Kearney, Neb. – Senior middle Anna Squiers and senior outside Hayley Daniel tied their season-high kill totals to help fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney sweep Newman University (-14, -19, -22) Friday night in Wichita.
The Lopers move to 11-1 (2-1) while the improving Jets fall to 5-4 (1-2). The two will meet again on Oct. 23 in the Health & Sports Center.
NU came in with two of the best young hitters in the MIAA in sophomore outside Salome Romp and freshman outside Riley Daugherty. They combine for over seven kills per set but the Lopers limited them to 16 tonight as well as a .179 attack percentage. The duo took 56 of the Jets 117 attack attempts.
Hitting an even .300 (50-10-130), the Lopers trailed only briefly in the second set. They got kills from six different players while serving up five aces, having eight team blocks and 52 digs.
Squiers (Kearney Catholic) had 13 kills for a second straight match as she reached that total in just 22 swings (.545 pct.). The “Super Senior” also had two solo blocks and was perfect on three serve receive chances. Next, Daniel (Edmond, Okla.) had 10 kills for a second straight match. She hit a solid .323 in taking a team-high 31 swings. Finally, North Platte junior right side Sami Mauch had nine kills with Alliance redshirt sophomore Emersen Cyza supplying eight.
An MIAA Freshman of the Year candidate, Daugherty had 23 digs and seven kills with Romp at nine kills and a .250 attack percentage to pace the NU attack.
UNK is at Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos (9-2, 2-1) swept Fort Hays State Friday night.
UNK wins on the Road
