Kearney, Neb. – The fourth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team used a balanced offensive attack and turned up the defense to get past Rockhurst in four sets (25-27, -19, -26, -20) Friday night in Kansas City.
The Lopers (11-0), after a 2:30 match, have a quick turnaround as they face Drury University Saturday at 11 a.m. in Warrensburg. The Panthers (6-3) lost tonight at Central Missouri in four sets.
Rockhurst (6-3) beat UCM Tuesday in four and came out swinging tonight to the tune of .346 efficiency in the first set. Twenty-three of RU’s 27 points came via kills with All-American Tera Redberry having seven kills in 10 swings with no errors. However, UNK almost took this set as they made it 24-23 on a kill by junior outside Emilee Lane (Hays, Kan.). The Lopers later fought off a set point, but RU moved ahead 1-0 after an unforced attack error and a block by Redberry and sophomore middle Ali Olson.
The Hawks didn’t crack a .174 hitting percentage over the final three sets with the Lopers hitting .229 in the second and mustering 40 kills. UNK also took advantage of six aces, one more than Rockhurst, 10 service errors and had five blocks in the final set.
To move 2-1 on the scoreboard, the Lopers erased a 22-20 hole with a 4-1 run. Each team fought off a set point before UNK got kills from senior outside Asha Regier (Newton, Kan.) and sophomore middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.). In the fourth set, the Blue & Gold erased a 16-14 hole with a 5-0 run that featured an ace from junior DS Aleena Peterson (Kansas City) and a block of Redberry by Regier and junior middle Abby Rose (Lindsborg, Kan.)
Berg had a team-best 13 kills with Regier and sophomore outside Carly Purdy (North Platte) at apiece. Berg hit .321 with Rose at nine kills and a team-high .350 percentage. At the net, Berg, Regier and graduate setter Peyton Neff (North Platte) had four blocks apiece with Neff having two of UNK’s five solo stuffs. Finally, grad libero Alli Wiese (Mattawan Mich.) had 21 digs with Neff and senior DS Addyson Mock (Stilwel, Kan.) combing for 27 more.
Redberry (17 kills, seven block assists), Olson (eight kills, 11 blocks), and graduate outside Kenzie Hines (11 kills & 15 digs) led Rockhurst.
UNK volleyball now 11-0
