Kearney, Neb. – The now ninth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team continues a six-match home stand when Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western State come to the Health & Sports Center this weekend.

The Lopers (16-2, 4-1) battle the Bearcats Friday at 6 p.m. and the Griffons on Saturday at 7 p.m. The late start Saturday is due to the home football game. Check the UNK volleyball schedule page for media links.

One of 11 teams in the Central Region to be in the Top 25 this week, the Lopers are coming off a solid 3-1 win over No. 10 Regis Tuesday night. That pushes Kearney's record to 3-2 vs. Top 25 squads this year. 

Lincoln senior middle Tara Ziegelbein continues to have an MIAA Player of the Year-type season. Having a career-high 19 kills against Regis, she's at 3.30 kills, 1.13 blocks, 0.98 digs and 0.15 aces per set while hitting a team-best .360.

A three-time All-MIAA pick, Ziegelbein needs 63 more kills to become the 27th Loper with 1,000 in a career. Based on averages, she'll reach the milestone sometime between October 20-24. Finally, Ziegelbein joins setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) and libero Ellie McDonnell (Papillion) as the only Lopers to have appeared in all 60 sets.

On the outside and right side, sophomore Julianne Jackson (Bonner Springs, Kan.) is putting together a nice all-around season. She ranks second on the Lopers in digs (3.04) and total assists (25), is fifth in kills (1.33), tied for second in aces (14) and third in total blocks (26).

Jackson also has been solid in serve receive, helping UNK's offense average 13.8 kills per set and record a .237 hitting efficiency.

Northwest (9-8, 3-2) was a Top 25 squad last fall and took UNK to the brink in Maryville before falling in five sets (22-25, -12, -23, 20-25, -12). This year's squad, hit a bit hard by graduation, has won two in a row and is 2-4 away from home.

Firth native and Norris grad Maddy Bruder (3.37 kills and 3.26 digs per set) leads the way. She was a 2016 first-team All-MIAA pick and had 18 digs and 15 kills in that loss to UNK. Junior libero Olivia Nowakowski (5.37) leads in digs with freshman Maddy Ahrens (3.89 assists per set) and senior Sarah Dannettell (6.90 aps) running a 6-2.

Mo West comes into the week riding a three-match win streak. They are 2-4 in true road matches so far. 

A young Griffon squad features 6-1 sophomore outside/right side Stephanie Doak (4.02 kills and 0.39 blocks per set) and 6-0 freshman middle Ali Tauchen (3.03 kills and 2.91 digs per set). Tauchen is also hitting .255 and has blocked a team-best 54 balls. Last year in St. Joe, UNK won in three sets (-23, -15, -15).

The Lopers are off next Tuesday before hosting nationally-ranked Central Missouri and Lindenwood over the weekend.