Kansas City
University of Nebraska at Omaha
'Roos Fall 3-2 To UNO Despite Career Nights From Meier and Kerkman
10/19/2011 11:19:00 PM | Volleyball
In the match, junior Ella Meier led the 'Roos with a career-high 27 digs, while her 39 assists and seven kills rank as season-highs. Senior Nicole Kerkman, meanwhile, notched career-highs with 32 digs and four aces, while adding seven assists.
In the opening set, UMKC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-17 first set win. UMKC jumped out to a 6-2 lead on a kill from senior Christiana McQuin, before the Mavericks battled back to tie the set late at 17. At that point, the Kangaroos reeled off the final eight points of the set for the win.
In the second set, the 'Roos held a 21-18 lead late in the set, but an 8-3 run by UNO gave them the 26-24 win and tied the match at one set apiece heading into intermission.
Coming out of the break, Nebraska-Omaha downed UMKC, 25-19 in the third set to take their first lead of the match before the Kangaroos evened the match at two with a 25-15 fourth set victory.
In set four, UMKC built a 7-2 lead nine points in, but UNO scored 10 of the next 14 points to take a 12-11 lead. A 6-0 run by UMKC, featuring two Kerkman aces, put the 'Roos back in front at 17-12, and after the Mavericks closed the lead to within four, UMKC ended the set on an 8-2 run, capped by kills from seniors Elizabeth Beck and Kelsey Knoche, to force a fifth set.
In the deciding set, UNO scored the first four points of the set, before the 'Roos pulled to within three at 12-9 on a kill from junior Emily Lucas. The Mavericks, though, were too much for the 'Roos, as UNO scored three of the final four points to take the set 15-10 and the match, 3-2.
As a team, UMKC notched 102 digs and 10 blocks. Individually, Knoche recorded 16 kills, 18 digs and four assists, while Beck notched 15 kills and five blocks. Lucas, meanwhile, finished with nine kills and three blocks, while junior Annie Gladbach had three kills and five blocks and senior Kara Thomas had 11 digs.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they host first year Summit League member South Dakota at 7 p.m. in Swinney Recreation Center.
