Kearney, Neb. – The second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team is carrying the Loper and MIAA flags this weekend at the NCAA Tournament's Central Regional in St. Paul, Minn.

The Lopers (35-1), the third-seed in the region, face seventh-ranked and sixth-seeded Augustana (26-5) Thursday at noon in a first round match.

This is UNK's 18th straight NCAA Tourney appearance; only the University of Tampa (21 years) has a longer active streak. Central Missouri had made all 33 NCAA tourneys before not making the cut this fall.

Seven-time national champ and top-ranked Concordia St. Paul is the regional host once again. The Golden Bears have set up a website that includes the complete schedule and media links. A live video stream is available, for free, with all Loper matches aired live on KGFW AM 1340.

UNK, the only MIAA team to reach the NCAA's this year, is 2-0 all-time against the Vikings in the "Big Dance" and leads the all-time series by a 7-6 margin. The two last met in Hawaii to start the 2012 season; Kearney won in three close sets.

From the powerful NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.), the Vikings are in the NCAA's for the first time since 2008. The 2000 national runners up, Augie has now made 15 NCAA appearances.
 
Coming off a 3-1 loss to Winona State in the NSIC Tournament, the Vikings are 8-1 in neutral site matches. They have five wins over 2016 NCAA Tourney clubs plus two wins against nationally-ranked Northern State.
 
North Dakota transfer and 6-2 sophomore outside Courtney Place is averaging a team-best 3.38 kills per set with 6-0 junior right side/middle Bailey Koch at 2.58 kill per set. Koch also leads in blocks (1.09 per set).
 
Next, Omaha Gross graduate Tahlyr Banks (5.31) leads in digs per set and is a 2016 honorable mention AVCA All-Central Region pick. She also has served up 25 aces.
 
Finally, Montana State transfer and senior Anna Skykora (11.71 assists per set) runs an offense that is hitting .259 and averages 14.4 kills per set. Skykora has a team-best 28 aces, digs up 2.62 balls per set and has 48 blocks.
 
UNK is 27-20 all-time in the NCAA's but hasn't notched a win since the second round of the 2012 tourney in St. Paul. The Lopers fell to the Golden Bears in four sets in the 2012 regional final and has since lost in the first round to Central Missouri (3-2), SW Minnesota State (3-2) and Central Oklahoma (3-0).
 
In its history, UNK is 11-13 in neutral site matches and 4-4 in true NCAA road matches.