Kearney, Neb. – The now 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team returns home this weekend to face NW Missouri State on Friday and Missouri Western State on Saturday.

Both matches start at 7:00 p.m. Check the UNK volleyball schedule page for links; Saturday's match with the first place Griffons can also be heard live on KGFW AM 1340.

UNK (14-2, 6-2) is coming off a loss to now 15th-ranked Central Missouri. The Lopers still rank second in the MIAA in assists (13.53) and kills (14.21) while being third in hitting percentage (.254).

Individually, senior Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic) and juniors Kelle Carver (Shawnee Mission, Kans.) and MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) should all reach career milestones this weekend.

Alternating between outside hitter and the back row this year, McGowan needs nine more digs to reach 1,800 for her career. Only three other Lopers have reached that figure. Playing libero and defensive specialist this fall, Massanet needs just one more dig to become the 27th UNK player with a 1,000 in a career.

On the right side, Carver is 15 kills shy of 1,000. Currently second on the team in total kills (166), she recorded 819 in two years at Cameron U. (Okla.). A total of 26 Lopers have reached the 1,000 kill plateau.

Freshman middle Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) has just started her collegiate career but she'll likely reach some milestones down the road.

Hitting .355 and averaging 0.87 blocks per set, Ziegelbein had 17 kills in a four-set win over Lindenwood last Friday and has recorded six or more in each of the last four matches.

NW Missouri State (8-8, 5-3), with six Nebraskans on the roster, has won three straight and is 3-1 in matches lasting five sets.

Freshman middle blocker Alexis Williams ranks 10th in the MIAA in hitting (.299) with sophomore Miranda Foster (3.48) ninth in kills. Another underclassman, freshman Sarah Dannettell, is fourth in assists (10.13).

Late last year, UNK swept the 'Cats (-20, -19, -21) in Maryville.

Picked sixth in the MIAA preseason poll, the Griffons are off to 13-3 (7-1) start that includes wins over Central Oklahoma and Washburn and a 3-2 loss to 19th-ranked Augustana.

The Griffons, who play Fort Hays State Friday, lead the league in hitting percentage (.285) and average just under 14 kills a set.

Junior right side Jessie Thorup (3.79) and senior outside Erica Rottinghaus (3.34) pace the offense with senior Amanda Boender, a Waverly High graduate, among the MIAA block leaders (1.00).

UNK swept Western (-22, -22, -21) in the first round of the 2013 MIAA Tournament. The regular season match in Kearney also was a Loper sweep (-21, -10, -15).

Things remain tough for Kearney as 6th-ranked Washburn (15-1, 7-1) comes to town Tuesday night. The Ichabods are at SW Baptist and Pitt State this weekend.