Box Score Kearney. Neb. – Junior outside hitter Kaitlynn Thomas had 17 kills and third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney hit .355 to sweep sixth-ranked Central Missouri (-15, -19, -15) Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The Lopers (19-0, 5-0) current win streak is tied for eighth longest in school history and marks the eighth time since 1999 the program has reeled off 19 or more consecutive victories.
 
UCM (12-4, 2-2), who had won seven of the last matchups with Kearney, was a bit shorthanded tonight. Early in Friday's 3-1 loss at Fort Hays State, senior setter Kourtney Thompson sustained an injury and didn't return. She was replaced by redshirt freshman Tyler Downs.
 
It may have not mattered had Thompson played as the Lopers trailed just two times in the match and, besides its offense, had 8.0 team blocks, 55 digs and was plus five at the service line.
 
"This may have an asterisk by it but this is still a big win," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "With a backup, they hoped someone could go beat a double block and they did that regularly but not enough to give themselves a chance on the road."
 
UNK scored six of the first eight points in the match and rolled from there. UCM did trail by just a 16-13 score in the second set but the Lopers scored two straight to stop the momentum.
 
"In the end, you hit .355 against Central Missouri and you have a pretty good chance at the win. Sometimes you have to because they are going to hit .300. Without their setter, they don't .300. They were still a handful in some rotations but there was enough of a difference," said Squiers. "I thought (Downs) played her heart out and did some nice things. But without a lot of time to practice, that move put them in tough spot."
 
Thomas (Yutan) reached her match-high kill total in 38 swings and hit a solid .368. She also supplied four blocks and three digs. On the opposite side, Omaha senior Annie Wolfe had nine kills, nine digs and three assists. With her defensive effort, she becomes just the 28th Loper with 1,000 career digs (now 1,001). 
 
In the middle, junior Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) and freshman Mackenzie Puckett (Grand Island H.S.) combined for 14 kills and seven blocks.
 
"We strung six points together early in that first set and we were up and running," said Squiers.
 
Finally, Papillion sophomore libero Ellie McDonnell had a match-high 20 digs with sophomore setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) handing out 35 assists, digging up seven balls, having three blocks and four kills in six attempts.
 
UCM was placed by Norris High graduate Kylie Hohlen, who had 11 digs and nine kills. The Jennies ended the night hitting just .170 while having six service errors and 40 digs.
 
Kearney travels to Fort Hays State Tuesday night to start a three-match road swing. The Tigers are now 15-3 (3-2) after a sweep of Lindenwood on Saturday.