Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 16th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team used a balanced offensive attack and 11 blocks to sweep Bellevue (-6, -12, -23) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the first of eight home matches for the Lopers (18-5) over the next month.

Using 15 different players, UNK held the Bruins (19-14) to a negative .039 hitting percentage (22-26-103). Bellevue had 11 of its errors in the first set and eight more in the second.

At the net, Ogallala freshman middle Kendall Schroer had a team-best five blocks with senior setter/outside hitter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) at four, including two of the solo variety. Finally, regular starters Kaitlynn Thomas (Yutan) and Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian H.S.) each had three blocks.

Hitting .230 and recording 37 kills, the Lopers breezed through the first two sets but where down by scores of 14-9, 18-13, 19-15 and 23-21 in the third.

Kearney closed on a 4-0 run that featured a kill by sophomore middle Tara Ziegelbein and three unforced BU errors, Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) had five kills in seven swings with no errors (.714) with Wolfe at a team-best eight kills, eight digs and four assists.

"We wanted to see the six two," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "I don't know if that was the issue in the third set; we kinda of made some unforced errors, they start playing better and you're in a rotation you're not used to. All of a sudden, we got into a hole."

Seele had 20 assists, 11 digs, four aces and a kill to go with her work at the net. She now has 102 aces in her career, just the eighth Loper since 1998 to reach three figures in that category.

Also, Schroer and sophomore Ali Scheil (Estes Park, Colo.) had three kills with freshman outside Connar Newberry (McKinney, Texas) providing five.

"We used this match to look at some people and decide, at this stage of the game, how we want to continue to evolve," said Squiers. "The six two is something we were curious about. At times, we've been plagued by getting stuck in a rotation where we can't get a kill. So, it was worth a look; I don't know if we saw anything that would lead us to believe that's the answer."

Setter Beth Walker paced the Bruins, finishing with 17 assists, six blocks, five kills and four digs.

UNK hosts Lindenwood (11-9, 3-6) Friday night.