Kearney, Neb. – The now sixth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team has its first road games of the 2019 regular season this weekend at Emporia State and third-ranked Washburn.

With the loss of Southwest Baptist and Lindenwood to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and the addition of Newman from the now defunct Heartland Conference, the MIAA is at 11 volleyball-playing members. In the offseason administrations decided on a 20-match round robin schedule. Previously, MIAA schools played 18 league matches with this weekend (the third on the schedule) being a final chance to play non-conference opponents.

UNK is at Emporia State (4-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. and tangles with the Ichabods (8-0) Saturday at six. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

Emporia is coming off a weekend in which it went 1-3 but one of the losses came in five sets to No. 32 Angelo (Texas) State. The Hornets also lost in four sets to No. 26 Colorado Mines and No. 30 Central Washington and own a five-set win over Drury (Mo.). DU beat No. 15 Northwest Missouri State last weekend.

The Lopers are 47-7 all-time vs. E-State, sweeping last year's match on the Buckle Court (-12, -21, -13) but having a battle in White Auditorium (25-27, -12, -22, -15).

Washburn returns the majority of its lineup from a 33-5 squad that won the 2018 Central Region title and reached the NCAA Final Four. The 'Bods went 2-1 against UNK last year and are 4-3 in Lee Arena against the Lopers in the MIAA era (2012-pre.).

The 'Bods have swept seven of its opponents to date, the exception being CWU (3-1) two weekends ago in Topeka. UNK is 38-14 all-time vs. WU.

The Blue & Gold enters the weekend second in the MIAA in both hitting percentage (.262) and opponent hitting percentage (.082). WU leads the league in that area at .078. The Lopers rank first in digs per set (20.2) and opponent service aces (16).

Kearney returns home next weekend to face MIAA newcomer Newman (Fri. night) and Central Oklahoma (Sat. afternoon).