Kearney, Neb. – The 12th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will host rival Fort Hays State Tuesday night in an MIAA Tournament first round match.
 
First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. The Lopers are 17-0 at home this fall; Kearney hasn't finished a season unbeaten in the Health & Sports Center since 2004 (23-0).
 
UNK (28-5, 15-3) tied Central Missouri for second place in the league standing with the Jennies (27-4, 15-3) winning a tiebreaker to be the second seed in the eight-team tournament. Central Oklahoma (28-3, 16-2) won the regular season title and is the top seed.
 
The Lopers beat the Tigers (21-12, 10-8) twice this season. In Kearney, the scores were 25-17, 25-10, 25-14. A few days earlier in Kansas, things were closer; 23-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-14.
 
The top seed remaining after Tuesday night will host the semifinals and finals next weekend (Fri.-Sat.). The UNK/Hays winner will face either UCM or Northwest Missouri State.