KEARNEY, Neb. -- The No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers were too much for No. 4 Washburn on Tuesday evening as they swept the Ichabods for the second time this season. The Ichabods fall to 15-2 (7-2 MIAA) while the Lopers remain undefeated at 18-0 (9-0 MIAA).
 
Washburn hit a season-low .096 while Nebraska-Kearney finished with a .205 attacking percentage. The Lopers also led in kills, 46-38, and blocks, 7-4. There was a combined 181 digs during the match and UNK recorded just one more at 91-90.

The Ichabods were a wall at the net for the first two points of the match as Allison Maxwell had a solo block and then an assisted block alongside Taylor Antonowich. Back-to-back kills by Nebraska-Kearney tied up the set at 3-all, but the Ichabods answered with two kills of their own to go up by two points again. The Lopers knotted the set at 5 and then 6 when they put together a 6-0 scoring run to take the lead for the first time. Nebraska-Kearney wouldn't trail again and extended its lead to double-figures at 19-9. The Ichabods scored the next three points and then had a late four point scoring burst, but it wasn't enough and the Lopers won the opening set 25-17.

Nebraska-Kearney jumped out to a 4-1 advantage and held a significant lead for the majority of the second set. The Ichabods trailed by as much as seven points on several occasions, but continued to fight back each time. Down 22-17, the Ichabods stormed back into the set as Erica Montgomery recorded back-to-back kills, Maxwell and Antonowich teamed up for another big block, and Washburn benefited from two Nebraska-Kearney errors and tied up the match at 22-all. The comeback effort, however, fell short as the Lopers claimed three of the final four points to win, 25-23.

The third set was nip-and-tuck to start out as there were seven ties before the score reached 10. Washburn landed the first kill and used a three point scoring run to retake the lead and add some cushion at 9-7. The Lopers responded with a block party as UNK earned three of its next five points on blocking Washburn's attempts and went in front 12-9. Washburn had back-to-back kills to get within one point two times (12-11 and 14-13), but Nebraska-Kearney pulled away at the end with a 6-0 run to secure the sweep with a 25-16 victory.

Genna Berg led the team in kills with 14 and notched her seventh double-double of the season as she added 13 digs to her stat line. Montgomery chipped in eight kills and six digs. Allison Sadler was one dig short of a double-double and finished with 23 assists. Faith Rottinghaus had a team-high 32 digs and Maxwell had four total blocks. 

The Ichabods continue their tough schedule this week as they travel home to host No. 9 Central Missouri (Friday, Oct. 18) and No. 14 Northwest Missouri (Saturday, Oct. 19). First serve against the Jennies is slated for 6 p.m. and the match against the Bearcats will begin at 3 p.m.