NU Claims Victory in Season Opener

Lincoln - Under first-year head coach John Cook, the sixth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team won its season-opening match Friday night at the NU Coliseum, defeating Northwestern 15-4, 15-7, 15-6 in US Bank Tournament action.

The Huskers, who will play host to Georgia at 10 a.m. and No. 13 Colorado State at 7 p.m. Saturday, dominated offensively, hitting .346 to Northwestern's .022. Nebraska hit better than .346 just eight times the entire 1999 season. Sophomores Amber Holmquist and Laura Pilakowski led Nebraska's offensive attack. Holmquist, a 6-foot-4 middle blocker, posted a match-best 10 kills on .350 hitting, and set new career highs in total blocks (11) and block assists (10). Pilakowski, who totaled 13 kills during the 1999 season, pounded a career-high nine kills and hit 438.

Other Huskers tying or establishing new career-bests were senior outside hitter Kim Behrends (new career high with seven block assists), senior right side hitter Angie Oxley (tied career high with four service aces), and junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp (tied career high with .667 hitting percentage).

Northwestern senior Carmen Burbach, a Columbus Scotus graduate, led the Wildcats with seven kills and nine digs.

"We prepared a lot for this weekend, and it really showed," Holmquist said. "It feels good to have one match under out belts. We're really excited for tomorrow and Colorado State."

Nebraska led 8-3 in the first game before Pilakowski served four straight points to increase NU's lead to 12-3. The Huskers scored their 13th point of the first game on a four-hit call against Northwestern and their 14th point on Holmquist fifth kill of the game. Behrends sealed the 15-4 victory with an ace serve.

Northwestern rebounded in the second to take a 6-5 lead, its first of the match. But Nebraska, which held the Wildcats to minus -.033 hitting in the second game, regained control on a Wildcat net serve, then scored seven straight points behind three kills from Pilakowski. Cepero served the Huskers' final two points for the 15-7 second-game win.

In the third game, the Huskers and Wildcats battled to a 4-4 tie before Nebraska reeled off five straight points to take a 9-4 lead. The Huskers were never threatened after that. Oxley, Holmquist and Pilakowski each produced three kills to bring Nebraska to game point. Lindsay Wischmeier served an ace for the 15-6 win.

No. 13 Colorado State sweeps Georgia in first match of US Bank Tournament

Lincoln, Neb. - No. 13-ranked Colorado State needed just 1 hour, 15 minutes to defeat Georgia 15-9, 15-4, 15-2 in the first volleyball match of the US Bank Tournament at the NU Coliseum Friday. The Rams were led by Krista Swartezndruber, who posted a match-high 10 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. The Rams hit .448 as a team while holding the Bulldogs to .092 hitting. Jennifer Foytich led Georgia (0-1) with nine kills.

After winning the first game 15-9, Colorado State (3-0) could do no wrong in the second and third games. Led by Summer Jennings, who recorded five kills on five attacks, the Rams hit .577 in the second game. Colorado State's offensive burst led to an easy 15-4 victory in the second.

CSU carried its momentum in to the third game, jumping to an 11-0 lead before Georgia's Foytich notched a kill for the Bulldogs' first point. The Rams eventually pulled out the 15-2 win.

Saturday at 10 a.m., Colorado State will face Northwestern, which lost in three games to Nebraska Friday, and the Bulldogs will face Nebraska. In the two Saturday night matches, Georgia meets Northwestern at 5, and CSU plays the Huskers at 7.