Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Jaden Ferguson & Abby Rose
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
0
Central Missouri UCM 12-6, 9-1
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 19-1, 9-1
Central Missouri UCM
12-6, 9-1
0
Final
3
Neb.-Kearney UNK
19-1, 9-1
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Central Missouri UCM 23 23 22 (0)
Neb.-Kearney UNK 25 25 25 (3)

Next Match:

Missouri Southern

10/14/2023 | 2 p.m.

Next Match

Full Schedule
Oct. 14 (Sat) / 2 p.m.
 Missouri Southern
History

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Friday the 13th Sweep ... #9 Lopers Get Past #27 UCM

Kearney, Neb. – Returning All-Americans Emersen Cyza and Jaden Ferguson combined for 29 kills to help ninth-ranked Nebraska Kearney get past 27th-ranked Central Missouri in three sets (-23, -23, -22) Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (19-1, 9-1) is now in a tie for first place in the MIAA with the Jennies (12-5, 9-1). The two meet again Nov. 11 in Warrensburg in the final regular season match of the year.

The Lopers have now won 10 in a row, the last six in straight sets. To avenge a home loss last fall to UCM, the Blue & Gold out hit UCM by 45 points, dug up six more balls and held slim leads throughout each set.

"We played hard, put ourselves in a position to win and made plays down the stretch," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "I don't know if it was the prettiest of things on either side. I felt like we had chances to blow it open, but things kept getting away from us. I thought that may catch up to us and they are the kind of team that can make you pay for that." Addy Mock

Ferguson (Lincoln SW) had 15 kills, 15 digs and hit .378 with Cyza (Alliance) providing 14 kills, three digs, a solo stuff and a .268 efficiency. With her effort tonight, Ferguson now has 912 career kills.

"Across the board, they carried a load that we needed," said Squiers. "That's what we needed from them night."

Ferguson batted .700 in set one (7-0-10) as UNK held leads of 9-7, 13-10 and 21-10. They finally got the lead back to 22-19, and forced UCM to use a timeout, after a kill by freshman middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.). While the Jennies tied the set for the fourth time at 23 all, they had an unforced error followed by a Berg block to make it 1-0 UNK.

Both Cyza and Ferguson had three kills in the second set as the Lopers held leads of 12-10, 19-16 and 21-18. The lead finally grew to five, at 23-18, after kills by sophomore middle Abby Rose (Lindsborg, Kan.) and Ferguson. But the Jens got within 24-23 and the Lopers took a timeout. The set ended soon after, however, thanks to a Ferguson kill.

Rose had two more kills in the third set with sophomore outside Emilee Lane (Hays, Kan.) providing six. Once again, the Lopers held slim leads of 7-5, 15-11, 21-10 and won a video challenge down the stretch.

UNK had 50 kills to UCM's 45 with Rose and junior outside Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) at five apiece. In the backrow, senior libero Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius) had a team-best 19 digs with junior DS Addy Mock (Stilwell, Kan.) providing 11.

"The way they played wasn't what we expected. We expected a lot more balls to go to their outsides," said Squiers. "That's part of the chess game … sometimes we thought we had them right where we wanted them, but they would score anyway."

UCM was led by freshman middle Elinor Engel (11 kills, five blocks) and senior outside Kersti Nix (11 kills, .333 pct.) and junior DS Arley Anderson (20 digs).

The Lopers host Missouri Southern (12-7, 5-5) tomorrow at 2 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Emersen Cyza

#18 Emersen Cyza

OH
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Asha Regier

#17 Asha Regier

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Lauren Taubenheim

#9 Lauren Taubenheim

OH
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Emilee Lane

#15 Emilee Lane

OH
6' 1"
Freshman
Abby Rose

#7 Abby Rose

MB
6' 1"
Freshman
Mia Berg

#19 Mia Berg

OH/MB
6' 1"
Freshman
Jaden Ferguson

#21 Jaden Ferguson

RS
6' 0"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Emersen Cyza

#18 Emersen Cyza

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
OH
Asha Regier

#17 Asha Regier

5' 9"
Sophomore
OH
Lauren Taubenheim

#9 Lauren Taubenheim

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
OH
Emilee Lane

#15 Emilee Lane

6' 1"
Freshman
OH
Abby Rose

#7 Abby Rose

6' 1"
Freshman
MB
Mia Berg

#19 Mia Berg

6' 1"
Freshman
OH/MB
Jaden Ferguson

#21 Jaden Ferguson

6' 0"
Graduate Student
RS