MSC (12-9, 10-2) volleyball nearly upset the visiting nationally ranked #5-Neb.-Kearney
 (22-1, 12-0) Friday night in front of 1,108 fans, the Mavs biggest crowd this season.

The Mavericks forced the Lopers to five sets, one of only two teams this year to take UNK to a fifth set, before falling 16-25, 28-26, 25-20, 20-25, 10-15.

UNK took set one hitting .354 with 13 kills and just one error on 33 attempts. The Lopers looked like they were on their way to taking set two holding a 24-21 lead when the Mavs fought off several set points, winning seven of the final nine points taking the set 28-26.

MSC carried the momentum in to set three forcing the Lopers to its lowest hitting percentage (.113) in the match. 

Set four went back and forth with numerous ties. MSC took a 15-12 lead and UNK tied it at 15. The two teams battled to a 19-19 tie on UNK's three straight points (22-19) including two MSC errors. UNK closed out the set winning three of the next four points for a 25-20 set four victory.

In the final set the teams battled with no team holding more than a two point advantage leading to a 10-10 tie. UNK took a 10-8 lead and back came MSC on back-to-back kills by Tessa Andrews to tie the set. Following a UNK time out the Lopers won five consecutive points, three kills by Jeri Walkowiak, closing out the match to remain undefeated in RMAC action.

Andrews led the Mavs with 16 kills and six block assists. UNK's Walkowiak and Nikki Scott each recorded 16 kills, with Scott recording six block assists. The Mavs Antoinette McCormick had 12 kills and Alisan Tompkins finished with 10 kills and 15 digs.

Four Mavs tallied double digit digs; Tara King and Megan Rush finished with 16 each, Tompkins' 15 digs and Meredith Dolny recorded 12 digs and a game high five service aces. King had 45 assists and five kills.

MSC will host Chadron State Saturday at 5 p.m.