Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Freshman outside hitter Kaitlynn Thomas came off the bench and provided a season-high 12 kills to spark the 7th-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team to a 3-1 win over NW Missouri State (-16, 22-25, -22, -14) Friday night in Maryville.
 
UNK is now 24-3 (16-3) while the Bearcats drop a ninth straight to fall to 9-18 (6-13).
 
A late Loper rally in the third set was the turning point in the match. Down 16-14, the Lopers quickly tied things up after a timeout and then moved ahead 20-19 on a kill by Thomas (Yutan).
 
While Northwest responded with a kill of its own, Thomas came back with two more, forcing the 'Cats to call a timeout.
 
The teams traded points after the short break and then UNK closed things out thanks to kills from sophomore Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian) and senior Steph Brand (G.I. Central Catholic).

Kearney never looked back, getting out to leads of 4-0, 7-3 and 13-6 in the fourth set.
 
Thomas recorded six of her kills in the third set and had five more in the fourth. She reached her 12 kills in just 18 swings, hitting an efficient .556. Prior to tonight, she had appeared in eight sets, recording two kills and a solo block.
 
Sophomore middle Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) was the other Loper with the hot hand, having 10 kills and hitting .300. At the net, she had a team-best five blocks (two solo).
 
In the first set, Lincoln sophomore outside Kinslie TeKolste (Lincoln SE) had four kills in 18 attempts. She finished with seven in 27 swings. Finally, junior setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) had 39 assists, 12 digs, four kills, two blocks, one ace and hit .333.
 
As a team, UNK had nine aces, its second highest total of the season. Besides Seele, five others had at least one, including two from freshman Ali Scheil (Estes Park, Colo.)
 
Northwest was led by Shelby Duren (13 kills & 14 digs) and Jackie Becker (12 kills & six blocks). The 'Cats did finish with 12.0 team blocks, none being solo stuffs.
 
UNK is at Missouri Western State Saturday night. The Griffons edged Fort Hays State in four sets on Friday.