By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – For two years, Grace Schmedding did everything she could to beat the Lopers.
Now, she’s their most versatile player.
The Fort Hays State transfer has made an immediate impact at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she’s embracing her role as a six-rotation standout for a team that’s 17-1 and ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II.
“She just does so much,” UNK head coach Rick Squiers said. “She is the most complete player that we have on the roster.”
Schmedding has started all 18 matches this season, ranking third on the team with 139 kills and 12 service aces and second with 166 digs. She’s handled a team-high 413 serve-receive attempts – nearly 250 more than any other Loper – with just 12 errors.
The junior outside hitter takes pride in being able to contribute in so many different ways.
“It’s not really about my own stats or how many kills I get, but how I can help my teammates,” she said. “Sometimes my hits don’t land or I’m not passing great, but I can still make an impact by bringing a lot of energy.”
That enthusiasm is hard to miss.
Squiers describes the 5-foot-11 Schmedding as a “fiery” competitor, an attribute he noticed well before she started wearing blue and gold.
He had plenty of opportunities to see it from the other side of the net.
Opposite End of the Rivalry
An all-state selection at Heritage Christian Academy in Olathe, Kansas, Schmedding helped the school win three consecutive Class 3A championships before beginning her college career at Fort Hays State.
But that wasn’t the only MIAA school she contacted.
Schmedding reached out to Squiers by email during her high school recruitment, hoping to catch the attention of the longtime UNK coach.
She never heard back.
“We got at least one email from her, which is unfortunately not an uncommon theme,” Squiers acknowledged. “We’ll be playing against somebody and I’ll ask one of our coaches, ‘Why didn’t we recruit that kid?’ Then I’ll go back through my emails and find a couple emails from them.”
Schmedding understands why the opportunity didn’t come at the time.
“Obviously, there were a lot of very good players at my position,” she said. “I maybe didn’t have the stats or the ability I have now coming out of high school.”
Fort Hays offered Schmedding a chance to compete in the MIAA, where she knew she could continue developing both physically and mentally. She appeared in every match during her two seasons with the Tigers, averaging 2.2 kills and 2.9 digs per set.
“It was a growing process for sure,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself as an athlete, and I learned how to be a better teammate. I’m very grateful for the time I had there because I’m a completely different player now than I was in high school.”
Part of that growth came from regularly competing against programs such as UNK.
Schmedding faced the Lopers six times during her Fort Hays career. Although the Tigers didn’t win any of those matches, she appreciated the challenge.
“You play against really good teams and you get better by playing in the MIAA,” she said. “Those two years at Fort Hays playing against Kearney made me a better player. I’ve developed a lot more skill, and I’m a lot more of a mature player now.”
Squiers saw that development, too.
Schmedding became a regular part of UNK’s scouting report because of her ability to impact the match in multiple ways. Her competitiveness stood out even more.
“I always admired how much she cared about trying to beat us,” Squiers said.
Their final meeting as opponents came in the opening round of last year’s MIAA Tournament. Schmedding recorded a team-high 16 kills and 18 digs as Fort Hays fell 3-1 to UNK, which went on to win the tournament championship.
“Being on the other side of the net, they were a force to be reckoned with,” Schmedding said of the Lopers. “But it was fun because it was a really good challenge and an opportunity for us to give someone our best shot during a match.”
Perfect Timing
Schmedding didn’t arrive at Fort Hays expecting to transfer. But when she decided to explore other opportunities following her sophomore season, one school immediately stood out.
“It was always UNK,” she said. “UNK was always the place where I wanted to be. It was an easy decision when they gave me an offer.”
This time, everything lined up.
With All-American setter Peyton Neff out of eligibility, UNK planned to move to a 6-2 system and needed an outside hitter capable of playing all six rotations.
Schmedding fit exactly what Squiers was looking for.
“She wasn’t a true freshman. She knew the league. She was really competitive,” he said. “We just thought this could be really good for both sides.”
Schmedding joined the program in January, giving her the spring semester to adjust to a new team and new expectations.
“It was huge that she came last spring because she got a chance to kind of soak in the culture and grasp the expectations that are here,” Squiers said. “By the end of spring, we knew it was exactly the fit that we had hoped for.”
Schmedding believes the timing was more than coincidence. She views the journey from an unanswered email to Fort Hays and eventually UNK through the lens of her Christian faith.
“I think it was definitely the Lord’s timing, and it was perfect in the end,” she said. “I got to develop my skills for two years at Fort Hays, then come here and showcase those skills on this team.”
There was another reason UNK felt familiar.
Schmedding played club volleyball with current Loper Rhyan Mock when they were younger and competed against Brynn Stowell and Anna Laincz. Those connections gave her additional insight into a program she had already watched closely as an opponent.
“You play them for two years and you see the culture on the other side of the net,” Schmedding said. “They love it here, and that’s the culture I wanted to be part of.”
Part of Something Bigger
Schmedding got a chance to experience the rivalry from a new perspective Sept. 16, when UNK traveled to Hays.
Returning to her former school was “nerve-racking,” she admits, but the support from her teammates quickly put her at ease.
“I felt so comforted by my teammates and knowing they were all there for me 100% and were going to fight for me 100%,” she said. “I would do the same for them in a heartbeat.”
Schmedding responded with a match-high 15 kills in a 3-0 UNK victory.
“She was money,” Squiers said. “She hit some balls harder than I’ve seen her hit all year. She responded in the best possible way going back to her old school.”
That sweep is part of a remarkable run for the Lopers.
Since a season-opening loss to Colorado Mesa, UNK has won 17 consecutive matches without dropping a set. The 51 straight set victories are a school record for a program that has qualified for 26 consecutive NCAA tournaments.
For Schmedding, the change from trying to beat the Lopers to helping them chase championships has been dramatic.
“Winning is fun,” she said with a smile. “Not only are we talking about being conference champions but national champions. The winning mentality of this team is cool to be part of.”
She’s enjoying another change, too.
After seeing UNK’s fan support as a visitor, she now gets to experience that home-court advantage as a Loper.
“It’s crazy. I think it’s so cool how many people come out and support us,” she said. “Volleyball is huge here, and it’s awesome to see that.”
Schmedding has two more seasons of eligibility remaining, giving her plenty of time to enjoy a journey that took an unexpected route to Kearney.
“Honestly, I’m just grateful to be here and be part of such a great program,” she said. “The Lord opened a door for me, and I walked through it in obedience.”
