No. 6 UNK volleyball bounces back with sweep of Missouri Western

KEARNEY, Neb. (Press Launch) – The sixth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball staff hit .286 and rallied within the first set to brush Missouri Western Stat (-23, -23, -19) Saturday afternoon on the Well being & Sports activities Middle.

The Lopers (23-3, 13-2) bounce again from a Friday night time five-set loss to Central Missouri whereas the Griffons fall to 8-16 (5-11).

“This was intently contested from begin to end. I feel that they’re enjoying a few of their greatest volleyball of the season particularly offensively. They’ve found their id and now know who their setter (Nessa Johnson) is,” stated UNK head coach Rick Squiers. “She’s enjoying with confidence and after they move the ball, they’re a handful. They dealt with our serving so there have been many stretches the one means we might rating was a aspect out kill.”

It wasn’t straightforward towards a Mo West squad that recorded 40 kills, eight blocks and 6 aces. The primary two units featured 19 ties and eight lead adjustments with UNK down 18-14 and 23-20 within the first set. The Lopers grabbed “Uncle Mo” by the horns because it scored 5 straight to go up 1-0 on the scoreboard. The stretch featured two kills by Johnson center Fallon Stutheit, one by Kansas freshman Emilee Lane and a block by these pair.

“We had been in a troublesome spot there. On this league, while you come off a match like final night time the place it’s a heartbreaker, these issues follow you and trouble you. That they had so much much less to lose and so they had been going to take their greatest shot,” stated Squiers. “I don’t need to take into consideration what would’ve occurred had they received the primary set.”

The Griffs didn’t go away, nevertheless, as they hung across the complete second set, tying issues up at 23 because of a kill from junior center Danielle Moje. UNK had held leads of 18-15 and 20-17. As soon as once more, the Blue & Gold was robust late, getting a Stutheit kill and a block from Kearney center Bailee Sterling and Lincoln proper aspect Lauren Taubenheim to make it 2-0.

UNK completed with 13 extra kills than MWSU and held the Griffs to a .165 hitting effectivity. 4 gamers had not less than two blocks, led by Stutheit’s three, with Iowa freshman DS Lexi Stephens at a team-best 13 digs. She additionally had a .950 serve obtain proportion with Minden libero Jensen Rowse (20 for 20) excellent in that space.

Offensively, Alliance exterior Emersen Cyza had a match-high 16 kills and hit .286 with Sterling (11) and Stutheit (10) combining for 21 extra. Off the bench, Lane had seven kills and hit .278.

“We felt like we wanted slightly extra firepower on the market so we introduced Emilee in. She’s been practising properly and somebody who you possibly can’t ignore as an attacker,” stated Squiers. “She’s bodily particularly while you slide her into the precise aspect. Emilee is snug hitting a excessive ball on the precise pin.”

Three completely different Griffs had 9 kills together with Moje with exterior Hailey Crane 24 for twenty-four in serve obtain.

UNK heads to Fort Hays State (11-13, 6-10) Tuesday night time.

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