#12 Lopers Go 4-0 in Vermont

The 12th-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team went 4-0 at the Windjammer Classic this weekend in Colchester, Vt.

After starting the 2025 season with easy sweeps of Franklin Pierce (N.H.) and tourney host St. Michael's College on Friday, the Lopers had sterner tests against 18th-ranked Bentley (Mass.) and East Stroudsburg (Pa.) on Saturday. But in both cases UNK still won in three sets; BU (-19, -19, -23) and ESU (-20, -13, -18).  

Outside hitters Emilee Lane (Hays, Kan.) and Carly Purdy (North Platte) powered the Lopers over Bentley, a 2024 Final Four team. They had 28 of UNK's 42 kills, hit .295, dug up five balls and had a block. The Falcons tried to counter with freshman outside Lulu Pavan (11 kills, three blocks) and All-Region middle Elizabeth Blinn (seven kills, 10 blocks.). However, UNK out hit BU by almost 100 points and had four fewer service errors.

The Lopers never trailed in the opening set as Purdy and Lane combined for seven kills and junior libero Ellie Spang (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) had three aces. However, the next two sets featured nine ties and five lead changes. UNK was down 15-14 in the second before going on an 8-2 run that included three Lane kills and an ace by graduate setter Peyton Neff (North Platte). Bentley didn't go away, leading for much of the third set but UNK closed the match on a 9-4 run with Purdy having back-to-back kills and Spang recording another ace.

Spang and junior DS/OH Anna Laincz (Lansing, Kan.) had nine digs apiece with senior DS Aleena Peterson (Kansas City, Mo.) having six digs and going 10 for 10 in serve receive. Finally, BU sophomore outside Sophia Poehlein was at seven kills, nine digs, two blocks and 14 of 15 on service receive.

The Lopers hit .314 and had 17 more digs to dispatch the ESU Warriors (1-2). Purdy and Lane combined for 25 of UNK's 48 kills with outside Bryn McNair (Imperial) and middle Abby Rose (Lindsborg, Kan.) supplying 12 more.

The first set was a battle as there were 10 ties and three lead changes. A 7-3 Loper spurt broke a 10-10 tie and they never looked back in the match. Six different players had a kill in the set with three having an ace. On defense, sophomore DS Rhyan Mock (Stilwell, Kan.) had a team-best 14 digs with McNair and middle Sydney Davis (Dannebrog) at two blocks apiece. Finally, Neff was at 38 assists, six digs, three kills and an ace.

ESU had six players between two and eight kills with freshman DS Marta Leeland at 16 digs and 26 for 26 in service receive.

The Peru State Bobcats (6-4) come to Buckle Court Tuesday night.