Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team shook off a slow start to beat previously unbeaten Sioux Falls in four sets (22-25, -18, -19, -19) Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The win helped the Lopers (7-2) win the New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic with a 4-0 record. Earlier in the day, UNK swept Northwestern Oklahoma State (-22, -19, -18).
 
Things didn't look good early as Sioux Falls (7-1), from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, led the first set from start to finish and were up 17-15 in the second.
 
UNK got three straight kills, including ones from sophomores Kaitlynn Thomas (Yutan) and Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.), and a block from freshman setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) and Ziegelbein to move ahead 19-17.
 
After a USF timeout, the Lopers closed on a 6-1 run that included an ace from sophomore Allie Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) and two more kills by Thomas.
 
"They had everything going and we had shown no ability to slow anything down. Between the first and second sets, they were hitting .400 with four blocks. We were hitting in the .200's but it was all about shutting them down at the net," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "We got some early blocks in the next set and then they aren't quite the same team when a few balls come back at you."
 
UNK trailed once over the final two sets as the Cougars hit .100 in the third and .212 in the fourth. Overall, the Lopers hit .246 on the evening with USF at .218. At the net, Kearney warmed up to tally 10 team blocks with USF at 8.5.
 
"This is a huge confidence builder. We're still a young team and trying to figure some things out," said Squiers.
 
Thomas continues to be a threat from the outside, finishing with a team-best 17 kills. On the right side, junior Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian H.S.) hit a team-best .647, had 12 kills, 11 digs, three assists, two aces and two blocks.
 
Next, Ziegelbein had a team-best six blocks and nine kills with senior Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) having five of UNK's nine aces. Finally, freshman libero Ellie McDonnell (Papillion-LaVista H.S.) had a team-best 14 digs.
 
Smith's strong serving in the early going gave UNK early leads over the NWOSU (2-6) this afternoon. The Rangers, from the Great American Conference, never went away but held only six leads all day.
 
Thomas had a team-best nine kills with Seele providing seven as well as five digs and an ace. UNK ended with seven aces, three by Smith. Finally, McDonnell dug up a match-high 19 balls.
 
UNK hosts the College of St. Mary Tuesday night. The Flames are led by former Loper Samantha (Harvey) Hammond.
 
Other Scores Saturday
Sioux Falls 3, Chadron State 1 (-18, 24-26, -17, -21)
Illinois-Springfield 3, NW Oklahoma 1 (-24, -21, 15-25, -17)
Mary 3, Ill.-Springfield 2 (24-26, 24-26, -23, -22, -9)
Mary 3, Chadron State 1 (-24, 21-25, -23, -14)