UNK Volleyball: Jennies Sweep Lopers To Win MIAA Title

The 21st-ranked Central Missouri Jennies recorded 13 team blocks and got 10 kills from three different players to sweep 10th-ranked Nebraska Kearney (-21, -21, -18) Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.

By improving to 10-1 at home and pushing its win streak to nine straight, UCM wins the 2023 MIAA regular season title (21-7, 18-2). UNK (26-4, 16-4) was hoping to secure a share of the title by winning today but will now settle for the third seed in next week's MIAA Tournament in St. Joseph. Brackets for that eight-team event will be announced Saturday night.

The Jennies trailed only twice all afternoon as they outhit the Lopers by a .276 to .152 margin. Serving up seven aces but also having seven service errors, UCM had seven different players register at least one stuff.

Sophomore middle Rachel Ziesman (eight blocks, six kills) and redshirt senior setter Olivia Olson (five blocks, four kills, 10 digs and 35 assists) were the biggest forces at the net. Offensively, redshirt senior outside Kersti Nix, freshman outside Emma Siron and freshman middle Elinor Engel combined for 30 kills with each hitting .300 as well.

Five Lopers were between seven and 12 kills with Alliance super senior outside Emersen Cyza at a team-best 12. Off the bench, Kansas sophomore middle Abby Rose hit .600 and had seven kills and a block assist with Kansas sophomore DS Addyson Mock digging up 13 balls.

The MIAA Tourney will be Thursday-Saturday at the St. Joe Civic Arena.