Story by: UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – The seventh-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team ran its sweep streak to 11 in a row after easily getting past William Jewell (-7, -14, -18) and Hastings (-11, -15, -16) at the Health & Sports Center.
These matches were part of the two-day, four-team Rosella Meier Fall Classic. In today's other contest, Northwestern Oklahoma State (7-6) swept Hastings. The Broncos went 1-2 in the tourney, but each was an exhibition for them per NAIA rules.
In the morning against the WJC Cardinals (1-10), UNK hit .356 and served up five aces. Ten different Lopers had a kill led by middle Megan Leedle (nine), outside Grace Schmedding (eight) and middle Sydney Davis (seven). Leedle (Germantown, Wisc.) didn't have an error in hitting .692 with Davis adding four blocks at the net. Finally, setter Ellie Eckman (Lincoln) had 16 assists, two aces and two digs.
Things were a bit tougher against the Broncos (9-2) especially over the final two sets. UNK hit .314, served up seven aces and had 11 team blocks. Hastings hit negative .031 (25-28-97) with outside Ilise Benne at 11 kills and six digs.
"Overall, we were mostly clean offensively this weekend; we had spurt where we were clicking on all cylinders. I didn't think the last two sets (vs. Hastings) were an example of that," said Loper head coach Rick Squiers. "We also got a lot more experience with our rotation.
Another balanced Loper attack featured 10 kills, 10 digs and three aces from Schmedding, nine kills and a .471 attack percentage from right side Brynn Stowell (Olathe, Kan.), six kills and five blocks from Davis and 15 assists and two aces from setter Callie Squiers (Kearney).
"We've had a few matches the last week or 10 days where we just got away from somebody and beat them like 25-8. (Against Hastings) we kept thinking that was just going to happen by itself," said Squiers. "We played great last night and made it happen and did everything right; we were clean, didn't make mistakes. It's hard to keep doing that, for one, but we just thought they would help us do that. Give (Hastings) credit; they kept playing, kept coaching and trying to find something that might work."
The Blue & Gold start league action on Wednesday night at Fort Hays State (10-3).