Kearney, Neb. – Outside hitter EmersenCyza had a match-high 15 kills and hit .364 to help fifth-ranked Nebraska Kearney sweep Pittsburg State (-18, -23, -20) Friday night in Kansas.
The Lopers (18-2, 8-2) bounce back from Tuesday’s five-set loss to No. 10 Washburn while the Gorillas fall to 12-8 (6-5). These two teams will meet again later this fall in the Health & Sports Center.
UNK jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the opening set but it was tight the rest of the way. Five kills from outside CeCeBeahm (Hastings St. Cecilia) and four by Czya, along with two aces and two team blocks, helped the Lopers hold off the Gorillas. Pitt got the deficit to six, 22-16, but kills from Beahm, outside AshaRegier (Newton, Kan.) and Cyza (Alliance) made it 1-0 on the scoreboard.
The second set featured 15 ties and seven lead changes with Pitt recording 16 kills and 11 digs. Six of the kills came from junior right side Janae Thurston as the Gorillas grabbed a 10-7 lead. A Loper timeout helped as they tied things up at 12 after a block from Regier and middle Bailee Sterling (Kearney H.S.). However, UNK would trail 20-19 and 21-20 before finally assuming control.
A kill from setter Peyton Neff (North Platte) and ace from right side Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius X) put the Blue & Gold up for good with a rare triple block – Neff, Cyza and Sterling --- making it 23-21. A Pitt service error and kill from middle Fallon Stutheit (Johnson) closed things out.
UNK hit a solid .297 (14-3-37) to never trail in the third. They built leads of 4-1, 13-9 and 20-15 with Cyza (six) and Regier (five) combining for 11 kills. Sterling and DS Rhianna Wilhelm (Henderson) also served up aces.
Cyza reached her kill total in 33 swings and also provided two blocks with Regier having nine kills, three stuffs and hitting .500. Next, Sterling had five kills, four blocks and two aces with Neff at 35 assists, seven digs, three blocks, three kills and an ace. Finally, Taubeheim, libero Jensen Rowse (Minden) and DS Lexi Stephens (Ankeny, Ia.) were perfect in serve receive, combining to go 56 for 56.
Thurston (11 kills, two blocks) and sophomore outside Jayden Sanford (12 kills, seven digs) paced Pitt.
UNK takes on Missouri Southern Saturday at 7 p.m. The Lions, who beat Washburn last Friday, are now 8-10 (3-6) after getting swept by Fort Hays State tonight.
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