Box Score Kearney, Neb. – True freshmen outside hitters LaRose Currie and Kaitlynn Thomas both had 11 kills to help 6th-ranked Nebraska Kearney sweep Emporia State (-21, -22, -23) Friday night in Kansas.
 
The Lopers improve to 26-3 (18-3) while the Hornets slip to 14-12 (10-11).
 
UNK closed the first set on a 14-8 run with Auburn sophomore Kadie Baumgardner serving up seven of those points. A kill by Currie (Vail, Colo.) gave the set to the Lopers.
 
Kearney didn't trail in set two as they hit .319 (20-5-47). Things were tougher in the third set, which featured 11 ties and five lead changes.
 
A kill from sophomore middle Katie Weber (Greeley, Colo.) broke a 16 all tie and then kills by Currie and freshman middle Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) made it 23-20 and forced the Hornets to call timeout.
 
While ESU scored three of the next four points, a block from Ziegelbein and junior setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) ended the match.
 
Currie and Thomas (Ashland-Greenwood H.S.) had identical stat lines, Currie taking 36 swings and Thomas 37. Currie also provided 11 digs defensively.
 
Weber finished with 10 kills and hit .238 with Ziegelbein having five kills, two blocks and hitting .267 in two sets. Finally, senior libero Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic) had 19 digs, pushing her career total to 2,042. Angie Usher ('95) holds the school mark with 2,058.
 
Emporia was paced by Carly Spicer with 17 digs and nine kills.
 
The Lopers face 13th-ranked Washburn tomorrow night. The Ichabods likely have to win in order to make the NCAA Tournament.