Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 6th-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team earned a share of the 2014 MIAA title by beating 13
th-ranked Washburn in four sets (-21, 18-25, -22, -14) Saturday night in Topeka, Kans.
Spoiling "Senior Night" at Washburn for the second time in three years, UNK improves to 27-3 (19-3) and likely secures a 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Central Missouri, which beat UNK twice during the regular season, also went 19-3 in league play and thus earns the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA's. The 64-team field will be announced Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on
www.ncaa.com.
Washburn (24-6, 16-6) is likely done for 2014 as the Ichabods came into the weekend knowing it needed to beat UNK to reach the NCAA's in the uber-tough Central Region.
However, the Lopers hit .262, recorded 10 blocks and got 32 digs from senior libero
Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic) to beat the 'Bods for the second time this fall.
McGowan is now UNK's all-time leader in digs (2,074), surpassing Angie Usher's total of 2,058 set between 1992-95.
Kearney attacked Washburn in the middle, getting 28 combined kills from sophomores
Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) and
Katie Weber (Greeley, Colo.). Both hit well over .360 and combined for eight blocks at the net.
On the outside, freshman
LaRose Currie (Vail, Colo.) had 12 kills and 13 digs with sophomore
Kinslie TeKolste (Lincoln SE) coming off the pine to have eight kills in 16 swings (.500 pct.).
Elkhorn native Leanna Willer paced Washburn, having 19 kills and 25 digs.
