Kearney, Neb. – After a non-conference win Tuesday night, the 16th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team gets back to MIAA action this weekend in the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (18-5, 7-3) will face, for the second time in 2015, the Lindenwood Lions and 12th-ranked Central Missouri Jennies.

UNK is encouraging all fans to wear pink this weekend. If fans buy an on-line ticket (www.lopertickets.com) to Friday night's match, they can attend Saturday's football game for free.

Check the Loper schedule page for media links; Saturday's Top 25 showdown will be carried live on KGFW AM 1340.

Back on October 2nd in St. Charles, UNK beat the Lions (11-9, 3-6) in four sets. The Lopers were in control in three sets (-16, -14, -14) but LWU managed to take the third, 25-20.

Freshman setter Allyson Clancy finished the match with four kills in five swings (.800 attack pct.) while adding 24 assists and four digs. No Lion reached double digits in kills that night; freshman outside/right side Bailey Dvorak (2.81) leads in that area for the year.

Lindenwood has won three in a row, getting past Missouri Southern State in five sets last weekend.

The Jennies (19-3, 7-2), who are at Fort Hays State Friday, have been a thorn in the Lopers side of late. UCM has beaten UNK six straight times, including October 3rd in Warrensburg.

On that early October night, All-American outside Carly Sjoka had 31 kills, 13 digs and three blocks as the Jennies won in four sets (-23, -20, 27-29, -21). Sjoka has always played well against the Lopers and currently is second in the MIAA in kills per set (4.29).

A veteran squad, the Jennies also got 11 kills from junior middle Maddie Jones and 10 kills from junior outside Cheyanne Lyons in the win over Kearney. Both hit over .300 that night, helping UCM hit .311 as a team.

Loper sophomore outside Kaitlynn Thomas (Ashland-Greenwood H.S.) had a career-high 22 kills in that setback. For the season, the 6-1 Thomas ranks sixth in the league in kps (3.46) and is fifth in total kills (270).

UNK continues to roll along in the service game, having 65 more aces than its opponent. The Lopers also have 48 fewer service errors, putting Kearney a plus 113 in this area. Individually, setters Lindsey Smith (28) and Erin Seele (20) rank first and second in aces with junior outside/defensive specialist Skyler Erickson third (15).

The Blue & Gold head South next weekend to face the SBU Bearcats and MSSU Lions.