KEARNEY — The 6th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team used a balanced offensive attack to sweep Colorado-Colorado Springs (25-12, 25-22, 25-14) Friday night at the Health and Sports Center.

UNK (28-1, 16-1 RMAC) has now won 15 matches in a row and dropped just four sets during the streak (45-4). Coming off wins over Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian, UCCS drops to 15-12 (9-8 RMAC).

The Lopers controlled the first and third sets but the second featured 12 ties and six lead changes. A kill by sophomore outside Ashley Leitner gave UNK a seemingly comfortable 21-17 lead and forced the Mountain Lions to call its second timeout.

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KEARNEY — Despite two top-10 teams squaring off in front of a NCAA Division II season-high volleyball crowd of 2,901, there simply wasn’t a whole lot of drama Tuesday night at the Health and Sports Center.

No. 6-ranked Nebraska-Kearney dominated three sets and No. 10 Wayne State had its way in one as the Lopers emerged with a 25-15, 18-25, 25-16, 25-17 victory, extending their winning streak to 14.

The UNO volleyball team (5-21) returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 25, facing in-state opponent Nebraska-Kearney for a second time this season. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb., with a radio broadcast through Kearney’s KGFW 1340 AM and live stats available on OMavs.com.

Nebraska Omaha last took the court on Oct. 19 at future Summit League foe UMKC, where the Mavericks struck for a 3-2 win. The victory was UNO’s first over a fellow Division I opponent this season and gave the Mavs their fifth win of the year. Two players finished with double-double performances -- junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke (13 kills, 13 digs) and senior setter Emily Myers (42 assists, 13 digs). Senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen’s five blocks moved her into the top 15 in school history for career total blocks, and UNO also outblocked its opponent for the 15th time this season.

UNO, which is in its first year as a reclassifying Division I institution, is guided by Head Coach Rose Shires, who is in her 22nd year at the helm of the Maverick program. In 2010, UNO finished with a record of 17-15 and had two All-MIAA honorees in third-team pick Kayla Uhing and honorable mention selection Ebke. Uhing has since rejoined the Mavericks as a student assistant in 2011, and Ebke is one of 10 returning letterwinners this year.

KEARNEY — The 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team used nine blocks and a .327 hitting efficiency to sweep 22nd-ranked Regis (25-12, 25-15, 25-11) Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (16-1) now sit atop the RMAC East Division with a 6-1 mark. The Rangers, mean while, fall to 13-5 (5-2 RMAC). Back in 1999, UNK head coach Rick Squiers lost in his RMAC debut, a 3-0 decision at Regis. After Saturday, the Lopers have won 28 straight over the Rangers.

Kearney, trailing just once in the match, recorded 44 kills while holding Regis to a .033 (26-22-123) hitting percentage. The 22 errors came in large part to two Loper solo blocks, plus 14 assisted blocks.

KEARNEY – The 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team rebounded from a four set loss to Colorado School of Mines Friday night by sweeping Colorado-Colorado Springs Saturday.

The Lopers (14-1, 4-1 RMAC) are currently tied with four teams for first place in the East Division. Two of those schools, Metro State and Regis, are nationally-ranked and will visit the Health & Sports Center this weekend.

On Saturday in the Springs, UNK hit .348 to take all three sets from the Mountain Lions (-19, -15, -21). This marked the first league loss for UCCS (9-5, 4-1).

KEARNEY — Four athletes and a former coach will be inducted into the University of Nebraska at Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame in ceremonies at UNK’s Homecoming festivities Sept. 23-24.

The inductees are athletes Mike Asche of Milton, Penn., Jessica Kedrowski Carlyle of Tyrone, Ga.; Jenni Mau Luke of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; and Eric Strand of Seattle, Wash.; and softball coach Dan Simmons of Sumner.

Jenni Mau Luke (Class of 1991) was a four-year volleyball letter winner, playing setter and graduating with the school records in assists (4,573) and ace serves (327).

Lincoln, Neb.- The No. 11 Nebraska volleyball team prevailed 3-2 (25-13, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13) over the Saint Mary's Gaels in front of a sold-out crowd at the NU Coliseum on Friday night to post its second win of the 2011 Ameritas Players Challenge.

In a match that kept the 4,097 in attendance on the edge of their seats, the Huskers saw sophomore Morgan Broekhuis lead the way with 17 kills. Junior Gina Mancuso notched her third double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 digs for NU. Junior Lauren Cook posted 51 assists, tying her season-high mark, while junior Hannah Werth also tabbed a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs in the match.

Nebraska's defense held the Gaels to a .148 hitting percentage, while the Huskers totaled 14.5 team blocks and 64 digs on the night. Saint Mary's recorded 32 errors in the match and nine team blocks.
The Huskers came out firing in the first set, taking a 3-2 lead before posting a 7-0 run. A kill by Werth made it 9-2, before a block by Broekhuis and senior Brooke Delano put Nebraska up 12-5. A long rally by both teams ended with a monstrous kill by Werth, giving the Huskers a 16-7 lead.

KEARNEY, Neb. – College of Saint Mary volleyball was swept on Wednesday night by the University of Nebraska-Kearney 3-0. The Lopers are currently rated fifth in the NCAA Division II Coaches Poll.

The Flames attack managed only 17 kills and was forced into 25 errors against the 5th rated Lopers. Ashley Iwanski (SR, Omaha, Neb.) led CSM with seven kills on the night. Joy Leick (FR, Omaha, Neb.) and Jessica Kuehner (FR, Omaha, Neb.) each had four kills. Setter Brittney Lester (FR, Tecumseh, Neb.) had 12 assists. Lester and Baylee Collins (SO, North Platte, Neb.) each had seven digs.

Head coach Samantha Hammond was an All-American right side hitter and assistant coach for the Lopers.

Kearney, Neb. - The sixth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will hold a "Blue-White" scrimmage this Wednesday night.

The event, free and open to the public, will start at 7:00 p.m. and run to around 8:30 p.m. The team will then sign autographs afterwards.

UNK begins the 2011 regular season this Friday, September 2nd, at the UNO Volleyball Showcase. The Lopers will face Arkansas-Ft. Smith and Winona State (MN) Friday and Augustana (SD) and the host Mavericks on Saturday.

Click to view story on UNK website.

KEARNEY - The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team has been picked to win the 2011 RMAC regular season volleyball title.

The preseason coaches poll, and team, was released on Tuesday, August 16th. Head coaches vote on the makeup of the poll and team.