KEARNEY, Neb. - Aaliyah Burras led Midwestern State with seven kills, but No. 10-ranked Nebraska-Kearney swept the Mustangs, 25-21, 25-13, 25-17, Friday night in the UNK Fall Classic.
Midwestern State (0-2) was playing its second match of the day at the Health and Sports Center after falling to Sioux Falls in a morning match.
The Lopers (2-0) fended off a Mustang rally in the first set. Midwestern State fell behind, 10-5, but knotted the set 12-12 by winning four of five points, including back-to-back kills by
Kelli Ell midway through the first set.
The Mustangs were never able to take the lead but were down by only two points before CeCe Beahm and Bailee Sterling closed the opening set with consecutive kills for Nebraska-Kearney.
Beahm finished the match with 12 kills and hit .360 for the Lopers, who hit .323 as a team for the match. Emerson Cyza added 11 kills and hit .292 in the victory.
Burras, a fifth-year senior from New Orleans and a transfer from Nicholls State, led the Mustangs by hitting .308 for the match.
Midwestern State had nine errors in the second set and hit .037, while Nebraska-Kearney pulled away by hitting .391 in the set. The Lopers closed the match by hitting .423 in the final set.
Nebraska-Kearney finished with just 12 errors, committing only three in each of the final two sets. Midwestern State had 22 total errors and finished the match hitting .132.
Peyton Neff led the Lopers with 37 assists.
Lauryn Bourne and Sadie Portman each had six kills for the Mustangs.
Alex Serna led Midwestern State with four blocks.
Autumn Roach had 18 assists, and Amy Dewalt finished with 13 digs for the Mustangs.
Midwestern State returns to the Health and Sports Center for two matches on Saturday. No. 2-ranked Washburn is the first opponent at 10 a.m. The Mustangs will close out their appearance in the UNK Fall Classic by facing Minot State at 2 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
