Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior middle Tara Ziegelbein and sophomore outside Kendall Schroer both had career-high kill totals to help fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney beat 10th-ranked Central Oklahoma in four sets (23-25, -22, -22, -17) Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
This was the only meeting between UNK and UCO this year. Last fall, the Bronchos beat the Lopers twice, including in the NCAA Tournament.
 
With the two-hour effort, Kearney (24-1, 9-1) pushes its home winning streak to 30 in a row and remains in a first place tie with Washburn in the MIAA standings. UCO, meanwhile, falls to 21-2 (7-2).
 
Schroer (Ogallala) had 20 kills in 53 swings with Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.) providing 16 kills in 41 attempts. UCO's sophomore outside Taylor Bevis was even busier, having 20 kills in 71 swings.
 
The 'Chos amassed 15.0 team blocks to hold UNK to a .225 hitting efficiency, its second lowest output of the season. However, the Lopers still managed 72 kills, including 21 in the second and fourth sets, and were also plus five in the serve game.
 
"That really surprised me. Their blocking numbers haven't been fantastic this year but their right side absolutely had our number. Finally in the last set, we were able to get a few kills off the block. Credit our girls for continuing to chip away and battle," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "Kendall was off the charts. Without Kaitlynn (Thomas) in the lineup, we needed every kill she was able to get for us."
 
The match turned in the third set when UCO held a 17-9 lead. After a kill by freshman outside Julianne Jackson (Bonner Springs, Kan.), freshman Brenna Hansen came off the bench to serve for another first year player, middle Josie Cox (North Platte).

 
"Quite honestly, it's improbable you'll comeback there. You think that's a lost set; you're scratching your head looking for answers," said Squiers. "Josie comes in and you hope for a kill or that her size bothers them. But she rolls back to serve and she's not a server. We go to Brenna and she gets a run going and we're back in it. She bothered them."
 
Hansen (Lincoln Southwest) served up six straight to swing the momentum back to the Lopers. The stretch featured a Hansen ace, two Lopers blocks and three unforced UCO errors.
 
The 'Chos bounced back to holds leads of 20-18 and 201 but UNK closed on a 5-1 run. The key spurt included three kills from Schroer
 
UNK hit .395 (21-4-43) to never trail in the fourth set. Fittingly, a kill from senior right side Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian) ended the match. She had another typical all-around effort; 20 digs, 16 kills, four blocks, two aces and two assists.
 
"This is a huge match, just like last year. We ended up losing in the fifth set by two and they ended up hosting (MIAA Tournament). There's a lot of volleyball left to play but we were able to gain some ground tonight. It's a huge win," said Squiers.
 
Jackson, replacing Thomas in the lineup, warmed up late to have 11 kills in 46 swings. She also had seven digs and a block. Defensively, sophomores Ellie McDonnell (26), Ali Rowse (12) and Morgan Stute (11) combined for 49 of UNK's 96 digs. At the net, Ziegelbein had a team-best five blocks.
 
Besides her offense, Bevis had 13 digs and four blocks for UCO. Next, middle Jordan Spence had 13 kills and 10 blocks with libero Dominique Lipari at 31 digs.
 
UNK heads to Lindenwood and Central Missouri next weekend.