UNK Volleyball: #2 Lopers Swept by #9 Ichabods

The ninth-ranked Washburn Ichabods hit .323 to sweep second-ranked Nebraska Kearney (-21, -13, -14) Saturday afternoon in Topeka, Kan.

The two teams will meet again on Buckle Court next month with the 'Bods (17-1, 6-1) having taken eight of the last 11 meetings with the Lopers (18-2, 5-2).

Now 7-1 in a temporary home and riding a five-match win steak, WU got 10 kills apiece from senior middle Alex Dvorak and sophomore outside Keilah Rivers. For added measure, Dvorak hit .769 with Rivers at .368. Next, Lincoln sophomore outside Brynne Topolski had nine kills and posted a .412 efficiency with senior middle Bella Limback providing five blocks and six kills.

There were six ties in both the first and third sets and a total of five lead changes. WU closed set one an 8-5 run while finishing the match on an 11-4 spurt.

North Platte graduate outside Carly Purdy (eight) and Missouri junior middle Mia Berg (six) led the team in kills with Kansas senior middle Abby Rose at a team-best three blocks. Finally, North Platte graduate setter Peyton Neff was at a team-best nine digs, 21 assists, two kills and a block assist. On Friday, she became the 36th Loper to reach the 1,000-career dig milestone (1,010).

UNK hosts Arkansas-Ft. Smith (Thurs. night) and nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma (Sat. afternoon) next weekend.