Kearney, Neb. – The ninth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team hit well over .300 to easily sweep Menlo College (-8, -15, -16) and Cal State Monterey Bay (-16, -8, -15) Saturday in Seaside, Calif.
These matches were part of the Otter Invitational, hosted by Monterey Bay. UNK went 4-0 in the event and didn’t drop a set.
For the weekend, the Lopers hit .332 while holding its opponents to just an .071 average. UNK also served up 22 aces and averaged 15 digs per set. Individually, Missouri sophomore middle Mia Berg (3.40 kills per set, .582 pct.) and Kansas senior outside Asha Regier (3.00 kps, .382 pct.) paced the offense with Michigan grad libero Alli Wiese at a team-best 4.25 digs per set.
Against the Menlo Oaks (1-2), the Blue & Gold hit .355 with Regier (10 kills, .375 pct.) leading the way. Nine others registered at least two kills with Berg and North Platte sophomore outside Carly Purdy at eight apiece. Next, Wiese dug up 13 balls with Iowa redshirt sophomore Lexi Stephens serving up three more aces. Finally, North Platte grad setter Peyton Neff was at 36 assists, eight digs, four blocks, three kills and an ace.
The host Otters (0-3) were out hit by a .368-.080 margin as the Lopers dug up 54 balls and had five team blocks. Wiese (17 digs) and Stephens (11) led the backrow with Berg and Regier both having two stuffs. Offensively, Berg had 10 kills in 17 swings (.588 pct.) with Regier supplying nine. Finally, Neff had four of UNK’s six aces.
The Lopers host Peru State on Tuesday (Sept. 10) and then have four more home matches next weekend.
ALL–TOURNAMENT TEAMMia Berg (Nebraska Kearney); Alexis Dennick (Westmont); Mia Dilley (Cal State Monterey Bay); Taylor Distelberg (Westmont); Peyton Neff (Nebraska Kearney); Hannah Torres (Menlo College); Alexa Ultreras (UC Merced); Alli Wiese (Nebraska Kearney)
