Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Five different players had four or more kills and the 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team held Illinois-Springfield to a negative hitting percentage Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The Lopers improve to 3-2 thanks to the sweep (-12, -13, -11) while the Prairie Stars, from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, drop to 0-5.
 
UNK had 16 different players take the court with nine registering a kill. Junior right side Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian H.S.) and freshman middle Kendall Schroer (Ogallala) caused the most damage as they combined for 13 kills in 17 attempts with just one error.
 
"Once we got some breathing room early on we were able to settle in," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "We're such a young team that we still get some jitters and it doesn't matter who we're playing. They are still learning to play together as a group."
 
The Prairie Stars not only served six long but also recorded 21 unforced attack errors. Finishing with 21 kills in 91 total attempts, they hit -.033.
 
On the other hand, UNK hit .310 as they smashed home 33 kills while committing only 11 errors. Schroer hit a team-best .750 with Wolfe close behind at .667. Next, middles Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic H.S.) and Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) combined for six kills in limited action and also hit over .600.
 
"We showed some good things tonight, like ball control and hitting a high efficiency," said Squiers. "There are plenty of things to work on but it was nice to come back home after last weekend in Alaska."
 
UNK, trailing just four times throughout the night, also served up eight aces, including five from senior setter/outside Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.). Finally, Wolfe had a team-best 10 digs with freshman libero Ellie McDonnell (Papillion) at nine.
 
This weekend, the Lopers host the annual New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic. Tomorrow, UNK faces Mary and Chadron State.