The #5 UNK Volleyball team bested York University 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-14) in their last non-conference match of the season at the Health and Sports Center. Mia Berg led the Lopers with 13 kills and Ellie Spang had 14 digs for UNK, who are now 10-0 on the season.
“It wasnt as smooth as we may have hoped,” UNK Head Coach Rick Squiers said. “Some of that was York coming in here feisty, willing to pass and play defense and frustrate us a little bit. I thought we eventually wrestled the thing away from them, but it definitely took some effort on our part. All the way through I thought York competed well.”
UNK would score before the first serve went over the net, as York was hit with a uniform violation to start the match. The Lopers got in the drivers seat early with six of the first nine points, as Sydney Davis and Carly Purdy with two kills apiece in the early stretch. The Lopers held the lead in the entire set by at least two points. UNK would hit .400 in the set to York’s .229.
The second set was a back and forth affair, with the teams trading the first 16 points. UNK would take the next five points after the match was tied at 8, with kills from Bryn McNair (2), Addison Budke (2), and Davis to build the lead. UNK would lead in the back half of the set by as many as 10 points (23-13) before winning the set.
The Lopers had a strong start to the third set, scoring seven of the first nine points and ten of the first 14 points. The third set was complimented by three service aces by the Lopers, two of them from Julia Davenport and a third from Haedyn Hoos as the Lopers closed out the match on a block from Berg and Bryn McNair.
Playing 18 in the match, UNK was able to spread out their scoring, with 12 Lopers recording a kill and 15 Lopers recording a dig. UNK had a .369 hitting percentage for the match, compared to York’s .182 percentage.
The Lopers have their last non-conference weekend coming up, as they’ll take on former MIAA member Truman State at Kirksville, MO on Thursday. Friday and Saturday they will have Illinois-Springfield and Maryville, respectively.
UNK is back at home against Central Missouri (Friday) and Missouri Southern (Saturday) next weekend to open conference play. In the latest AVCA Coaches Poll released on Monday, four schools from the MIAA are in the Top 25. Central Oklahoma (#2), UNK (#5), and Washburn (#9) are in the Top 10, while Missouri Western entered the Top 25 this week at #21. Central Missouri is receiving votes.
