, 55-54, but hit 82 points higher, .238 to .156. The Lopers also were plus nine in the serve game as they had four aces with LWU having nine errors.
The Lions did register 13.0 team blocks with four players having six a piece.
Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) reached her match-high kill total in just 28 swings and hit .500. She also supplied a team-best five blocks as well as three digs.
Currie (Vail, Colo.) had five of her 10 kills in the fourth set with TeKolste recording four of her 11 in the final stanza. Running the show, junior setter
Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) had 47 assists, a team-best 10 digs, two aces, a block and four kills in five swings (.800 pct.).
Nicole Hallam paced Lindenwood with 14 kills, six blocks and a .407 hitting efficiency.
UNK is at 17th-ranked Central Missouri tomorrow night.
