Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UNO volleyball team earned its first win over a Division I opponent Wednesday night, defeating future Summit League foe UMKC by a score of 3-2 (17-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10) at Swinney Recreation Center. With the victory, the Mavericks improve to 5-21 on the year, while UMKC drops to 7-15.

Nebraska Omaha was led by two players with double-figure kill performances – junior Natalie Ebke (13) and sophomore Abby Sorensen (10). The number 13 proved to be lucky for Ebke, who, in addition to her 13 kills, added 13 digs for her team-leading 13th double-double of the season. Senior setter Emily Myers chipped in 42 assists and 13 digs of her own for her 10th double-double.

In addition, senior libero Angie Reicks totaled 29 digs, and sophomore right side hitter Ali Jansen had a career-best 14 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Amy Roberts added 11.

Blocking was a strength for the Mavericks, who totaled 11 stops to the Kangaroos' 10. The performance marked the 15th time this year that UNO has outblocked its opponent. Individually, junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach had six blocks, while Jansen and senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen had five apiece. Hanssen and Jansen were also solid on the attack, finishing with nine and eight kills each, respectively.

Additionally, Hanssen's blocking effort moved her into the top 15 in school history for career total blocks. The Grand Island, Neb., native is now tied with former Maverick Michele Highland (1991-94), who had 338 blocks in her career.

UMKC was topped by a pair of players with double-figure digs – Kelsey Knoche (16) and Elizabeth Beck (15). Knoche had a double-double with 18 digs as well.

After UMKC took the first set at 25-17, Nebraska Omaha roared back to win games two and three by tallies of 26-24 and 25-19. The Kangaroos knotted the match at two sets apiece with a fourth-set 25-15 win, but the Mavs were unwilling to give in for the deciding fifth game. After going up 11-5, UMKC brought it within two scores at 12-10. UNO then capitalized on back-to-back Kangaroo error, and Sorensen swooped in for a final kill, finishing it off at 15-10.

The Mavs evened the season series with the 'Roos, who had previously earned a 3-2 win over UNO at Sapp Fieldhouse on Sept. 21.

UNO, in its first year as a reclassifying Division I institution, earned its first four wins of the 2011 season over Division II opponents. The Mavericks' victory against UMKC was their first as a Division I school over another Division I opponent. UNO will transition to a full Summit League regular-season conference schedule in 2012-13.

“The performance that our team gave tonight was absolutely amazing,” Head Coach Rose Shires said. “These kids have worked so hard all year and have never given up this season. We are so proud to earn our first win over a Division I opponent as a Division I school tonight.”

UNO returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 25, traveling to in-state rival Nebraska-Kearney. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start in Kearney, Neb.