Box Score Kearney, Neb. – All six starters had four or more kills to help the 16th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team sweep Fort Hays State (-17, -10, -14) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
A crowd of 1,178 watched the Lopers improve to 14-4 (4-2 MIAA). This was UNK's first home match in three weeks.
To beat the Tigers (10-8, 2-4) for the 84th time in 93 all-time meetings, UNK hit .267, dug up 66 balls and had five aces with no service errors.
Hays came out strong early, leading by scores of 6-2 and 10-8 in the first set. However, the Lopers used a 12-4 run, highlighted by 10 kills, to move ahead 20-14 and never looked back. Over the final two sets, Kearney trailed just three times and there were only three ties.
"When they get things going they are hard to stop. They have two or three hitters that can get up in the air and swing away," said UNK head coach
Rick Squiers. "Fortunately, we went on a run and were able to get some separation in the first set."
From the right side, junior
Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian H.S.) had 12 kills, 16 digs, five assists and ace with junior outside
Skyler Erickson (Greeley) at a team-high 19 digs and eight digs.
Since moving into the lineup as an attacker eight matches ago, Erickson is averaging 2.56 kills and 3.96 digs per set. The Central C.C. transfer also is one of UNK's top passers.
"One of the positives all season for us has been our ball control. I think our serve receive pattern wears on people. They aren't sure who they can pick on so they tried Skyler tonight," said Squiers. "That didn't go very well as she kept us in system. When we're in system, we have a chance to score and we did tonight."
Next, sophomore middle
Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) had 10 kills and hit .348 with freshman setter
Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, SD) providing 41 assists, 10 digs, four kills in seven swings (.571) and two aces.
Hays finished with 21 kills and 18 errors to hit .026. While they had 10 team blocks, they also had 31 fewer digs than UNK and also didn't record an ace.
Kearney Catholic graduate Megan Anderson returned home to have six blocks and four kills to pace the Tigers.
UNK hosts 12th-ranked Washburn Friday night. The Ichabods swept the Lopers (-23, -24, -19) September 25th in Topeka.
