UNK Volleyball: #4 Lopers Sweep Hastings
Kearney, Neb. – The now fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team swept its 10th straight opponent when it got past Hastings College (-10, -14, -13) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
The Lopers (10-0) finish this homestand a perfect 6-0 while the Broncos remain 7-3 as this was an exhibition match for them per NAIA rules. The 10 straight sweeps is the longest by the Blue & Gold since an 11-match effort early in the 2016 season.
UNK once again showed off its depth and defense as eight different Lopers registered a kill with Hastings hitting just .041 (28-23-121). On the season, UNK's foes are hitting only .034 and averaging eight kills per set.
"That's kind of who we are. We pass well and so we can run all five hitters, and we can also bring a couple (hitters) off the bench," said UNK head coach Rick Squiers. "I was pleased how we played tonight from a cleanliness standpoint. We didn't get sloppy, we didn't error, and I thought Hastings came to play. I can see why they are on the rise."
Senior outside Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) paced the offense with a match-high 11 kills in 32 swings (.312 pct.) with junior middle Trista Marx (Limon, Colo.) at 10 kills in 17 swings (.471 pct.) in a starting role.
"We think we have three middles that can play, and I think we're going to need all three," said Squiers. "Especially coming off this weekend when everybody has a little something; a sore shoulder, little fatigue. You need three lefts, you need three middles and we got the Lizzy Spah in tonight on the right."
There were five ties in the match and no lead changes as UNK dug 60 balls, had four team blocks and served up three aces. Graduate libero Alli Wiese (Mattawan, Mich.) had a season-best 23 digs with sophomore middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.) at three block assists. Finally, redshirt sophomore DS Lexi Stephens (Ankeny, Ia.) served up two more aces, pushing her fall total to a team-best 15.
"Alli is the anchor (in serve receive) but Lauren Taubenheim is as good as serve receiver passer as we've had here in a long time. We're getting nice production out of Lexi, Asha chips in, we can bring in Rhyan Mock. We've worked hard in that part of the game," said Squiers.
Hastings was paced by Sumner freshman Mikah O'Neill (nine kills), Broken Bow senior Kaitlin Thiebauth (eight kills) and Lincoln senior libero Miriam Miller (18 digs).
UNK faces Rockhurst Friday night in Kansas City and then Drury (Mo.) Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg. The RU Hawks (6-2) beat No. 23 Central Missouri tonight in KC, 3-1, with DU facing UCM Friday.