"> #5 Lopers Win in Five Sets Again in St. Joe, Rallying Past the #7 Griffs - University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics
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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Carly Purdy & Sydney Davis
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 19-1,8-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
2
Missouri Western MW 16-2,6-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
19-1,8-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
3
Final
2
Missouri Western MW
16-2,6-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 25 23 21 25 15 (3)
Missouri Western MW 23 25 25 15 11 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

#5 Lopers Win in Five Sets Again in St. Joe, Rallying Past the #7 Griffs

Kearney, Neb. -Middle blocker Sydney Davis and right side Brynn Stowell had big efforts to help fifth-ranked Nebraska Kearney rally past seventh-ranked Missouri Western in five sets (-23, 23-25, 21-25, -15, -11) Saturday afternoon in St. Joseph.

This was the only meeting between the Lopers (19-1, 8-0) and Griffons (16-2, 6-1) this year. This marks UNK's third consecutive five set win at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

"It didn't look good. Got down 2-1, got into a hole a few times. They are a good team and they are tough here. They had a crazy home court environment (Homecoming today) and couldn't be prouder of our team for just hanging in there," said Loper coach Rick Squiers on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "Great blocking from Sydney; you could tell their outsides were concerned about her. They were hitting around Sydney and trying to hit over, changing how they normally like to play."

It seemed the Lopers might have an easier day this time around as they got out to a 13-6 lead in set one and hung on for a two-point win. UNK finished on a 4-2 run that featured an ace from Lincoln freshman setter Ellie Eckman and a kill by Stowell (Olathe, Kan.). The Lopers were then up 20-15 in the next set when the tides turned. Mo West used a 10-3 closing run to tie things up and turn the momentum.

Mo West hit .333 (17-4-39) to never trail in set three but UNK dusted itself and responded by hitting .441 (15-0-34) in the fourth to keep hope alive. The Lopers got out to a 10-5 lead and kept the Griffs at arm's length as North Platte grad outside Carly Purdy had five kills in 10 swings.

However, the tides turned once again as MWSU held leads of 3-0, 5-1 and 9-5 in the final stanza. The Lopers managed to tie things up at 10 after a block from Stowell and middle Sophia Thompson (Beloit, Kan.) and then grabbed the lead for good on a Stowell kill. Last year, she had a career-high 26 in an even bigger comeback at the Looney Complex.

"We knew we were going to have to get offense from Brynn, and she's more than happy to do that," said Squiers. "She tweaked a finger on her hitting hand last night, so we got that all wrapped up today and there was no question in her mind she'd be able to go. Ellie does a great job of getting her the ball even when we're in medium system."Brynn Stowell

UNK kept up the pressure, getting out to a 13-10 cushion after an unforced Mo West error and another Eckman ace. Fittingly, Stowell's 21st kill finished the long afternoon.

"We got out slow in the fifth and I'm kicking myself for the rotation we started in. You're second guessing all that but hoping maybe it swings back your way. We told them it's weird how some of those early hole's flip and the team that's ahead goes into preservation mode," said Squiers. "They did that a little bit once we made a mini run at them."

The Lopers out hit the Griffs by a .205-.158 margin and had eight more team blocks, 15-7. Stowell reached her kill total in 46 swings (.391) with Davis at 15 kills, four blocks and a .433 efficiency. Five of her kills came in the first set. Next, Purdy managed 12 kills and five block assists with Kansas outside Grace Schmedding (23) and Indiana libero Ellie Spang (28) combining for 51 digs. Finally, Eckman and Kearney junior Callie Squiers combined for 55 assists in running the show with Imperial right side Bryn McNair at five block assists, four kills and a .300 pct. 

"I thought (serve game) we were able to wear on them. Some late service heroics from Ellie and she's always capable of that. Compared to other years, we serve tougher in all six rotations," said Squiers. "Even the ones that don't look like they are necessarily tough are. We have a good mix of serving."

Mo West was paced by All-American Taylor Russell (20 kills, .349 pct.), Emily Loy (16 kills), and North Dakota State transfer Tanish Roush (13 kills) with Dakota Hendricks at a team-best 25 digs.

UNK hosts York on Tuesday (Oct. 13) night.
 
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