#6 Lopers Beat 'Chos in Four

The sixth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team got double digit kill totals from three different players to beat Central Oklahoma in four (-15, 22-25, -22, -13) Saturday afternoon in Edmond.

This was the only meeting between the Lopers (23-2, 10-0) and Bronchos (18-6, 5-3) this season.  

UNK out hit UCO by a .250-.114 margin with both teams credited with 12 blocks. The Lopers hit just .123 (16-9-57) to win the pivotal third set but made some plays down the stretch. That included two blocks and two kills to break a 19-19 tie.

North Platte graduate outside Carly Purdy (18) and Kansas sophomore outside Addison Budke (15) combined for 33 kills with Dannebrog junior middle Sydney Davis providing 13 more. Davis hit .478 with Purdy reaching her total in 47 swings with Budke starting the final two sets.

Defensively, UNK got six blocks from Davis, five from Imperial senior right side Bryn McNair with Indiana senior libero Ellie Spang digging up 21 balls. Finally, Kearney junior setter Callie Squiers had two kills, 17 digs and 21 assists with both Sumner freshman Taryn Arbuthnot and Kansas junior Grace Schmedding strong in service receive.

UCO was paced by Georgia Ahlert (12 kills, five blocks) and Kaitlyn Parrot (21 digs; 38 for 38 in serve receive).

The Lopers host Doane Tuesday to start a four-match home stand.