Kearney, Neb. – The 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team begins the 2019 regular season this weekend with the inaugural Loper Preseason Invite presented by Best Western and New Victorian Inn & Suites.

The tournament field consists of five teams with matches to be held at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Go HERE for the complete schedule; live stats and live video via The MIAA Network (for a price) will be available for all 10 matches. UNK's match vs. Findlay on Friday at 6 p.m. will be carried live on The River 93.1 FM.

UNK had two open and two closed scrimmages during fall camp. The Lopers bested Division I Wyoming in four sets back on August 24 in Cheyenne and then held an intrasquad scrimmage on August 28. Finally, back-to-back closed matches were held on the road last weekend. 

The Lopers enter 2019 looking to make an unprecedented 21st consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. That is the second longest active streak in NCAA Division II behind only defending national champion Tampa (23). Head coach Rick Squiers 637-88 in his UNK tenure and 944-181 overall, has to replace four key performers off last year's 33-3 team that won both the MIAA regular season and tournament titles.

Five of the top six kill leaders are back in senior outsides Emma Benton (G.I. Central Catholic) and Julianne Jackson (Bonner Springs, Kan.), junior right side Mary Katherine Wolfe (Omaha Marian) and middles Josie Cox (North Platte), Mackenzie Puckett (Grand Island) and Anna Squiers (Kearney Catholic.) Jackson, Wolfe and Squiers all earned 2018 All-MIAA honors with Squiers the team leader in blocks (108) and Jackson and Wolfe being two of UNK's top passers. Redshirt freshman Sami Mauch (North Platte), who medically redshirted last fall, should help bolster the offense from the outside with middle Michaela Bartels (Bennington) having a solid fall camp.

Next, redshirt junior Madison Squiers (Kearney Catholic) takes over at setter after sitting out last season. She was a two-time All-American at Bellevue University and the 2017 NAIA National Freshman of the Year.

All-American libero Ellie McDonnell and Morgan Stute left after digging up a combined 3,800 balls the past four years. Sophomore Lindsay Nottlemann (Lincoln Pius) saw action in 58 sets last year and has served as the libero in the fall scrimmages. True freshmen Sarah Brittain (Wichita) and Kamryn Schuler (Gretna) are currently battling to be in the back row rotation as well. 

UNK remains home next weekend for the annual Rosella Meier Fall Classic.
 

Adams State U. Grizzlies (Alamosa, CO)
Conference: RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf.)
2018 Record: 12-14 (9-9)
2019 RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll: 9th of 16
Returning Leaders: #2 Hannah Goodard (6-1, Sr. OH, 2.89 kills per set); #5 Shannon Mulkey (6-0, Jr., MH, 2.76 kps & 0.72 blocks per set), #4 Mackenzie Swanson (Jr., 5-4, DS/L, 4.06 dps)
 
U. of Findlay Oilers (Findlay, OH)
Conference: GMAC (Great Midwest Athletic Conf.)
2018 Record: 24-7 (16-3)
2019 GMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll: 2nd of 13
Returning Leaders: #19 Madison Moore (6-1, Jr., MB, 1.89 kills & 0.49 blocks per set); # 12 Jenna Delabar (6-3, Sr., MB, 1.68 kps & .429 attack pct.); #1 Olivia Morrison (5-4, Jr., DS, 2.14 digs per set)
 
Oklahoma Baptist U. Bison (Shawnee, OK)
Conference: GAC (Great American Conf.)
2018 Record: 16-17 (9-7)
2019 GAC Preseason Coaches' Poll: 7th of 12
Returning Leaders: #4 Malia Leatherland (5-10, Jr., OH, 3.3 kills & 2.73 digs per set); #15 Brecken Roquemore (5-11, Jr., RS/MB, 1.67 kps & 0.86 blocks ps)
 
Augustana U. Vikings (Sioux City, SD)
Conference: NCIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.)
2018 Record: 10-18 (5-15)
2019 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll: 11th of 16
Returning Leaders: #5 Izzy Sommers (So., 6-0, MB, 1.74 kills per set); #12 Grace Haberland (So., 6-0, OH, 1.73 kills & 1.14 blocks ps); #9 Avery Thorson (So., 5-9, S, 9.62 assists & 2.17 digs ps)