KEARNEY, Neb. - The Northern State volleyball team split results in the final day of the UNK Fall Classic. They dropped a three-game decision to event host Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday morning before defeating Northwest Missouri State in an evening match.. UNK, the co-defending champs of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMAC) went 3-0 on the season by defeating the Wolves (2-1) 30-18, 30-16, and 37-35. The Wolves set their season mark at 3-1 by defeating NWMSU (2-2) with scores of 29-31, 24-30, 30-20, 30-23, and 15-8.

Northern was unable to stop the offensive might of UNK in the first two games of the match. The Lopers put down 17 kills in each of the first two games and committed few errors at the net. The team hit .577 in the first game. Northern took more swings than the Lopers in both games, but they were unable to find empty holes on the court to gain the kills. The Wolves battled in a lengthy third game, finding much more success defensively. The NSU block frustrated UNK hitters with four roofs in the game, gaining many more touches to allow the offense to strike. Kearney's Shannon Clausen ended the marathon game with two kills for the UNK win.

Senior Emily Knaeble (Andover, Minn.) and junior Kelsey Aden (St. James, Minn.) each put down 11 kills for the Wolves. Melanie Perez (Rio Piedras, PR) had nine kills in the match and also led the defense with 16 digs and three block assists. Aden also had three blocks. Freshman Megan Gilbraith (Grand Forks, N.D.) dished out 32 assists.

UNK had threee players finish in double digits in kills. They out-hit the Wolves 57-43 in the match and also had 87 digs to NSU's 63. The Wolves led the blocking front with six stuffs to UNK's five.



The Wolves rebounded from a 0-2 deficit Saturday evening against Northwest Missouri State by taking the final three games for the win. Emily Knaeble notched 20 kills in the match, just one shy of her career record 21 kills. Knaeble also had 13 digs and five block assists. Melanie Perez also posted double figures in kills with ten. Blayne Olson (Rock Springs, Wyo.) led all players with 27 digs.

The Wolves topped out with 101 digs on the night. They contained the Wildcats offense at the net, totaling 13 blocks.

The Wolves head to Grand Forks, N.D. next weekend to play in a tournament hosted by North Dakota. They will play North Dakota and Chadron State on Friday and Dickinson State on Saturday.