Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Middle blockers Kendall Schroer and Tara Ziegelbein combined for 29 kills and nine blocks to power the 10th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team past Fort Hays State in four sets (-14, 24-26, -14, -20) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
This was an MIAA Tournament first round match. The third-seeded Lopers (29-5) now advance to Friday's semifinals in Edmond, Okla., where they'll face 13th-ranked and second-seed Central Missouri (28-4). The other of the bracket is top-seed Central Oklahoma and fourth-seed Washburn.

UCO and the Ichabods will play at 4:00 p.m., followed by UNK/UCM at 7:00 p.m.
 
By pushing its win streak to 12 in a row, UNK also finishes the 2015 season a perfect 18-0 home, its first unbeaten season on Buckle Court since 2004. In the Rick Squiers era (1999-present), the Lopers are 299-18 at home.
 
Kearney came out of the gates strong, grabbing leads of 4-0, 10-3 and 18-8 in the first set. However, the Tigers (21-13) closed the set with some momentum and then had 17 of its 49 kills in set two.
 
The Lopers fell behind 15-12 but battled back to lead 22-21 after a kill by sophomore outside Kaitlynn Thomas (Yutan). Another Thomas kill made it 24-22, forcing Hays to call a timeout. The short break worked as the Tigers closed on a 4-0 run, tying the match on a kill from Rebekah Spainhour.
 
After an eight-minute intermission, UNK came out strong, smashing home 18 kills and hitting .486 in the fourth set.
 
"More than anything, I think we had to take a breath. I wasn't sure how we would respond (to being tied 1-1) because that set got away from us," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "That's tough psychologically knowing you should be up 2-0 but instead it's anybody's game."
 
FHSU didn't roll over as the fourth set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. A Spainhour kill gave her team its last lead of the night at 18-17. That's when Schroer (Ogallala) took over, having two kills and a block assist as part of an 8-2 closing run. 
 
Things were capped off in style with senior Erin Seele's fourth service ace of the night.
 
"Fort Hays is pretty athletic and if they can pass a little, they can be hard to deal with. They passed well most of the night," said Squiers. "Especially down the stretch, Kendall made some big plays right in a row. With a quick arm, she provides a punch offensively."
 
Schroer had her best match as a Loper, having a season-high 16 kills and hitting a season-best .538. She also had six block assists, tying her freshman high.
 
Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) managed 11 kills, three solo blocks and a .385 attack percentage with Thomas tallying 13 kills, three block assists and three digs. Besides her strong serving, Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) had 48 assists, 12 digs, four kills in nine swings and two solo blocks.
 
Finally, Papillion freshman libero Ellie McDonnell had a match-high 18 digs.
 
Mallory Flagor (14) and Crystal Whitten (13) led FHSU in kills with Kearney native Megan Anderson at five kills and five blocks.