KEARNEY, Neb. – The No. 13-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat volleyball team produced a program-defining four-set victory over No. 10-ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney Friday night.
 
The Bearcats ended a 14-match losing skid to the Lopers giving Northwest its first win over UNK since Oct. 27, 1990. Northwest captured only its fourth win all-time vs. Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 16-25, 25-22, 25-17 and 25-22. Northwest moved its season mark to 10-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAA matches. UNK fell to 11-3 overall and 2-3 in league play.
 
The Lopers took the opening set, 25-16. The Lopers came out firing and hit .361 with 16 kills to go against three attack errors. Northwest hit .154 with 11 kills and five errors.
 
Northwest bounced back to even the match at a set apiece with a 25-22 win in set two. The Bearcats led 10-2 but had to hang on down the stretch as the Lopers pulled to within two points at 23-21. Northwest hit .211 with 14 kills. UNK hit .119 with 15 kills and 10 errors.
 
Northwest took a commanding 2-1 lead with a crucial victory in the pivotal third set. The Bearcats sprinted out to an 8-3 lead. Northwest extended its lead to 15-7 as UNK used its second timeout of the set. The Bearcats breezed to a 25-17 win. Northwest hit .154 in the set with 14 kills, while UNK was limited to .100 hitting with nine kills and six errors. The Bearcats posted four blocks and three service aces in the third.
 
UNK turned the momentum around quickly in the fourth set by pouncing out to a 6-2 lead forcing a Northwest timeout. Northwest trailed 11-4, but ran off four straight points to cut the deficit to 11-8 which in turn caused a UNK timeout. UNK led 19-18 when Northwest went on a 6-1 run to take control of the set and the match. Northwest hit .208 in the fourth with 14 kills and three errors. UNK hit .094 with 15 kills and 10 errors in the fourth.
 
Kelsey Havel notched a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs. Payton Kirchhoefer tallied 14 kills, six digs and five blocks. Abby Brunssen put up six kills and seven blocks. Rachel Sturdevant had a balanced attack with nine kills, five blocks, four digs and three service aces. Alyssa Rezac ran the Bearcat offense and registered 47 assists to go along with 10 digs and two blocks.