Kearney, Neb. – Senior middle Tara Ziegelbein had 15 kills, nine blocks and hit .455 to help fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney down Northwest Missouri State in four sets (18-25, -17, -23, -17) Friday night in Maryville.

The Lopers (30-2, 16-1) have won a share of the 2017 MIAA regular season title; they'll go for the outright designation tomorrow night at Missouri Western State (21-9, 15-2). First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.

With tonight's win, UNK records its 30th 30-win season. Thirteen of those season have come under current head coach Rick Squiers. Rosella Meier (14) and Patty Sitorius (three) led the other 17 squads.

Things got off to a rocky start for the Lopers as the Bearcats (16-14, 10-7) had 18 kills and hit .300 in the first set. A Ziegelbein (Lincoln Lutheran) kill gave UNK a 14-13 lead but Northwest closed on a 12-4 run that featured nine kills.

UNK quickly righted the ship and trailed only four more times the rest of the night. In the key third set, the Lopers broke an 18-all tie thanks to two kills and an unforced 'Cat error. A kill from sophomore outside Julianne Jackson (Bonner Springs, Kan.) ended the set and put Kearney up 2-1 in the match.

Hitting .220 overall and finishing with 13 team blocks, UNK saw Ziegelbein reach her kill total in just 33 swings. She didn't make a single attack error while having two solo blocks, five digs and one assist.

Her running mate, sophomore Josie Cox (North Platte), registered a career-high 10 kills and two blocks with Jackson having six kills and 18 digs. Also on the outside, junior Kendall Schroer (Ogallala) had 15 kills in 41 attempts. Finally for UNK, junior setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) was at 43 assists, 10 digs, five kills and four blocks.

Northwest saw both Maddy Bruder (17) and Morgan Lewis (14) reach double digits in kills with Bruder also supplying 13 digs.