Red Sweeps White in Nebraska Volleyball Preseason Scrimmage

Lincoln, Neb. -- In her first competition at the NU Coliseum since 1999, Nancy Metcalf pounded a match-best 17 kills Saturday night to lead the Nebraska Red team to a 30-24, 33-31, 30-20, victory over Nebraska White before 2,259 fans in the Huskers’ annual preseason scrimmage. Metcalf, who redshirted the 2000 season after training with the U.S. Olympic team, committed just three errors on 28 attacks en route to a .500 hitting percentage. The two-time AVCA All-American also added 12 digs.

“Nancy has just gone to another level,” NU Coach John Cook said. “Every time she takes a swing, she can kill it. It doesn’t matter where the ball is. Her arm swing has gotten faster, and she sees the block so well. She makes it look easy, and it’s just impressive to watch.”

Junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski had 13 kills and 14 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Anna Schrad posted 12 kills for the Red team, which was made up of the Huskers’ projected starters.

Junior outside hitter Pam Krejci led the White team with 12 kills, and sophomore middle blocker Sara Westling added five kills and a match-high three blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Jenae Dowling recorded 11 digs for the White team.

“I thought that the White team played really well, and I was very impressed with the freshmen and with Sara Westling,” Cook said. “I think overall, everyone was pretty nervous, with the national championship banner unveiling and with the big crowd, and that’s what we needed. We still have a long way to go, but I was happy with the way everyone competed tonight.”

NU opens 2001 at the prestigious State Farm/NACWAA Classic Aug. 24 against Hawaii in a rematch of the teams’ 2000 national semifinals match. NU then plays either national runnerup Wisconsin, or Pacific, the event’s host.