Ranger Volleyball Falls to 10th-Ranked Nebraska-Kearney in Four Games; Jessica Howe Records Career-High 20 Kills

Denver, Colo.: The Ranger volleyball team gave 10th ranked Nebraska-Kearney all they could handle tonight in RMAC action at the Regis Fieldhouse.  Regis used a taller lineup to try and distract the outstanding hitting Lopers, that coupled with a career-high 21 kills by sophomore Jessica Howe put the Rangers in a spot for the upset.

Regis (7-7, 3-3 RMAC) lost the first set 25-16 in which Regis hit just .032 compared to .333 for Nebraska-Kearney.  Howe, who played outside hitter for the first time in her Regis career, had six of the nine kills for Regis.

Nebraska-Kearney (15-1, 6-0 RMAC) won set two 25-21 but towards the end of the set you could see the momentum starting to swing in the Rangers favor.  Regis cut the lead to two, 19-21, but couldn't get any closer.

Early in the third set the Rangers found themselves tied with the Lopers before going on a 6-3 run aided by three kills by Howe and three Loper errors.  Won 25-19 by the Rangers, Regis hit .517 in set three to just .273 for UNK.  This was the first set that the Lopers have lost in RMAC action this season.

The Rangers saw Nebraska-Kearney go on a 10-2 run to secure a 20-13 lead late in the set.  Regis then went on an 8-3 run to close the gap to 23-21.  Two sideouts by each team were enough for the Lopers to hold off the pesky Rangers 25-23.

Howe led the Rangers with 21 kills on .432 hitting.  Fellow sophomore, right side hitter Kerry Grady was next with nine kills.  Sophomore setter Devin Eckhardt had another good game with 46 assists and seven digs.  Freshman libero Cassidee Young had 20 digs, her second 20 or more dig match of the season.

RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Nikki Scott led UNK with 15 kills and Cola Svec had a match-high 48 set assists.

Regis now travels to Durango, Colo. to take on RMAC West Division leader Fort Lewis on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Click here for boxscore.