Loper Volleyball Sweeps in Day One of Colorado Springs Tourney

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The 10th-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team hit well over .300 to sweep both Western Colorado (-18, -12, -14) and Western Oregon (-16, -18, -14) Friday in Colorado Springs.

The matches were part of the UCCS Classic. UNK (7-0) faces St. Martin’s (Wash.) and the host Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions on Saturday.

Against former RMAC rival WCU (2-3), the Lopers hit an even .400 while also recording eight blocks and serving up six aces. UNK trailed just once in the match as Lincoln right side Jaden Ferguson (10 kills, .474 pct.), Kansas junior outside Asha Regier (eight kills, .389 pct.) and Kansas middle Abby Rose (eight kills, .636 pct.) powered the offense. Running the show was North Platte redshirt sophomore middle Peyton Neff (35 assists, five digs, four kills, four aces, .667 pct.).

Defensively, Regier had two solo blocks, Rose totaled three overall blocks with Ferguson at two block assists. Finally, veteran defensive specialist Jensen Rowse (Minden) had a team-best 11 digs.

Regier (13 kills, .591 pct.) and Ferguson (eight kills, .571 pct.) remained on fire against the Wolves (5-2) who came into the weekend unbeaten. UNK out hit WOU by a .346-.111 margin as they had another eight team blocks as well as 44 digs.

Alliance senior outside Emersen Cyza (nine kills) and Rose (seven kills, three blocks, .357 pct.) also were thorns in the sides of the Wolves with UNK once again just trailing once on the afternoon. Finally, Lincoln redshirt junior Lauren Taubenheim was at libero and had 13 digs, three assists and a .929 serve receive pct.

Through seven matches, Regier is hitting .378 and averaging 3.2 kills per set with Ferguson (.322, 2.8 kps) posting similar numbers.