Schrad Pounds 22 Kills in Win Over ISU

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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Normal, Ill. ?  Senior outside hitter Anna Schrad produced a career-high 22  kills to lead the seventh-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a  30-25, 30-26, 28-30, 30-15, victory over Illinois State Saturday night at Redbird Arena. Schrad, who was named to the all-tournament team, bested her previous career high by five kills and also added nine digs.

 

Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer, who was named the tournament MVP, tallied 13 kills and a career-high 11 blocks.

 

With the win, the Huskers improved to 3-0. Nebraska also defeated Clemson, 3-0, Friday night, and Illinois, 3-0, Saturday morning.

 

NU won the first two games against Illinois State easily, but struggled in game three and lost, 30-28, after leading 27-25 just moments earlier. The loss was the first time Nebraska had dropped a game to an unranked nonconference opponent since 1993.

 

The Huskers carried their momentum into game three, never trailing after the opening minutes. NU led 24-21 after Ally Rebholz and Elmer combined for a block. But Illinois State closed the gap to 26-25 with the help of NU serving and hitting errors. Freshman middle blocker Christina Houghtelling stopped the ISU run with a kill, but Kelsey Fautsch erred on the next attempt, and ISU's Paige White recorded her first kill of the match to bring Illinois State within one. A service error by Houghtelling tied the game at 28. Laura Doornbos then slammed a kill to force a game-point situation for the Redbirds. Elmer's next attempt sailed long, giving Illinois State the 30-28, third-game win.

 

"Illinois State never stopped competing," NU Coach John Cook said. "We have a young team, and we lost focus in that third game. But I was very impressed with Illinois State. They competed well, and they earned that game."

 

Nebraska came back with a vengeance in game four and dominated throughout. The Huskers largest lead was 17, and Cook cleared the bench, putting freshmen Dani Mancuso, Houghtelling and Amanda McCormick, NU's backup libero, on the court at the same time much of the game.

 

In game one, Nebraska jumped to a 17-12 lead, but back-to-back kills from Redbird outside hitter Doornbos sparked a 6-0 Illinois State run. Elmer tied the game at 18 with a kill, and the Huskers never trailed after that. Fautsch, Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua all had key kills down the stretch, and NU secured the 30-25, first-game win when Rebholz and Elmer combined for a block.

 

NU overcame a rough offensive performance in the game one victory with five blocks. Elmer had a hand in four of the stops and was also the Huskers' bright spot offensively, as she produced four kills and hit .429, compared to Nebraska's team hitting percentage of .167.

 

Nebraska rebounded offensively in game two and hit .260, as Schrad hit .444 and produced 11 kills. She was also at the service line for the Huskers' final two points of the 30-26 win.

 

The Huskers return to action Sept. 5 when they face New Orleans at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 in the opening game of the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans, La.