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TAMPA, Fla. — The 13th-ranked University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball team swept Northern Kentucky and beat 2005 national champion Grand Valley State Saturday afternoon at the Tampa Classic to finish 3-1 in the tournament.

In a rematch of the 2005 national title match played in Kearney, the Lopers defeated the Lakers 25-20, 26-28, 25-17, 25-18.

Click to view story in Grand Island Independent

It was the kind of Christmas present that money just can’t buy.

It was also one that will keep giving and giving for the next three volleyball seasons.

Click to read Buck Mahoney's story on Kearney Hub

KEARNEY — It’s still hard to believe.

Last year’s 33-3 season by the University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball team ended with the Lopers losing six straight sets.

KEARNEY - The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will be looking to make an unprecedented 12th straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2010.

The Lopers begin fall camp this coming Monday, August 16th, and will hold two practices per day until August 20th. After that date, the team will have one practice a day until the regular season begins Labor Day weekend.

Head coach Rick Squiers, beginning his 12th season, needs to replace four starters off last year’s 33-3 squad that was a perfect 19-0 in RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) action. The Lopers won 33 of its first 34 matches in 2009 before losing to Metro State in the finals of the RMAC Tournament and to Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Concordia University Meghan Tinkham signed with Concordia University.

SEWARD - Concordia University head volleyball coach Rachel Miller has announced the signing of Meghan Tinkham. Tinkham prepped at Kearney High School where she participated in three sports for the Bearcats.

During all four of her years at Kearney High, Tinkham was an all-academic and all-conference selection in both volleyball and basketball. She helped lead her volleyball teams to four straight conference championships, and the Bearcats were district champions during her sophomore and senior seasons.

Meghan was also a member of the honor roll during all four years at Kearney High.

Read story in Omaha World-Herald

University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball coach Rick Squiers calls middle blocker Nikki Scott the whole package.

“A hard worker, a great attitude, a great student and a talented player,'' he said. “She's kind of what you hope every recruit can become.''

Read story on Chadron State web site

KEARNEY - The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team continued its winning ways Friday night by sweeping past Chadron State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match in Kearney. The scores were 25-11, 25-15, 25-16.

The No. 4 ranked Lopers posted 50 kills and had just 13 hitting errors while compiling a .366 hitting percentage. They are now 30-1 for the season and 18-0 in the RMAC with one match to play during the regular season.

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KEARNEY — In 2008, University of Nebraska at Kearney middle hitter Jeri Walkowiak was unstoppable.

The sophomore led her team in blocks (.84 per game), kills (3.27 per game) and attack efficiency (.335) — numbers that earned her Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and All-American honors.

KEARNEY - The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team received 420 points to be ranked 13th in the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Division II Top 25 preseason poll.

A panel of head coaches from around the nation vote on the makeup of the poll, which came out August 18th.

In 2009, UNK went 33-3 and was ranked 12th in the final poll of the season. RMAC-member Metro State, which beat the Lopers in the finals of the RMAC Tournament and then won two matches in the NCAA Tournament, is ranked 10th (478 points).

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KEARNEY - Nebraska-Kearney volleyball coach Rick Squiers announced the names of three high school seniors who will suit up for the Lopers next year.

They are middles Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) and Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) and outside hitter Ashley Leitner (Lincoln Southwest).