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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Lindsay Nottlemann
Matthew S. Hicks/MSH Photography
1
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 21-9,13-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 32-0,20-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU
21-9,13-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate
1
Final
3
Neb.-Kearney UNK
32-0,20-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 24 10 25 21 (1)
Neb.-Kearney UNK 26 25 23 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Lopers Down #20 Northwest in Four, Face #10 UCM for the Title

Loper Press Conference with head coach Rick Squiers & junior middle Anna Squiers

Kearney, Neb. – The second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team got 19 kills and 31 digs from senior outside Julianne Jackson and was strong late in the first and fourth sets to down 20th-ranked Northwest Missouri State (-24, -10, 23-25, -21) Friday night in an MIAA Tournament semifinal match in Kansas City.

The top-seeded Lopers (32-0) advance to Saturday's title match at 6 p.m. where they'll face No. 10 Central Missouri (23-8). The third-seeded Jennies downed No. 3 and second seeded Washburn Jennies in a grueling five-set match to advance.

"It was a hard fought match. Both teams showed a lot of heart, a lot grit, a lot of toughness. We dug a bunch of balls (109) and we're are very fortunate to be moving on. Happy to be in the finals and so we're really proud of our girls," UNK head coach Rick Squiers said.

Beating Northwest for the third time this year, UNK scored the first five points of the night but faced set point as the 'Cats rallied from that hole as well as deficits of 12-7, 17-13 and 20-18. However, a kill by Jackson (Bonner Springs, Kan.) tied things up and then an unforced NW error put the Lopers at set point. UNK took advantage of that mistake as junior setter Madison Squiers (Kearney Catholic) recorded one of her season-high nine kills to make it 1-0 on the scoreboard. Anna Squiers

The Lopers dominated set two, out hitting the 'Cats by a whopping .382 (15-2-34) to negative .054 (6-8-37) margin. UNK recorded four its nine team blocks in this set and added two aces as well

Northwest, looking for its first win over the Lopers since 1984, didn't go away. They jumped to a 9-5 lead in the third set and led the rest of the way, moving ahead each time the Lopers tied things up (14, 15, 19 and at 21). Both teams had 12 kills in this set with UNK having 10 of its 19 errors here, five of the unforced variety.

"We knew they could dig a lot of balls so you have to work really hard to get a kill. They touch a lot of balls at the net and are just scrappy and tough and obviously they are playing for their season," Squiers said. "Kills are tough to come by. We were patient enough to just keep swinging until we could get a ball down."

UNK broke a 6-6 tie in the third with a short spurt of 3-1 and didn't trail again. This final key stretch included kills by Squiers and Jackson as well as an ace from junior right side Mary Katherine Wolfe (Omaha Marian). The Lopers built up leads of 15-10 and 18-14 before NW got within one at 20-19. However back-to-back 'Cat attack errors sealed the Green & White's fate.

"We regrouped in the second half of the third set and got off to a better start in the fourth," said Squiers.

The MIAA Co-Player of the Year, Jackson reached her match-high kills in 57 swings (.263 pct.) and also managed a season-high 31 digs. She previously had 19 kills last Saturday in a five-set win over Pittsburg State with her dig total two shy of her career best effort (vs. Central Oklahoma, 9/21/18; 3-2 win).

Out hitting Northwest by 82 points, the Lopers also got 11 kills, five blocks and a .438 hitting percentage from junior middle Anna Squiers (Kearney Catholic) with freshman outside Kamryn Schuler (Gretna) at 10 kills in 53 swings. Finally Madison Squiers recorded 41 assists, 20 digs, four blocks and those nine kills in 16 attempts (.438 pct.). Earlier this fall she also had nine kills 3-1 win over Findlay (Ohio). 

Northwest had three players with a double digit kill total, including Morgan Lewis (14), with libero Hannah Koechi at 42 digs
 
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