Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior right side Annie Wolfe had 13 kills and 14 digs to help fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney sweep 15th-ranked Central Missouri (-23, -22, -16) Saturday night in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Lopers (26-1, 11-1) are now in sole possession of first place in the MIAA as 14th-ranked Washburn (20-5, 10-2) was swept by 11th-ranked Central Oklahoma tonight in Edmond.

UNK swept the Jennies (16-7, 6-5) on October 1st in Kearney but that's when UCM senior setter Kourtney Thompson was out with injury. She returned to the court last night and the Jennies had lost only twice all year when she finished a match.

That's now three losses as UNK hit .245 and registered a season-best 11.5 team blocks. UCM had just eight fewer kills than Kearney, 48-40, but committed six more attack errors. The Jennies, despite Thompson's return, are still banged up as kill leader Cheyanne Lyons is out. 

The Lopers closed the opening set on an 11-6 run that featured three kills from Lincoln junior middle Tara Ziegelbein, two kills by North Platte freshman outside Allison Kuenle and an ace by Wolfe (Omaha Marian).

UNK led the second set 23-20 but a kill from Thompson made it a one-point Kearney lead and head coach Rick Squiers called timeout. The Lopers turned to Wolfe and she delivered back-to-back kills to close things out. UNK then hit .282 (14-3-39) to roll in the third set.

Wolfe now has six double doubles on the season, three coming over the last four matches. Also having three block assists and two assists, she hit a solid .429.

Ziegelbein was also efficient (.381) in having nine kills and provided a career-best nine blocks (two solo) as well. Off the bench, Kuenle had her best match as a Loper, finishing with eight kills, seven blocks and five digs.

Finally, South Dakota sophomore setter Lindsey Smith had 39 assists, 12 digs and five kills in 10 swings (team-high .500 pct.).

Thompson had 29 assists, seven digs and seven digs to pace UCM.

UNK has its final two regular season home matches next weekend when Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern State come by the Health & Sports Center.