Volleyball

Nebraska Could Clinch Fifth Big 12 Title This Week

Lincoln -- The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team begins a regular season-ending stretch this week in which it will play five matches in 11 days starting Wednesday when it travels to Norman, Okla., for a 7 p.m. match with the Sooners. The Huskers then return home for the weekend to face Baylor Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the NU Coliseum. Sunday, Nov. 18, Nebraska will play host to Texas Tech in a rescheduled match at 2 p.m.

The Huskers close out the Big 12 season next week. NU will face Colorado on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in its final home match of the year before traveling to Iowa State Nov. 24.

Nebraska, which has won 20 straight matches and 45 straight Big 12 contests, could clinch the conference title as early as Sunday by going undefeated this week. The Huskers, who are a combined 82-7 against the three teams they will face this week, own the top spot in the Big 12 standings with a 15-0 record. Texas A&M is second with a 12-3 mark. Both teams have five matches remaining.

The Huskers have been even more dominant in the conference this season then they were in last years 20-0 run. NU has lost just two of the 47 games it has played, sweeping 13 of 15 teams. Nebraska leads the league in hitting percentage (.310), opponent hitting percentage (.098) and blocks per game (4.19). NU players appear 11 times in the Big 12 statistical rankings, and a Nebraska player has won conference player-of-the-week honors four of a possible 10 times, two more times than any other school.

Nebraska has won four of a possible five Big 12 titles, taking the crown every year except 1997 since the conferences inception. The Huksers have won 23 of a possible 25 Big Eight/Big 12 regular-season championships.


Husker Streaks

  • The Huskers have won 41 consecutive home matches, including 39 straight matches at the NU Coliseum. The streak is currently tied with Ball State for the NCAAs second-longest active streak Northern Iowa owns the nations longest streak at 45.
  • NU Head Coach John Cook is 35-0 in the Big 12 Conference. Cook is 55-1 in two seasons at Nebraska, with his only loss coming at now-No. 1 Long Beach State Sept. 1, 2001.
  • Nebraska has won 20 consecutive matches and 60 of its last 62 games.
  • Nebraska has won 45 straight Big 12 matches, dating back to a five-game loss at Texas on Oct. 23, 1999.
  • Junior defensive specialist Lindsay Wischmeier has played in a team-best 90 consecutive matches.

Quick Sets
The latest on the Nebraska starting lineup:

  • Nancy Metcalf ... has averaged 5.44 kills per game, 3.50 digs per game and 1.31 blocks per game in her last five matches. Metcalf leads Nebraska with 12 double-doubles on the year.
  • Laura Pilakowski ... combined for 4.00 kills, 3.00 digs and 1.00 blocks per game last week against TexasA&M and Kansas. In the Nov. 12 conference statistics, Pilakowski was the only outside hitter who ranked among the leagues top 10 in hitting percentage wi th a .355 mark.
  • Anna Schrad ... is tied for second on the team with 2.97 digs per game. Schrad has led the Huskers in digs over the last five matches with 3.69 per game.
  • Greichaly Cepero ... averaged 1.50 blocks per game last week. Cepero leads Nebraska with 12 solo blocks in Big 12 action, and she is the only setter ranked among the leagues leaders in blocks per game (fifth, 1.38 bpg).
  • Jenny Kropp ... is averaging a team-best 1.82 blocks per game against ranked opponents. She is tied for first in the Big 12 with 1.83 blocks per game, and she was fourth nationally in that category in last weeks NCAA statistics.
  • Amber Holmquist ... has hit for a .333 percentage or better in 16 of Nebraskas 22 matches, including six performances of .600 or better and 12 of .400 or better.
  • Lindsay Wischmeier ... has played in a team-best 90 consecutive matches, and she has seen action in 300 of a possible 302 games since arriving at Nebraska.

For more detailed information on Nebraskas starting lineup, please click here.

First Off the Bench
Nebraska Coach John Cook has primarily used a nine-player rotation over the past four matches, as freshman defensive specialist Sara Parks and sophomore outside hitter Amy Sibbernsen have split three rotations in the back row for senior middle blocker Jenny Kropp.

The latest on the first two players off the bench:

  • Sara Parks ... has played in 43 games for Nebraska this season and has averaged 2.12 digs per game in the Huskers last five matches.
  • Amy Sibbernsen ... has played in NUs last four matches as a serving specialist after appearing just twice in the Huskers first 19 contests. Sibbernsen earned her first start against Kansas and responded with two service aces and three digs.

A Look at Oklahoma (2-26 Overall and 1-14 in the Big 12)
Oklahoma is 2-26 overall and 1-14 in the Big 12 and has lost 17 straight matches, with its last win coming in an upset of Kansas Sept. 22. The Sooners are led by Logan Pierce, who averages 3.18 kills and 2.47 digs per game. OU is hitting just .129 on the season, while its opponents have swung for a .273 percentage. The Sooners are a young team. Eight of the 11 players on their roster are freshmen or sophomores.

  • The Coach: In his second season at Oklahoma, Kalani Mahi is 9-47.
  • The Series: Nebraska leads the all-time series, 55-6. The Huskers have swept the last eight contests.
  • The Last Time: The Huskers defeated Oklahoma, 3-0, Oct. 6 in Lincoln. Sophomore outside hitter Anna Schrad led NU with 10 kills on a season-best .556 hitting percentage to go along with nine digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Lindsay Wischmeier tallied 13 digs. The match was played at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and drew 8,976 fans, the largest crowd in the NCAA this season.

A Look at Baylor (17-8 Overall and 8-8 in the Big 12)
The Bears are 17-8 overall and 8-8 in the Big 12. Sophomore outside hitter Stevie Nicholas, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2000, leads the conference with 5.25 kills per game and 0.55 service aces per game. Nicholas posted 26 kills in a loss to Texas A&M two weeks ago, setting a Baylor record for kills in a three-game match. Her sister Sunny Nicholas, a senior middle blocker, ranks ninth in the league with a .319 hitting percentage, and senior setter Dana Chuha is second in the Big 12 statistical rankings with 13.39 assists per game.

  • The Coach: In his sixth season, Brian Hosfeld is 107-85.
  • The Series: Nebraska leads the all-time series, 67-0. The Huskers have taken three-game victories in 35 of the meetings, and NU has swept the last four.
  • The Last Time: Nebraska swept Baylor in Waco, Texas, Sept. 28. Junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist posted 13 kills on a .647 hitting percentage to go along with nine blocks, as NU out-blocked Baylor, 16.5-2. Stevie Nicholas led the Bears with 14 kills but hit just .043 against the Husker block.

A Look at Texas Tech (16-10 Overall and 7-8 in the Big 12)
The Red Raiders are 16-10 overall and 7-8 in the league after sweeping Oklahoma Saturday. Texas Tech is led by outside hitter Melissa McGehee, who averages 3.29 kills and 3.23 digs per game. Freshman outside hitter Kelly Johnson adds 3.75 kills and 2.07 digs per game. Senior setter Skydra Orzen leads the Big 12 and the NCAA with 14.28 assists per game.

  • The Coach: Jeff Nelson is 150-77 in his seventh season.
  • The Series: Nebraska owns a 15-1 all-time record against Texas Tech, with its only loss coming on the road in five games Oct. 26, 1996. NU has won 10 straight against the Red Raiders.
  • The Last Time: The Huskers defeated Texas Tech, 3-0, Oct. 20 in Lubbock, Texas. Junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski and senior right side hitter Nancy Metcalf each posted 15 kills, while senior middle blocker Jenny Kropp added a season-high 11 block assists.

To be the Best, Play the Best ...
Nebraska has played perhaps the most difficult schedule in the nation this season, already facing 10 teams ranked in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll. NU has played seven matches against teams that were not ranked at the time of the match, but have been ranked at some point in the season, including Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Baylor and Kansas State. The Huskers are 9-1 against ranked teams, defeating No. 5 Hawaii, No. 12 Pacific, No. 13 UC Santa Barbara, No. 15 Pepperdine, No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 7 UCLA, No. 25 Kansas State and No. 17 Texas A&M. NUs only loss to a ranked opponent was Sept. 1 at now-No. 1 Long Beach State.

Seniors Nancy Metcalf and Jenny Kropp have led Nebraska statistically against ranked teams, as Kropp has averaged 1.82 blocks per game and Metcalf has tallied 4.64 kills per game on a .344 hitting percentage and 3.30 digs per game.

The Great Wall
The most consistent and intimidating element of the Huskers game in recent years has been their block. Nebraska had out-blocked its opponents in an incredible 71 consecutive matches, going 68-3 during the streak, before falling two blocks shy of Missouri Oct. 24.

In Big 12 statistics released Nov. 12, Nebraska led the league with 4.56 blocks per game in conference matches. Junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist ranks first individually (2.02 bpg), followed by Jenny Kropp (second, 1.83 bpg), Greichaly Cepero (fifth, 1.38) and Nancy Metcalf (sixth, 1.32). The Huskers have out-blocked their Big 12 opponents 214-71 (4.56-1.51 per game) in 2001. If Nebraska continues its current pace, it will capture its fifth Big 12 blocking title.

The 2000 Huskers were statistically the best blocking squad in Nebraska and Big 12 Conference history. In 2000, NU set a school record with 4.20 blocks per game and a Big 12 record with 4.36 blocks per game in conference matches. The Huskers won the NCAA blocking title, and Holmquist claimed the NCAA individual blocking title with 1.98 blocks per game -- which was also a school record. Holmquist, who owns single-match conference records for block assists and total blocks, shattered the Big 12 record with 2.14 blocks per game in league matches. The Big 12s top three blockers were NU players -- Holmquist, Kropp (1.73 bpg) and Cepero (1.68 bpg).

Hitting Deficiency
Nebraska has stifled teams with its defense this season. Opponents are hitting just .098 collectively against Nebraska in 2001. Only two teams, No. 1 Long Beach State and Missouri, have hit better than .153 against Nebraska this season. The Huskers have held 12 of their opponents to less than .100 at the net, including No. 5 UCLA, which hit just .091 against NU. Nebraska leads the Big 12 Conference in opponent attack percentage, holding league teams to .080.

Home Sweet Home
The Huskers have won 41 consecutive matches in Lincoln and 39 straight matches at the NU Coliseum. Nebraskas last loss in Lincoln was a five-game defeat to Kansas State Sept. 22, 1999. NUs current home-match winning streak is currently tied with Ball State for the NCAAs second-longest, and Northern Iowa owns the nations longest streak at 45.

Last Time Out: Huskers Sweep Kansas
Laura Pilakowski posted her sixth double-double of the season to lead the No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-18, 31-29, 30-19, victory over Kansas Saturday night at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center in Lawrence, Kan. The junior outside hitter produced a match-high 16 kills on a .448 hitting percentage to go along with 10 digs, as the Huskers improved to 22-1 overall and 15-0 in the Big 12 Conference.

Nancy Metcalf chipped in 12 kills and a match-high seven blocks for Nebraska, which has won 20 straight matches and 45 straight league contests. Junior setter Greichaly Cepero posted four kills, 32 assists, seven digs and three blocks while leading NU to a .287 hitting percentage.

Defensively, the Huskers out-blocked KU, 15-6, while holding them to a .066 hitting percentage. Sarah Rome totaled 12 kills for the Jayhawks, who fell to 15-13 overall and 5-12 in the conference. The Huskers out-blocked Kansas, 7-1, in game one and led, 27-12, before KU outscored them 4-1 to make it 28-16. A kill by Pilakowski forced a game-point situation for Nebraska. Rome twice held the Huskers off with kills before Holmquist secured the 30-18 first-game win with a kill.

Kansas took its late game-one momentum into the second game, taking a 14-10 lead behind three kills from Molly Scavuzzo. The Huskers cut KUs lead to two with back-to-back kills from Pilakowski, and then took their first lead of the game, a 17-16 advantage, on another kill from Pilakowski. KU tied it with a block of Metcalf, and the score was tied six more times before the Jayhawks went up 26-25 on a block of Kropp. The block sparked a 4-0 KU run that forced a game-point situation for Kansas. But Pilakowski thwarted the game-point attempt with a kill, and the Huskers scored six straight to take the second game 31-29.

The Huskers easily won game three, leading by as many as 10. Kansas closed it to 23-16 with a kill by Scavuzzo, but the Jayhawks never got closer than that. Nebraska took the 30-19 win and the match on a kill by Ally Rebholz.

Full House
Nebraska drew 8,976 fans, the largest crowd in NCAA Division I volleyball this season, for its sweep of Oklahoma Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

NU, which has broken the all-time NCAA regular-season attendance record three times at the Devaney Center, shattered the nations previous 2001 attendance mark of 7,723, which was set Sept. 2 when Hawaii hosted UCLA. The Huskers normally play in the 4,200-seat NU Coliseum.

Overall, Nebraska ranks second nationally in attendance with 4,528 fans per contest. Hawaii is first with 6,514. Wisconsin, Florida and Colorado State round out the top five.

The Big 12s Best
Nebraska is looking to capture its fifth Big 12 Conference title in six seasons in 2001. The Huskers have won four Big 12 championships and 23 Big 12/Big Eight conference titles in the past 25 years. Nebraska owns an all-time record of 387-32-1 (.924) against Big 12 schools, and NU is 92-9 against Big 12 schools since the leagues inception in 1996. The Huskers have lost just once at the NU Coliseum in Big 12 history, a 1999 five-game defeat to Kansas State.

All-America U
Nebraska is the only team in Division I with four All-Americans in its starting lineup. Junior setter Greichaly Cepero and junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski earned first-team All-America honors in 2000, while junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist was recognized on the second team. Joining the three 2000 All-Americans is Nancy Metcalf, a first-team All-America selection in 1998 and 1999. Metcalf redshirted in 2000 after training with the U.S. National Team during the offseason. The Nebraska volleyball program has now earned 38 AVCA All-America certificates, the second-highest total of any Division I institution. A total of 21 Huskers have earned All-America status, ranking Nebraska second all-time in total All-America athletes.

Nebraska Coach John Cook
John Cook (216-74) is in his second year as the Nebraska head coach after guiding the Huskers to one of the most successful seasons in NCAA history in 2000. Cook, who was named the AVCA Coach of the Year, guided the Huskers to a 34-0 record as they became just the second team in NCAA history to cap an undefeated season with a national title.

Nebraska was ranked No. 1 in the AVCA/USA Today Top 25 poll for a record 14 straight weeks and broke single-season school records for wins and winning percentage. Sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero earned AVCA National Player-of-the-Year honors. Three Huskers won AVCA All-America certificates, and five Nebraska players were named to the All-Big 12 teams. Laura Pilakowski earned Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, and a conference-best seven Huskers earned Academic All-Big 12 recognition.

Cook, 44, has continued his success in 2001, as the Huskers have gone 22-1, defeating nine ranked teams. Cook has improved his Nebraska record to 56-1, and he is 35-0 in Big 12 matches.

Cook took over the Nebraska head coaching job after serving as associate head coach during the 1999 season. Before returning to Nebraska in 1999, he led Wisconsin to six straight postseason appearances in seven seasons as the Badgers head coach.

Cooks accomplishments at Wisconsin earned him praise as one of the games top young coaches. He built the Badger program into a top-10 program during his seven-year career in Madison, which included back-to-back trips to the NCAA regional finals in 1997 and 1998. Cook compiled a 162-73 record at the helm of the Badgers, including an 89-51 Big Ten record. He was named the Big Ten Co-Coach and AVCA District 2 Coach of the Year in 1997 after leading the Badgers to a share of the Big Ten title with a 19-1 mark and school-record 30-3 overall record. Cook coached four All-Americans, nine AVCA All-District award winners, 11 All-Big Ten honorees and two Big Ten freshmen of the year at UW. He also coached 21 academic All-Big Ten selections during his seven seasons.

A graduate of the University of San Diego, Cook earned his bachelors degree in history in 1979. He completed his masters degree in teaching and coaching effectiveness from San Diego State in 1991. Cook and his wife Wendy, a former two-time All-America setter at San Diego State, are the parents of two children, Lauren, 10, and Taylor, 7.