Kearney, Neb. – The now eighth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team finishes up a six-match home stand over the next five days.

The Lopers (18-2, 6-1) battle No. 20 Central Missouri Friday at 6 p.m., face Lindenwood Saturday at 3 p.m. and then tangle with NAIA Bethany College  (Kan.) Tuesday at 6 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

Riding a 45-match home court win streak, UNK currently leads the MIAA in opponent hitting percentage (.120), opponent kills (11.15) and opponent aces (0.63) per set. Those low numbers are the result of a defense that ranks third in the league in blocks (2.2 per set) and sixth in digs (17.1).

Tough serving is also a key part of the Lopers' success. They rank third the MIAA in aces (86) yet are the toughest team to ace (42 reception errors). By way of comparison, UNK has aces 86 and 86 service errors; its opponents have 42 aces and 121 service errors.

Offensively, senior middle Tara Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) ranks second in the MIAA in hitting efficiency at .355. She also ranks first on UNK in kills per set (3.33), total kills (223), blocks per set (1.18), solo blocks (12) and block assists (67).

Hitting .231 as a team, UNK is at 13.9 kills per set with junior setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) handing out about 11.3 assists per set. She is one of four Lopers with a double digit ace total, currently first with 21.

After the Bethany match, Kearney is at Southwest Baptist next Friday night and Missouri Southern State on Saturday morning.

Central Missouri Jennies (Warrensburg, Mo.)
2017 Record: 15-4 (6-1 MIAA)
2017 Notable Results: Beat Regis in 4-sets; Lost to Tarleton State in 4-sets; Lost to Arkansas Tech and Washburn in 5-sets
Leaders: MH Kasey Hohlen (3.24 kills per set; .324 attack pct.), MH Audrey Fisher (2.96 kills per set; .312 attack pct.), OH Aubree Bell (2.79 kills per set), DS/L Kylie Hohlen (6.09 digs per set)

Lindenwood Lions (St. Charles, Mo.)
2017 Record: 13-8 (4-3)
2017 Notable Results: Swept Washburn, Swept by Central Missouri & Rockhurst; Lost to Augustana in five stets
Leaders: RS Emily Wylie (2.79 kills per set); MH Sadie Kosciuk (2.53 kills and 1.17 blocks per set); DS Megan Hellwege (5.96 digs per set)

Bethany College Swedes (Lindsborg, Kan.)
Conference: KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference)
2017 Record: 5-15 (four matches prior to Tuesday)
2017 Notable Results: 4-set loss to Missouri Southern; 4-set win over York
Leaders: #7 OH/RS Azucena Duarte (2.96 kills per set); #14 Kim Stringer (2.90 kills per set); #10 DS/L Conner Stolley (4.60 digs per set)