Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. -- The 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team defeated Nebraska-Omaha 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25) Wednesday night before 918 fans in non-conference action at the Sapp Fieldhouse.

With the loss, the Mavericks fell to 4-4 on the season. The Lopers improved to 8-1 overall on the season with their eighth-straight win.

Sophomore setter #Jamie Tooley# led a balanced Maverick attack which saw five UNO attackers with eight or more kills in the match. Tooley dished out a career-high  42 assists, to go along with six digs and a block.

Junior outside hitters #Kelli Goeser and Sara Kampschnieder paced the Maverick offense with 14 kills apiece. Junior middle blocker Ellen Thommes# added nine kills and two blocks.

 Freshmen #Lizzy Mach and Brittany Hanssen# each recorded eight kills in the loss. Hanssen also added a match-high seven blocks as UNO held a 9.5 to 5 edge in total team blocks.

Defensively, the Mavs were led by #Kayla Jansen#'s 25 digs. Freshman #Angie Reicks# added 14 digs and UNO's only service ace.

After struggling through the first set, hitting just .081, UNO played evenly with the Lopers the remainder of the match.

Paced by Goeser's five kills on .714 hitting, the Mavericks never trailed in the third set and led by as many as seven, before pulling out a 25-21 win, capped by a Thommes kill off the UNK block.

The Mavericks kept the momentum in the fourth set and led by as many as five midway through the frame. UNO led 20-16 before the Lopers went on  a 5-1 run to tie the set at 21.  Consecutive kills by Mach and Goeser gave the Mavericks a 23-21 lead. Two Maverick attack errors evened the set again at 23. Another Goeser kill gave UNO set point and chance to force a fifth and deciding set. However, two UNO attack errors and kills by the Lopers' Jeri Walkowiak and Cheslsie Carson allowed UNK to squeak out the set, 27-25.

Carson led UNK with a match-high 16 kills. Shelby Workman added 13 kills for the Lopers.

The Mavericks return to action on Saturday, Sept. 13, when they travel to Warrensburg, Mo. for the University of Central Missouri Challenge. UNO will take on Minnesota State-Moorhead at 10 a.m. before wrapping up the tournament with a 2 p.m. match against Southeastern Oklahoma State.