Kearney, Neb. – The now 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team looks to keep up its home court dominance this weekend with the annual New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic.

The two-day, five-team tourney begins Friday at 10:00 a.m. and runs until Saturday night. Check the Loper volleyball schedule page for the complete tourney schedule and media links.

UNK went 18-0 in the Health & Sports Center last year, its first unbeaten home record since 2004. The Lopers current 18-match home win streak is tied for the seventh longest in school history.

The visitors trying to knock off Kearney are Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-5), the University of Mary, N.D. (3-1), Black Hills State, S.D. (0-3) and Newman University, Kan. (3-2).

Last season, the Mary Marauders went 3-1 in this event, falling only to the Lopers in four sets (17-25, 21-25, -17, 28-30). They went on to win 13 matches and began 2016 with victories over MIAA-members Missouri Western State, Emporia State and Pittsburg State.

Junior middle Lauren Randall averages a healthy 4.44 kills and 2.11 digs per set while hitting .205. Brazilian senior Thayna Silva, a 5-9 outside, comes in at 3.72 kills and 2.33 digs per set. Last September, Silva had 16 kills and hit .326 against the Lopers with Randall providing seven kills and four blocks.

The Rangers from NWOSU are also back in the classic for a second straight season. Hailing from the Great American Conference (GAC), NW Oklahoma won 11 matches in 2015 but none in the H & S Center.

They dropped all four matches they played at Oklahoma Panhandle State last weekend, including five-set losses to MIAA foes Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern State. On Tuesday, they lost at Newman in four sets. A balanced attack includes six-foot sophomore Hannah Williams (2.21 kills and 2.29 digs per set).

Replacing UNK in the RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf.), Black Hills took part in the 2013 New Victorian. More recently, they won seven times last fall and are currently 0-3. Sophomore Ellise Lech leads the way at 2.50 kills and 3.08 digs per set.

Finally, the Newman Jets, from the Heartland Conference, are currently 3-2 after posting a 26-9 mark in 2015. They last took part in this tourney in 2014. Junior right side Emily Harvey (3.78) and senior outside Laura Hageman (3.00) both average over 3.00 kills per set with junior libero Anna Burton at 5.69 digs per set.

The Lopers, as usual, are balanced, averaging 13.5 kills and 13.6 digs per set. Plus three in the serve game, UNK is also blocking 1.85 balls per set, led by Grand Island freshman Mackenzie Puckett (1.31).

Puckett has emerged in the early going, entering the starting lineup at middle blocker last weekend in Colorado. Besides her defense, she is hitting .500 and registering almost two kills per set.

Ogallala sophomore Kendall Schroer has moved outside, leaving her starting middle position. In her new spot, she is averaging 2.45 kills per set and complements 2015 All-MIAA outside Kaitlynn Thomas (3.31 kps & .277 attack pct.).

Besides Thomas, South Dakota sophomore setter Lindsey Smith (11.46 assists per set) made the all-tournament last weekend at the Colorado School of Mines.

A busy stretch continues for Kearney as they have six matches over three days next weekend in New Hampshire and the Boston area.