Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney has now swept nine consecutive opponents after defeating American International College (-10, -13, -14) and Merrimack College (-8, -18, -8) Friday in North Andover, Mass.
 
The matches were a part of the Merrimack Invitational. UNK (11-0) plays three more times in this tournament on Saturday.
 
In the afternoon, the Lopers took on the AIC Yellow Jackets (10-2) form Springfield, Mass. UNK hit a solid .312 (40-11-93) while the 'Jackets hit exactly zero (21-21-96).
Kearney didn't trail over the first two sets and then closed the match on a 16-3 run.
 
For a second consecutive day, all 15 available UNK players took to the court. While no one had a double digit kill total, five had between four and eight.
 
Kansas freshman outside Julianne Jackson had another big effort, going for eight kills in 15 swings with no errors (.533 pct.). She also supplied six digs and three blocks.
From the right side, Omaha senior Annie Wolfe had eight kills, three digs and hit .538 with Grand Island freshman middle Mackenzie Puckett having six kills in two sets.
 
It was a block party in the nightcap against the host Warriors (1-10). UNK managed 14.0 team blocks, just seven off the school record.
 
Lincoln junior middle Tara Ziegelbein (six), Puckett (five), junior outside Kaitlynn Thomas (four) and sophomore setter Lindsey Smith (four) all blocked at least four balls to hold Merrimack to a negative .120 efficiency (18-27-75).
 
Despite the strong defense and a .347 percentage on offense, the Lopers had to battle in the second set. The Warriors tallied four consecutive points, the last coming via ace, to make it only a two point Loper lead, 14-12.
 
UNK never let the home team get that close again as an ace from sophomore outside Kendall Schroer (Ogallala) made it 21-17. Two kills from Thomas and another by Wolfe closed out the set.
 
Thirteen Lopers made an appearance with Wolfe (eight) and Ziegelbein (seven) the kill leaders. The teams combined for just 47 digs with Papillion sophomore libero Ellie McDonnell having nine. Finally, UNK had nine service aces with Smith and Wolfe having three apiece.
 
These same two clubs meet Saturday at 7:00 a.m. Central.