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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Asha Regier
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
1
Fort Hays St. FHSU 10-9, 2-8
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKVB 22-1, 9-1
Fort Hays St. FHSU
10-9, 2-8
1
Final
3
Neb.-Kearney UNKVB
22-1, 9-1
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fort Hays St. FHSU 26 26 22 17 (1)
Neb.-Kearney UNKVB 28 24 25 25 (3)

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11/1/2024 | 6 p.m.

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Nov. 01 (Fri) / 6 p.m.
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History

Game Recap: Volleyball |

UNK Fights Off Tigers Upset Bid in Four

Kearney, Neb. – The sixth-ranked Nebraska Kearney team used 14 blocks and a huge comeback in the first set to down Fort Hays State (-26, 24-26, -22, -17) Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the only MIAA match for the Lopers (22-1, 9-1) and Tigers (10-9, 2-8) this weekend as they are travel partners. Both host Pittsburg State and Newman next week.

Looking to beat UNK for the first time since 2003, the Tigers grabbed leads of 9-1, 12-3 and 21-12 in set one. However, the patent Health & Sports Center magic worked yet again as the Lopers conjured up nine kills, two blocks and an ace to stun the Tigers. Both teams fought off two set points before kills by Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius) and Carly Purdy (North Platte) ended the 50-minute set. Several video reviews lengthened things.

"As upset as I was with us at times tonight, and I was … how we could come out and be that flat early and also not close out the match when we had a chance to. I completely don't understand that with the players we have," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "That said, give Hays a whole bunch of credit.  I watched them on film, and they had a reverse sweep at Arkansas-Fort Smith last Saturday; same UAFS team that beat UCO this week. They looked like they did in the last three sets."

Hays got off the mats to hit .292 (17-3-48) in the second set. They erased a 16-11 hole by going on a 7-2 run and then fought off set point by scoring three straight. Those came via a block and two unforced Loper errors.

"They were making winning defensive plays, and they don't give you points. There's been plenty of years where you could hang in there long enough and they'll make some errors. They don't do that this year," said Squiers. "They can pass, they don't score points for you, and they play unbelievable defense."

UNK trailed only twice over the final two sets as they hit .378 (18-3-37) in the third while holding FHSU to a -.048 effort (7-9-42) in the fourth. The Tigers did cut a 24-12 deficit in the fourth to 24-17. Overall, the Lopers hit 55 points higher, had 13 more digs, 11 more kills, four more blocks and were plus one in the service game.

Graduate libero Alli Wiese (Mattawan, Mich.) had 34 digs, four shy of the school 4-set record, with Taubenheim close to a double double (19 digs, eight kills) and outside Emilee Lane (Hays, Kan.) and middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.) at 15 kills apiece. Next, graduate setter Peyton Neff (North Platte) had 59 assists, 15 digs, eight blocks and two kills with senior outside Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) warming up to have 11 kills.

"We found it withing ourselves to climb out of a giant hole, win the first set miraculously and then be in the match," said Squiers. "We're a little bit hard to understand sometimes; there's a whole bunch of good stuff going on there and maybe we just have to get a little bit meaner, a little tougher."

Hays was sparked by senior lefty Claire Olson (14 kills, .394 pct.), junior outside Gracie Rains (11 kills), and junior libero Kirsten Evans (26 digs).
 
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Players Mentioned

Mia Berg

#19 Mia Berg

MB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Emilee Lane

#15 Emilee Lane

OH
6' 1"
Junior
Peyton Neff

#1 Peyton Neff

S
5' 10"
Graduate Student
Carly Purdy

#14 Carly Purdy

OH
6' 0"
Sophomore
Asha Regier

#17 Asha Regier

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Lauren Taubenheim

#9 Lauren Taubenheim

OH
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Alli Wiese

#4 Alli Wiese

DS/L
5' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Mia Berg

#19 Mia Berg

6' 1"
Sophomore
MB
Emilee Lane

#15 Emilee Lane

6' 1"
Junior
OH
Peyton Neff

#1 Peyton Neff

5' 10"
Graduate Student
S
Carly Purdy

#14 Carly Purdy

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH
Asha Regier

#17 Asha Regier

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Lauren Taubenheim

#9 Lauren Taubenheim

6' 2"
Graduate Student
OH
Alli Wiese

#4 Alli Wiese

5' 6"
Graduate Student
DS/L