Kearney, Neb.- The third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will try and push its winning streak to 19 straight matches when Lindenwood and sixth-ranked Central Missouri come to the Health & Sports Center this weekend.
Both MIAA matches begin at 7:00 p.m. Check the
Loper schedule page for media links.
The Lions (5-7, 1-1) are coming off a 3-1 home loss to No. 12 Central Oklahoma. They are 0-3 in true road matches this year and have dropped six of seven overall.
A large roster includes five players between 2.00-2.95 kills per set. The five some includes senior middle Sarah Makowski (0.92 blocks per set) and 6-2 junior outside Alex Dahlstrom. Last fall, UNK swept LWU in Kearney (-22, -17, -10) but needed four sets to win in St. Charles.
The Jennies (12-2) have won nine in a row after dropping back-to-back matches to No. 13 Angelo State (Texas) and No. 5 Wheeling Jesuit (W.V.). They own wins over No. 22 West Florida, No. 16 Colorado Mines and UCO.
Playing at Fort Hays State Friday, UCM is 7-1 against the Lopers since 2013. The one setback came in five sets (23-25, -20, -19, 24-26, -17) last year in Kearney.
The Jennies lost All-American outside Carly Sojka to graduation but still have a deep lineup. Offensively, senior outside Cheyanne Lyons (3.72) and junior middle Kasey Hohlen (3.00) both average 3.00 kills per set and hit over .300.
Defensively, sophomore outside Kylie Hohlen (Norris H.S.) is at 3.51 digs per set with junior libero Katie Carlson (4.28) the team leader. Finally, senior setter Kourtney Thompson runs the show.
UNK comes into the weekend with 25 consecutive home wins. The Lopers have dropped just two sets all fall and are out hitting their opponents by nearly 300 points.
Kearney has also been tough defensively at the net, blocking 2.3 balls per set. The leaders there are freshman middle
Mackenzie Puckett (1.00), junior middle
Tara Ziegelbein (0.96) and senior right side
Annie Wolfe (0.72).
Wolfe is no slouch in the back row either, needing just 16 more digs to become the 28th Loper with 1,000 in a career. Finally, offensively, junior outside
Kaitlynn Thomas is leading UNK in kills per set (3.13) for a second straight season.
UNK begins a three-match road swing Tuesday night at Hays.
