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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Emersen Cyza
Corbey R. Dorsey
0
Missouri Western MWSU 10-4, 2-3 MIAAA
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 12-3, 3-3 MIAA
Missouri Western MWSU
10-4, 2-3 MIAAA
0
Final
3
Neb.-Kearney UNK
12-3, 3-3 MIAA
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Missouri Western MWSU 14 24 8 (0)
Neb.-Kearney UNK 25 26 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Unlikely Server Aces the Challenge as UNK Sweeps Mo West

Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore outside Emersen Cyza had a team-high 12 kills and served up three aces at the end of the second set to help No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney sweep Missouri Western State (-14, -24, -8) Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (12-3, 3-3) stops a two-match losing streak and improves to 46-14 all-time against the Griffons (10-4, 2-3). The two will meet again later this fall in St. Joseph.

Mo West seemingly had the match all tied up at one as they hit .303 (12-2-33) in the second set to have leads of 11-8, 20-18 and 24-21. A kill from sophomore Katherine White (Exeter) got the Griffs to match point but a Cyza kill, thanks to a MWSU blocking error, made it a two-point match.

The long set, which featured 11 ties and four lead changes, then had an unlikely hero in Cyza (Alliance).

"Emersen goes back to the service line only because we're out of subs. The whole time I'm telling her just get in the court, let it float. And she just keeps hitting it harder and harder," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "None of it makes any sense."

Cyza recorded two aces to tie things up for the final time and also force the Griffs to burn its final timeout. The break didn't help as Cyza delivered another ace. A kill from senior middle Anna Squiers (Kearney Catholic) then ended the shocking 5-0 run and MWSU was in a state of disbelief.

"You get a couple to fall, they were tough and she is a tough server. There's been plenty of times I thought we should use her more (serving) because she has a point scoring serve. She is a little more high error than some," said Squiers. "It's been more about can she function in the back row defensively. What's the trade off with Lindsay Nottlemann playing back row (for her). But in this case we had no choice. The whole match turned around because of it." Jensen Rowse

The Griffs never recovered as UNK tallied the first seven points in the third set. The Lopers also served up three more aces here to finish with 11, its highest tally since recording 13 in a five-set win over Cal State San Marcos in 2018. Senior setter Madison Squiers (Kearney Catholic) had four, Cynza three, senior libero Breanna Jones (Littleton, Colo.) two and Anna Squiers two apiece and junior right side Sami Mauch (North Platte) one. On the flip side, MWSU had one ace and three serve errors.

"It goes to show you the psychological element of the game. If they win set two, now we're out there battling for another hour plus. But that one (set two) gets away and it's a whole different ball game. It's deflating and we've been there ourselves," said Squiers. "It's just so hard to regroup because you know you're playing up hill."

Hitting .500 (12-2-20) in the third, UNK saw Cyza reach her kill total in 31 swings (.258 pct.). Five others were between five and eight kills including both Squiers and sophomore middle Bailee Sterling (Kearney H.S.). She had eight in 11 swings with zero errors to hit .727.

"This win was huge as we've been fighting ourselves since Washburn beat us. We're playing young players in different positions and there up and down. I don't even know all the time who should play and who shouldn't play. We're trying to piece a rotation together," said Squiers. "The league is also insane right now."

Defensively, Jones had 15 digs with Sterling and both Squiers recording two blocks apiece at the net. MWSU was led by veteran hitter Ali Tauchen (six kills and five swings).

UNK heads to Fort Hays State (8-7, 2-4) Tuesday night.
 
 
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