Metcalf leads Huskers to sweep of Kansas State

Lincoln, Neb. -- Nancy Metcalf pounded 17 kills while swinging at a .500 clip to lead the No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-24, 30-13, 30-23, victory over Kansas State Saturday night before 4,211 fans at the NU Coliseum. With the victory, Nebraska improved to 19-1 overall and 12-0 in the Big 12 Conference and extended its NCAA-leading streak of consecutive home wins to 40. The Huskers have won 17 straight contests and 42 consecutive Big 12 matches.

Junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist added 11 kills on a .474 hitting percentage and posted a match-high seven blocks in the winning effort. Junior setter Greichaly Cepero had an impressive all-around night, posting 35 assists, six digs, three blocks and four kills while swinging at a .444 clip. Cepero led NU to a .297 mark at the net. Junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski recorded nine kills and a team-high 13 digs.

Defensively, Nebraska held KSU to a .022 hitting percentage as four Wildcats hit for a negative percentage. The Huskers out-blocked KSU 12-5.5.

Liz Wegner produced a team-best nine kills but committed 10 errors for Kansas State, which fell to 12-7 overall and 8-5 in the league.

"I thought we gave a great effort tonight," NU Coach John Cook said. "We played with a lot of emotion, and the crowd was just wired. I think maybe some of that was left over from the excitement of the football game. It was great to see."

Tied at 15 in game one, Nebraska's Anna Schrad reeled off seven straight from behind the service line to give the Huskers' a 22-15 advantage, and Pilakowski accounted for three kills during the run. Pilakowski and Metcalf provided key offensive plays down the stretch as NU took a 27-24 lead. Back-to-back kills by Jenny Kropp and Metcalf forced a game-point situation, and Metcalf secured the 30-24 first-game victory with her seventh kill of the game.

The Huskers swung for a .353 hitting percentage in game one, led by Holmquist (three kills, .750 pct.) and Metcalf (seven kills, .667 pct.). Defensively, NU held KSU to .040 at the net.

Nebraska dominated game two from beginning to end. The Huskers used 5-0 and 7-0 runs to breeze to a 20-7 lead. Kansas State scored on an error, but NU regained control on a kill by Metcalf. The Hull, Iowa, native used her jump serve to keep the Wildcats off-balance, serving six straight to bring the Huskers within three points of closing the game. KSU scored on a kill by Lisa Mimick and a net violation call against Nebraska, but Holmquist slammed a kill to put the Huskers up, 28-10. Pilakowski forced game-point with her eighth kill, and after Kansas State thwarted the Huskers twice, Pilakowski wrapped up the 30-13, second-game win with a kill.

"I thought Nebraska was very impressive in the second game," Kansas State Coach Suzie Fritz said. "Nebraska is very talented, and when they are in system like they were in that second game, they're the best team in the country."

Nebraska hit .417 in game two, compared to minus -.029 for KSU.

The Huskers trailed early in game three, spotting Kansas State five points, but sophomore Amy Sibbernsen came off the bench to serve four straight points, tying the game at 8-8. The score was tied seven more times before Nebraska began to pull away. With the score at 22 all, Schrad sparked a 6-0 run with a kill that fell in the deep corner of the court. The Huskers wrapped up the 30-23, third-game win and the match.

Nebraska will enjoy an off-Wednesday this week before returning to action Saturday, Nov. 3 when it travels to Austin, Texas, to take on the Longhorns. Nebraska defeated Texas, 3-0, Oct. 17 in Lincoln.