Kearney, Neb. – The now second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team is aiming to have a 3-0 week for the fourth time this fall. 

The Lopers (25-1, 11-1) are coming off a road sweep of rival Fort Hay State Tuesday night. They host Emporia State and Washburn this weekend in the Health & Sports Center. WU (23-1, 11-1) is the only team to beat UNK in 2018.

UNK faces ESU Friday night at 7 p.m. with the 'Bods battle set for Saturday at 6 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

Kearney needed four sets (25-27, -12, -22, -15) to get by the Hornets back in September. Sophomore right side Mary Katherine Wolfe (17) and junior outside Julianne Jackson (13) combined for 30 kills with Jackson one of three Lopers to have at least 20 digs. UNK hit just .190 but held ESU to a .083 effort. Taylor Otting led the Hornets with 28 digs, 13 kills and two blocks.

Washburn, suffering its first loss of the fall last Saturday at home to NW Missouri State, downed the Lopers the next day in Topeka (-22, 17-25, -19, -23). Four different WU players had double digit kill and dig totals with UNK also having a balanced attack. Senior libero Ellie McDonnell had a career-high 38 digs with Wolfe and Jackson combining for 26 kills.

The 'Bods ended the close match with nine more kills than the Lopers as well as a .233 to .214 edge in hitting efficiency.

UNK heads to Pittsburg State and nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma next weekend.

About the Emporia State Hornets
2018 record: 11-14 (5-7)
Notable results: Beat Missouri Western State, 3-1; Lost to Pittsburg State, 3-2
Leaders to date: #16 Tatum Graves (Sr., 6-2 MH, 2.93 kills & 1.03 blocks per set), #5 Taylor Otting (Jr., 5-9, OH/RS, 2.35 kills & 3.15 digs per set), #8 Allie Maloney (Jr., 5-9, L, 4.72 digs per set)

About the Washburn Ichabods
2018 record: 23-1 (11-1)
Notable results: Beat UNK, 3-1; Beat Emporia State, 3-1; Lost to Northwest Missouri State, 3-0
Leaders to date: #8 Allison Maxwell (So., 6-1, MH, 3.10 kills per set), #9 Erica Montgomery (Jr., 5-10, OH, 2.84 kills per set), #1 Genna Berg (So., 5-9, OH, 2.71 kills & 2.55 digs per set), #5 Shayla Conner (Sr., 5-7, S, 9.45 assists & 3.55 digs per set)