Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Match 1 Boxscore (PDF/HTML)
Match 2 Boxscore (PDF/HTML)

TOPEKA, Kan. – The UNO volleyball team closed the Washburn Lady Blues Classic in style on Saturday, defeating Dallas Baptist 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 16-14) and Central Oklahoma 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-16) at Lee Arena. With the wins, the Mavericks are now 4-16 on the year.

Senior libero Angie Reicks starred for UNO, breaking the school career digs record with 31 digs for the day. Reicks now tops the all-time digs chart with 1,789 in four seasons as the Mavericks' libero.

“I am extremely proud of how our players played today,” Head Coach Rose Shires said. “The team played with passion and a determination to win. We minimized our errors and attacked the serving and blocking game.

“Angie Reicks was outstanding, and it was only fitting that she broke the all-time digs record in a match we dominated.”

MATCH 1 – UNO 3, DALLAS BAPTIST 2
UNO opened the day with an early-morning win over Dallas Baptist, 25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 16-14.

Two Mavericks finished with double-doubles – senior setter Emily Myers (53 assists, 23 digs) and junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke (career-high 21 kills, 19 digs). Senior middle blocker Lizzy Mach and junior outside hitter Sydney Fleege also reached double-figures kills with 16 and 10, respectively.

Sophomore defensive specialist Amy Roberts was just behind Myers with a career-high 21 digs. In addition, sophomore outside hitter Abby Sorensen chipped in 15 digs, and Reicks had 16, which moved her closer to the all-time digs record.

At the net, senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen had a match-leading eight blocks, while Myers had seven of her own. As a team, Nebraska Omaha totaled 13 total blocks to DBU's 10.

Dallas Baptist was led by three players with double-figure kills – Claire Stephens (12), Kaylyn Frink (11) and Krystal Wunderlich (11). Five players also had double-figure digs, highlighted by two with double-doubles from Frink (29 digs) and Wunderlich (10 digs). Cameron Hartson also had 26 digs, while Christina Steinkrger had 22, and Tyler Bradsher had 10.

UNO came out in full attack mode in the first set, hitting .406 as a team and holding the Lady Patriots to a .086 attack percentage. Sorensen and Fleege led the way with four kills apiece, and Fleege's effort was nearly flawless with no errors and an .800 clip. The Mavs took an immediate lead and never relinquished it, enjoying a 20-12 advantage. DBU managed to bring it to 24-19, but a final kill by Mach put the game away for the opening win.

Dallas Baptist came back to the second game with an identical score of 25-19 in its favor, followed by another win at a close 25-23 score. UNO then took the fourth set at 25-18. After trading scores until the 12-12 mark, the Mavericks went ahead and never allowed DBU to regain momentum. UNO capitalized on nine Patriot errors, including four straight to close the set and push the match to a fifth and final game.

The deciding set was no less dramatic, but Nebraska Omaha prevailed behind seven kills from Ebke. She and Hanssen combined for UNO's final six kills, including the two that, with the score knotted at 14-14, finished off the match for the 16-14 victory and the Mavs' third win of the season. 

MATCH 2 – UNO 3, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 0
The Mavs' second win of the day came with a sweep of UCO, which was UNO's first 3-0 victory of the year. Reicks, needing just nine digs to pass former Maverick Kevin Campbell's record, did not disappoint. The Bellevue, Neb., native posted 15 digs against the Bronchos, taking sole possession of the all-time digs mark with 1,789 in her four-year career.

Ebke contributed another double-figure kill performance, notching 16 on .394 hitting. Guided by Myers' 34 set assists, UNO finished with a .243 team hitting mark to Central Oklahoma's .099.
Hanssen topped the Mavericks in blocks for the second straight match, finishing with five stops. Fleege added another four blocks of her own.

Central Oklahoma was paced by Alex Richardson, who finished with 11 kills.

In the first set, UNO was led by five kills apiece from Mach and Ebke. Mach had a perfect hitting effort, going 5-for-5 with no errors.

The second game was the Mavericks' most dominant, as they held Central Oklahoma to a -.027 attack percentage. The team went out to a 17-5 lead and forced seven UCO errors in that span. Five straight kills by Myers, Ebke and Hanssen led to a Broncho timeout, after which the Mavs put the set away at 25-15.

In the third game, the two teams sat tied at 7-7, but UNO went ahead and never looked back, using an 11-4 run to go up 18-11. Back-to-back kills by Fleege made it 20-12, and back-to-back kills by Ebke made it 24-16 just minutes later. A final error by UCO finished the set at 25-16 and gave Nebraska Omaha its fourth victory of the year.

UNO returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 4, traveling to Kansas. Gametime is set for 6:30 p.m. at Horejsi Family Athletic Center in Lawrence, Kan.