Kearney, Neb. – The third-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team used a couple of late rallies and got an efficient offensive night from right side Lauren Taubenheim to sweep Arkansas-Ft. Smith (-24, -21, -20) Friday night in the Granite State.
UNK (20-0, 8-0) has a quick turnaround as it travels to No. 13 Central Oklahoma early Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos (19-1, 6-1) were off on Friday after sweeping Fort Hays State Thursday night.
UAFS (11-7, 3-4) led the Lopers in the first set by a 24-22 margin and were up 21-19 in the second. To go ahead 1-0, UNK closed on a 4-0 run that featured an ace from Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius), a kill by outside Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) and two Lion unforced errors. At the end of set two, UNK’s 6-0 closing spurt included two aces from libero Allie Wiese (Mattawan, Mich.) and a kill from outside Carly Purdy (North Platte).
The Lopers out hit UAFS by a .232-.204 margin with the teams having 11 combined service aces and nine service errors. Individually, Taubenheim had seven kills and no errors in 12 swings (.583 pct.) while also having eight digs, a block assist and ace. Coming off the bench, Purdy supplied nine kills in two sets with middle Abby Rose (Lindsborg, Kan.) at eight kills and a .286 efficiency. Finally, middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.) had a team-best 11 kills and four blocks.
UAFS was paced by Nyia Anderson (12 kills, 10 digs) and Caelyn Gunn (10 kills, 13 digs).
