By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications KEARNEY – University of Nebraska at Kearney softball player Kaitie Johnson had high hopes for the 2020 season. The UNK roster featured a solid mix of upperclassmen and young contributors under first-year head coach Katie Ackermann. Johnson, one of four seniors on the team, expected the Lopers to qualify for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Tournament for the first time since joining the conference … [Read more...] about ‘Dream come true’: Kaitie Johnson thankful for UNK softball career
NCAA
Athletics, academics made UNK ‘a special place’ for senior Mikayla Frei
By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications KEARNEY – Mikayla Frei was coming off one of her best performances as a Loper. The University of Nebraska at Kearney senior carded a 163 over 36 holes to tie for 21st place at the Southwest Minnesota State Spring Invite. UNK finished second in the seven-team event, posting the third-lowest 36-hole score (614) in school history and tying the fifth-best 18-hole performance (304). “I was really excited for this spring because I … [Read more...] about Athletics, academics made UNK ‘a special place’ for senior Mikayla Frei
‘I’ll always be a Loper’: Jarrod Hinrichs reflects on UNK career and its sudden ending
By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications KEARNEY – Jarrod Hinrichs and his Loper teammates were preparing for their final workout of the season when the University of Nebraska at Kearney wrestling coaches called an impromptu meeting. It was around 4 p.m. March 12, less than 24 hours before the NCAA Division II Championships were scheduled to begin at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “You could tell by the look on their faces they were … [Read more...] about ‘I’ll always be a Loper’: Jarrod Hinrichs reflects on UNK career and its sudden ending
NCAA TOURNEY NOTES: Colorado Mines football players show up to support Lopers
By TODD GOTTULA UNK Communications DENVER – Those eight guys standing in the front row. The shirtless ones wearing cutoff jean shorts, waving a UNK pennant and cheering on the Lopers at Saturday’s NCAA Division II volleyball national championship in Denver. They weren’t University of Nebraska at Kearney students. Nope, those guys with the blue paint on their chests were football players from nearby Colorado School of Mines. “We’re here for No. 23,” they shouted … [Read more...] about NCAA TOURNEY NOTES: Colorado Mines football players show up to support Lopers
PHOTO GALLERY: UNK volleyball season ends with loss in national championship
The top-ranked Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes got 20 kills apiece from Alexis Cardoza and Stephanie Doak and dug up 67 balls to beat No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney in four sets (-22, -23, -17, -20) to win the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship Saturday night in Denver. This was the first-ever D2 national title tilt between two undefeated volleyball teams. The 'Yotes (33-0) win its first national title in three tries while the Lopers (38-1) finish runner for the second … [Read more...] about PHOTO GALLERY: UNK volleyball season ends with loss in national championship