Volleyball

NU Produces Ninth Sweep of 2000 With 3-0 Win Over OU

Lincoln -- The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball posted its ninth sweep of the 2000 season with a 15-4, 15-4, 15-3 victory over Oklahoma Saturday night before a season-high crowd of 4,175 at the NU Coliseum. With the win, the Huskers improved to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big 12 Conference. NU is now 45-2 when competing as the nation's top-ranked team.

Senior outside hitter Kim Behrends led eleven players who saw action against the Sooners. Behrends totaled a team-best seven kills on .389 hitting. She also had two service aces and six digs. Sophomore middle blocker Pam Krejci was also impressive, recording a career-best five kills and a .625 hitting percentage in her most extensive playing time of the season.

As a team, the Huskers hit .351 while holding OU to minus -.011. The match marked the second time this season that NU has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage as Oral Roberts hit minus - .066 against the Huskers on Sept. 4.

The Sooners (5-6, 0-3) were led by Maria Holmgren, who posted a team-best eight kills and hit .222. The Huskers held OU's Cathy Cook to six kills on minus -.111 hitting. Cook entered the match hitting .383 and averaging 4.91 kills per game.

"We knew if we played well, we would win," NU Coach John Cook said. "The challenge for the team was to come out and be focused. The other challenge was to get some experience for some players and to develop depth."

Cook took the third game as an opportunity to experiment with his lineup, playing freshman outside hitter Anna Schrad on the right side while using reserves Krejci, freshman defensive specialist Jenae Dowling, and senior reserve setter Jill McWilliams. The unusual lineup held OU to its lowest point total of the night, winning the third game 15-3.

In the second game, Nebraska led 6-0 behind kills from sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski, Krejci and senior right side hitter Angie Oxley before OU scored on a kill by Logan Pierce. The Sooners outscored NU 3-2 to pull within four. But Nebraska regained possession on a Oklahoma service error, and OU never scored again. The Huskers ended the second game with a 6-0, and Behrends, who had five kills in the second game, served the final four points in the 15-4 win. Amber Holmquist sealed the victory with her fifth kill of the match.

Defensive specialist Lindsay Wischmeier served seven straight points in the first game, helping the Huskers to a 10-1 lead. Oklahoma chipped away at NU's lead, cutting the advantage to 13-8 behind two kills from Hoyt. But the Huskers regained possession on a kill by Holmquist. Nebraska scored on a Sooner illegal hit, and Behrends gave NU the 15-5 victory with an ace serve. The Husker hit .500 in the first game while holding Oklahoma to minus -.056.

Nebraska returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Colorado to take on the Buffaloes in an 8 p.m. match in Boulder, Colo.