"> #7 Lopers Record 42nd Consecutive Win Over Hays; #13 Bods Up Sat. Night - University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics
Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Taryn Arbuthnot
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
3
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 12-1,1-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
0
Fort Hays St. FHSU 10-4,0-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
12-1,1-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
3
Final
0
Fort Hays St. FHSU
10-4,0-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 25 25 25 (3)
Fort Hays St. FHSU 12 12 17 (0)

Next Match:

at Washburn

9/19/2026 | 6 p.m.

MIAA Network

Next Match

Full Schedule
Sep. 19 (Sat) / 6 p.m.
at Washburn
History

Game Recap: Volleyball |

#7 Lopers Record 42nd Consecutive Win Over Hays; #13 Bods Up Sat. Night

Kearney, Neb. – Outside hitter Grace Schmedding had a team-high 15 kills and freshman Taryn Arbuthnot served up four aces as seventh-ranked Nebraska Kearney swept rival Fort Hays State (-12, -12, -17) Wednesday night in Kansas.

This was the MIAA opener for both the Lopers (12-1) and Tigers (10-4). They'll meet again on Oct. 30th in Kearney but that will be a non-con match.

A former FHSU player, Schmedding (Olathe, Kan.) paced an offense that hit .388 and saw seven different players record at least two kills. Schmedding (.382) reached her total in a team-high 34 swings with outside Carly Purdy (eight; .471 pct.) and right side Brynn Stowell (six; .415) combining for 14 kills and each hitting over .400. From the service line, Arbuthnot (Sumner) helped slow down a cat-quick offense. Aced eight times, the Tigers didn't get into a rhythm until the third set and hit just .152.

"I was extremely concerned after the way they had been playing and watching them on film. They get that fast offense cranking and get in rhythm and then you just can't stop them," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "We didn't let that happen right from the very start. We served tough enough and Taryn really terrorized them. We never let them get any confidence."

Libero Ellie Spang (15), Arbuthnot (11) and setter Callie Squiers (10) had a double digit dig totals with middle Sydney Davis (Dannebrog) at a team-best three blocks. Finally, Squiers and freshman Ellie Eckman (Lincoln SW) combined for 32 assists.

"Our offense was clicking, we got offense from a lot of different places, setters moved the ball around well, and serve receive was good," said Squiers. "You never know how that (return to Hays for Schmedding) is going to go. That's the Grace Schmedding we wanted to have, and she's been that all year. A couple of the swings she took tonight were the hardest I've seen here hit a ball in her career. She just snapped them off right to the floor."

Hays was led by Ashlyn Reeves (seven kills; .313 pct.).

UNK is at No. 13 Washburn Saturday at 6 p.m. The 'Bods (10-2) play the Tigers on Friday night.
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sydney Davis

#16 Sydney Davis

MB
6' 0"
4th Year
Carly Purdy

#14 Carly Purdy

OH
6' 0"
4th Year
Ellie Spang

#4 Ellie Spang

DS/L
5' 6"
4th Year
Brynn Stowell

#10 Brynn Stowell

OH
6' 5"
3rd Year
Callie Squiers

#18 Callie Squiers

S
6' 0"
3rd Year
Grace Schmedding

#9 Grace Schmedding

OH
5' 11"
3rd Year
Ellie Eckman

#1 Ellie Eckman

S
5' 9"
1st Year
Taryn Arbuthnot

#8 Taryn Arbuthnot

OH/DS
5' 8"
1st Year

Players Mentioned

Sydney Davis

#16 Sydney Davis

6' 0"
4th Year
MB
Carly Purdy

#14 Carly Purdy

6' 0"
4th Year
OH
Ellie Spang

#4 Ellie Spang

5' 6"
4th Year
DS/L
Brynn Stowell

#10 Brynn Stowell

6' 5"
3rd Year
OH
Callie Squiers

#18 Callie Squiers

6' 0"
3rd Year
S
Grace Schmedding

#9 Grace Schmedding

5' 11"
3rd Year
OH
Ellie Eckman

#1 Ellie Eckman

5' 9"
1st Year
S
Taryn Arbuthnot

#8 Taryn Arbuthnot

5' 8"
1st Year
OH/DS