Lopers ride roller-coaster in win over Fort Hays State

Senior Kara Suchsland became Minden’s third state golf champion when she carded back-to-back 77s to win the Class C title by two strokes.

KEARNEY — The sixth-ranked University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball team used 14 blocks and a huge comeback in the first set to defeat Fort Hays State 28-26, 24-26, 25-22, 25-17 Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Looking to beat UNK for the first time since 2003, the Tigers (10-9, 2-8 MIAA) grabbed leads of 9-1, 12-3 and 21-12 in the first set. However, the Health & Sports Center magic worked yet again as the Lopers (22-1, 9-1) conjured up nine kills, two blocks and an ace to stun the Tigers. Both teams fought off two set points before kills by Lauren Taubenheim and Carly Purdy ended the 50-minute set.

"As upset as I was with us at times tonight, … how we could come out and be that flat early and also not close out the match when we had a chance to, I completely don't understand that with the players we have," UNK head coach Rick Squiers said. "That said, give Hays a whole bunch of credit. I watched them on film, and they had a reverse sweep at Arkansas-Fort Smith last Saturday; same UAFS team that beat UCO this week. They looked like they did in the last three sets."

Hays got off the mats to hit .292 in the second set with 17 kills. They escaped a 16-11 hole by going on a 7-2 run and then fought off set point by scoring three straight.

"They were making winning defensive plays, and they don't give you points. There's been plenty of years where you could hang in there long enough and they'll make some errors. They don't do that this year," said Squiers. "They can pass, they don't score points for you, and they play unbelievable defense."

UNK trailed only twice over the final two sets as they hit .378 in the third while holding FHSU to a -.048 effort in the fourth.

Overall, the Lopers hit 55 points higher, had 13 more digs, 11 more kills, four more blocks and were plus-one in the service game.

Graduate libero Alli Wiese had 34 digs, four shy of the school 4-set record, with Taubenheim close to a double double (19 digs, eight kills) and outside Emilee Lane and middle Mia Berg at 15 kills apiece. Setter Peyton Neff had 59 assists, 15 digs, eight blocks and two kills with senior outside Asha Regier warming up to have 11 kills.

Hays was led by senior lefty Claire Olson (14 kills, .394 pct.), junior outside Gracie Rains (11 kills), and junior libero Kirsten Evans (26 digs).

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Senior Kara Suchsland became Minden’s third state golf champion when she carded back-to-back 77s to win the Class C title by two strokes.