University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Week Four Preview: Busy Stretch Starts with #16 'Chos

Corbey R. Dorsey

Volleyball | 9/20/2018 7:46:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The now sixth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team has a busy stretch coming up, having three matches over a five-day period.

UNK (14-1, 2-1) hosts No. 16 Central Oklahoma on Friday night and emerging Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon. After taking Sunday off, the Lopers have a day to prepare for a Tuesday battle with the No. 23 Regis Rangers. Check the volleyball schedule for first serve times and media links.

Kearney rebounded nicely after losing at Washburn last Saturday afternoon. The Lopers out hit Fort Hays State by almost 200 points in a 3-0 win Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center. This was the first of four Tuesday night matches UNK has over the next five weeks.

Continuing to show great offensive balance, the Lopers currently have five players between 83-118 kills. Junior outside Julianne Jackson and sophomore right side Mary Katherine Wolfe both have 118 with Wolfe among the MIAA leaders in attack percentage (.372). A couple of spots ahead of her in that category is junior middle Mackenzie Puckett (MIAA-best .400).

The Lopers have managed 96.0 team blocks to date with Puckett (0.88) and sophomore middle Anna Squiers (0.80) the set leaders. And after 58 digs over the last two matches, senior libero Ellie McDonnell has upped her season average to 5.65. That is the second best mark in the conference.

After visiting former RMAC rival Regis Tuesday, the Lopers will come back before heading to Missouri Western State (8-6, 1-2) and Northwest Missouri State (11-3, 3-0) next weekend.

About #16 Central Oklahoma Bronchos
2018 record: 15-2 (3-0

Notable results: Beat #18 Wayne State, 3-1; Beat #20 Tarleton (Texas) State, 3-0; Lost to Midwestern State, 3-2

Leaders to date: #16 Taylor Bevis (Sr., 5-10, OH, 3.8 kills & 2.7 digs per set), #13 Haley Deschenes (So., 6-0, OH/RS, 2.4 kills per set), #1 Dominique Lipari (Sr., 5-1, DS, 5.2 digs per set)

About Pittsburg State Gorillas
2018 record: 13-3 (2-1 MIAA)

Notable results: Lost to #11 Rockhurst, 3-0; Lost to #16 UCO, 3-2

Leaders to date: #1 Mia Bledsoe (So., 6-0, OH, 3.5 kills per set), #18 Lauren Regier (Sr., 5-11, RS, 3.1 kills & 1.3 digs per set), #22 Lauren Dunn (Jr., 5-8, DS, 44 aces & 4.63 digs per set)

About #23 Regis University Rangers
2018 record: 8-5 (4-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf.)

Notable results: Beat #8 Western Washington, 3-1; Beat #10 SW Minnesota State, 3-2; Beat Missouri Western State, 3-1

Leaders to date: #13 Caitlyn Burroway (So., 5-8, OH, 3.7 kills & 3.2 digs per set), #8 Nikki Kennedy (Jr., 6-4, MB, 3.2 kills & 1.3 blocks per set ), #6 Silvia Basso (Jr., 5-9, S, 11.3 assists & 2.2 digs per set)

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Players Mentioned

#10 Julianne Jackson: OH; 5' 9"; Junior

#5 Ellie McDonnell: DS/L; 5' 5"; Senior

#12 Mackenzie Puckett: MB; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 Anna Squiers: OH/S; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#18 Mary Katherine Wolfe: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#10 Julianne Jackson
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OH

#5 Ellie McDonnell
: 5' 5"; Senior
: DS/L

#12 Mackenzie Puckett
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MB

#7 Anna Squiers
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH/S

#18 Mary Katherine Wolfe
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH