ALEX ELLER
ellerag@lopers.unk.edu
For the first time since 2016, UNK improves to 17-0 on the season. The Lopers took care of business sweeping Fort Hays State Oct.8 and Missouri Western Oct.11 at the Health and Sports Center.
“I am very impressed with how our team has been playing,” said UNK redshirt junior setter Maddie Squiers. “We played really well this week against two good teams.”
Going into Tuesday’s matchup against the Tigers, UNK looked to move to a perfect 17-0 all-time against them. For Fort Hays, it was the final stretch of a grueling four game away stand. Three of those games were against opponents rated in the top 15.
Both teams went back and forth to start set one and were deadlocked at nine apiece.
After a clean start, the Tigers committed four straight attacking errors. Tack on a service error and Fort Hays found themselves giving up ten of the next 12 points.
Sami Mauch closed out a 25-18 set one victory with her third kill on the night.
The Lopers carried the momentum of set one into the second. The Tigers found themselves struggling to dig shots from Anna Squiers and MK Wolfe. As a result, they fell behind 10-1.
UNK coasted the rest of the way, winning set two by a score of 25-14.
Fort Hays continued to trend downward from one set to the next. Six kills by MK Wolfe and errors propelled the Lopers 25-11.
Leaders against the Tigers included Julianne Jackson with six kills and Maddie Squiers with 27 digs.
UNK took on Missouri Western State Oct.11. After a 1-3 start to conference play, the Griffons knocked off Pitt State and Missouri Southern State at home in consecutive games.
With set one tied at 9-9, the Lopers went on a 11-0 run to go up 20-9. In that period, senior outside hitter Emma Benton had seven kills and one ace.
UNK won set one 25-13 on a kill by Sami Mauch from the left outside hitter position.
Sets two and three were dominated by UNK in the middle. Most of that damage was done by freshman Michaela Bartels and junior Anna Squiers. The Lopers went on to win both sets in convincing fashion 25-15 and 25-17 to sweep the Griffons.
“Tonight, we were steady,” said UNK coach Rick Squiers. “Our ball control was really good and our back-row people did a good job of getting our setter in a place where she could run the offense”
Jackson and Bartels led UNK on the night with 10 kills. Close behind was Anna Squiers with nine kills.
Maddie Squiers had a terrific game from the setter position. She logged 40 assists, which means she had a part in all but seven of the Lopers 47 kills.
“I always just try and get up a good, hittable ball to our hitters. It helps that we have such good serve receive and defense. I connect well with all the hitters and it’s nice that we are getting the middles more involved because they are doing awesome.” Maddie Squiers said.
UNK’s next match was No.5 Washburn (13-1). The Ichabod’s one loss was against the Lopers on Sept. 20.
To view the current Division II volleyball rankings, follow the link below:
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d2/avca-coaches
