Huskers Host US Bank/Arby's Classic this Weekend

This Week in Husker Volleyball
Matches 7-8
US Bank/Arby's Classic (NU Coliseum)

#5 Nebraska (6-0) vs. #13 Santa Clara (5-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, 7 p.m. Where: NU Coliseum. Series: Nebraska leads, 4-0. Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 3-0, 9/13/02.Cook vs Santa Clara: 1-0.

#5 Nebraska (6-0) vs. #17 Michigan State (5-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, 3 p.m. Where: NU Coliseum.Series: Nebraska leads, 6-0-2. Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 3-0, 9/9/00.Cook vs. Michigan State: 11-4 (1-0 at Nebraska).

#5 Nebraska (6-0) vs. #10 Georgia Tech (5-0)
When: Sunday, Sept. 14, 2003, 3 p.m. Where: NU Coliseum.Series: First meeting. Cook vs. Georgia Tech: 0-0

Media Information
Television: The Nebraska-Georgia Tech match will be televised statewide live on NETV.
Radio: All three matches can be heard live on B107.3 FM in Lincoln and selected Pinnacle Sports Network affiliates. John Baylor will call the action, while NU volleyball Director of Operations Diane Mendenhall will provide color analysis.
Live Audio and Live Stats: Huskers.com
Live Video: Live video streams of NU's matches will be available by subscribing to HuskersNside. Click on Huskers.com for more information.

Nebraska Faces Three Ranked Teams in Home Opening Weekend
Fifth-ranked Nebraska opens its home slate this weekend with the US Bank/Arby's Classic at the NU Coliseum. After defeating six unranked teams on the road, the Huskers will face tough competition in No. 10 Georgia Tech, No. 13 Santa Clara and No. 17 Michigan State. Nebraska has not played three ranked opponents in one weekend since the 2001 US Bank/Arby's Classic, when they defeated No. 15 Pepperdine, No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 7 UCLA.

In 2003, NU has tradition on its side. The Huskers have won 29 straight regular-season matches and 52 straight regular-season matches at home.

This weekend, Nebraska will feature a 6-2 (two setter) offense, a look Husker fans have not seen since the 1999 season. The 2003 version features setters Michelle Lynch and Dani Busboom, who have combined for 14.53 assists per game. In the 6-2 system, the setter always comes from the back row, which allows the Huskers to have three hitters in the front row at all times.

The offense has resulted in a balanced attack, as six Huskers are averaging at least 2.00 kills per game. Senior outside hitter Anna Schrad and sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer have led the way, producing 3.79 and 2.89 kills per game, respectively. However, NU Coach John Cook wants to see improvement in the team hitting percentage. Nebraska is hitting .260 after averaging at least a .300 in each of the previous three seasons.

Defensively, NU appears to be on track to becoming a dominant team. The Huskers have out-blocked their opponents 69-27.5. Nebraska leads the Big 12 with 3.63 blocks per game. NU averaged 3.38 blocks per game last season with one of the top blocking teams in school history. Elmer has led the way with a Big 12-best 2.00 blocks per game. Junior right side hitter Ally Rebholz ranks second in the league with 1.42 blocks per game.

The Lineup: The Latest on Nebraska's Probable Starters

Outside Hitter

• #16 Anna Schrad (6-2, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.): After playing a supportive role the past two seasons, Schrad is quickly becoming NU's go-to player. She leads NU with 3.79 kills per game, including a career-best 22 kills against Illinois State Aug. 30. Schrad averaged 2.65 kills per game last year.
• #26 Jennifer Saleaumua (5-11, So., National City, Calif.): Saleaumua is widely considered NU's top all-around player and best passer. She is third on the team with 2.60 kills per game and ranks second with 3.27 digs per game. Saleaumua is playing on the left side after starting 32 games on the right in 2002.
• #13 Ally Rebholz (6-1, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.): NU's starter on the right side, Rebholz has emerged as one of NU's best blockers, as she ranks second in the Big 12 with 1.42 per game. She had a career-best 11 against Illinois, bettering her previous high mark by seven stops. Rebholz shares time with Kelsey Fautsch in the 6-2 offense.

Middle Blocker

• #8 Melissa Elmer (6-2, So., Fort Wayne, Ind.): Often the Huskers' fifth option on offense last season, Elmer is flourishing as a go-to player in 2003. She was named the Barker GMC Classic MVP Aug. 30 after averaging 3.00 kills per game (.323 hitting percentage) and an impressive 2.40 blocks per game at the tournament, and she was also named MVP of the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic Sept. 5-6.
• #15 Sara Westling (6-2, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.): Westling has started five of Nebraska's six matches but has split playing time with freshman Christina Houghtelling. Westling has eight blocks and 15 kills in five games.

Setter

• #2 Michelle Lynch (5-11, Sr., Jacksonville, Ill.): In her first season as a starter, Lynch is averaging 6.89 assists per game. Lynch has started every match but shares setting duties with freshman Dani Busboom in Nebraska's 6-2 (two-setter) offense.

Libero

• #6 Jenae Dowling (5-6, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.): Dowling leads the Huskers with 3.50 digs per game in her first season as a starter.

100 and Counting ...
Coach John Cook picked up his 100th victory as Nebraska head coach Sept. 5 when NU defeated New Orleans, 3-0. Cook is now 102-4 in his fifth season at Nebraska. In his first season in 2000, the Huskers went 34-0 and won the national title. In 2001, NU posted a 31-2 mark and advanced to the NCAA semifinals. Last season, Nebraska also finished with a 31-2 record and advanced to the NCAA regional finals. The Huskers have won three Big 12 Conference titles under Cook.

Streaks to Watch
NU carries several streaks into the 2003 season, including:

• The Huskers have won 70 consecutive regular-season Big 12 matches and 71 straight matches against Big 12 teams. NU's last regular-season loss to a Big 12 opponent was at Texas on Oct. 24, 1999. Nebraska won 10 straight conference matches to close the 1999 season, and went 20-0 in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Nebraska's 70-match league winning streak ranks third in NCAA history.
• NU has won 39 straight Big 12 matches at home, dating back to a five-game loss to Kansas State Sept. 22, 1999. After the KSU loss, Nebraska won its last nine Big 12 home matches, then won 10 in each of the next three seasons.
• NU has won 29 straight regular-season matches and 52 straight regular-season matches at home.
• Nebraska secured its third consecutive 30-win season with a 3-0 victory over Arizona State Dec. 7, 2002, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. NU has posted 15 30-win seasons.
• NU head coach John Cook is 60-0 in the Big 12 Conference with three league championships.

27 Consecutive Sellouts
Nebraska carries a streak of 27 consecutive sellouts at the NU Coliseum into this weekend. The Huskers sold out all 17 matches they played at the Coliseum last season (NU played one match at the 13,500 Bob Devaney Sports Center). NU ended the 2001 season with 10 straight sellout crowds at the Coliseum. The Huskers sold out every match at the Coliseum in 2001 except a Tuesday, Sept. 25 match against Creighton.

Home-Court Advantage
Nebraska posted a 17-1 record in the Nebraska Coliseum in 2002, continuing the building's tradition as one of the most feared places to play in college volleyball. Nebraska has posted 12 undefeated seasons at home in school history, including six in the past nine years.

Huskers vs. the US Bank/Arby's Classic Field
Nebraska is 10-0-2 vs. the US Bank/Arby's Classic field. NU has never faced Georgia Tech, and the Huskers are 4-0 vs. Santa Clara and 6-0-2 vs. Michigan State. NU Coach John Cook is quite familiar with the Spartans' program. His Wisconsin teams were 11-4 against MSU in his seven seasons at the helm.

Santa Clara Quickly (5-1)
Nebraska opens the US Bank/Arby's Classic against No. 13 Santa Clara. The Broncos are 5-1 and have already faced three teams ranked or receiving votes in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. Santa Clara's biggest win was a four-game victory at then-No. 10 Arizona Sept. 4. Senior middle blocker Becky Potter had 20 kills and hit .410 in the win. The Wildcats beat Santa Clara in nearly every statistical category but committed 17 service errors.

Potter leads Santa Clara with 4.32 kills per game on a .333 hitting percentage to go along with 3.16 digs per game. Five Broncos who have played in at least 20 games are averaging more than 2.50 kills per game under the direction of Kelli Sousa. The senior setter has led Santa Clara to a .274 hitting percentage. The Broncos will be without Jac Heler suffered a broken leg in game two of Santa Clara's five-game win over Miami Sept. 6. Heler was averaging 2.77 kills per game and led the Broncos with 3.64 digs per game.

Santa Clara Coach John Wallace is 96-34 in his fifth season at the helm.

Series Notes: Nebraska has swept Santa Clara in each of the teams' four meetings ... Three of NU's matches against the Broncos have been played at neutral sites. The only time Nebraska has faced Santa Clara in Lincoln was in 2002 ... Nebraska tallied 61 kills and 70 digs against Santa Clara last season at the NU Coliseum, both season-highs for a three-game match. Senior outside hitter Anna Schrad totaled nine kills and 10 digs in the Husker victory.

Michigan State Quickly
The Huskers continue tournament action with No. 17 Michigan State Saturday at 3 p.m. The Spartans are coming off a three-game upset of then-No. 17 North Carolina Sept. 6. Michigan State hit .345 against North Carolina, led by Jenny Rood's 13 kills and .440 hitting percentage.

Rood and Kim Schram are MSU's top offensive threats, averaging 4.11 and 4.71 kills per game, respectively. Senior setter and Lincoln Pius X graduate Nikki Colson has led the Spartans to a .314 hitting percentage. Colson entered the 2003 season ranked fourth all-time on the MSU career assists chart with 2,978.

Michigan State is coached by Chuck Erbe, who is 218-100 in 11 seasons at MSU.

Series Notes: Nebraska easily defeated Michigan State in the 2002 adidas/Notre Dame Invitational, winning 15-3, 15-3, 15-4, in the final season of sideout scoring ... In 1995, the Huskers defeated Michigan State in five games at Amherst, Mass., in the NCAA semifinals. NU went on to win the national title ... In 1997, NU swept MSU in the second round of the tournament at the NU Coliseum to improve to 2-0 against the Spartans in NCAA Tournament play.

Georgia Tech Quickly
Nebraska concludes tournament play against Georgia Tech Sunday at 3 p.m. The Yellowjackets jumped to 10th in this week's USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. The ranking is their highest ever and is also the highest ever by an ACC team.

Georgia Tech is 5-0, but like Nebraska, is relatively untested. The Yellowjackets have swept three unranked teams. Junior outside hitter Lynnette Moster is averaging 4.87 kills per game on a .401 hitting percentage. The Yellowjackets are hitting .420 as a team, and six players who have played in at least 13 games are hitting over .400.

In 2002, Georgia Tech head coach Bond Shymansky led the Yellowjackets to a 33-6 record in 2002 and the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm.

Series Notes: Nebraska has never faced Georgia Tech in volleyball ... Georgia Tech was victorious in its only match against a Big 12 Conference team last year, as it defeated Kansas State, 3-1, Sept. 14.

Super Servers
Through six matches, Nebraska has compiled 44 service aces to its opponents' 14. NU's 2003 average of 2.32 service aces per game ranks second in the Big 12 and is nearly one more per game than the Huskers averaged in 2002. Nine different Huskers already have a service ace, and three have at least seven. Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer leads NU with 11 aces through six games, followed by freshman setter Dani Busboom (9) and senior outside hitter Anna Schrad (7). If Elmer continues at her current pace and NU plays 103 games (its 2002 total), she would finish with 60 service aces ? the most by a Husker since 1989.

Block Party
During Coach John Cook's three seasons at NU, the Huskers have built a reputation with their solid blocking and defense, leading the nation in blocks per game each of the past three seasons. Despite losing three-time AVCA All-American Amber Holmquist, who is statistically the best middle blocker in school history, all indications point to NU continuing its blocking tradition.

Nebraska leads the Big 12 in 2003 with 3.63 blocks per game. Against Illinois Aug. 30, the Huskers produced 20 team blocks, a mark they reached just once last season. Opponents are hitting just .084 against the Husker block.

Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer, who ranked second in the Big 12 behind Holmquist in blocks per game last season, leads NU and ranks first in the Big 12 with 2.00 stops per game. Junior right side hitter Ally Rebholz may be emerging as a top blocking threat, as she ranks second in the Big 12 with 1.42 blocks per game.

New Kids on the Block
With a lineup low on experience and depth at some positions, Nebraska's freshmen have been asked to contribute immediately. Setter Dani Busboom (Cortland, Neb.), middle blocker Christina Houghtelling (Cambridge, Neb.), libero Amanda McCormick (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and outside hitter Dani Mancuso (Omaha, Neb.) have all contributed significantly in the first two weeks of the season.

Busboom has played more than any other freshman in the Huskers' 6-2 offense, sharing the setting duties with sophomore Michelle Lynch. Busboom is averaging 5.95 kills per game and has made an impression at the service line with nine aces, which ranks second on the team.

Mancuso earned her first career start Sept. 5 against New Orleans, replacing the injured Jennifer Saleaumua. The Omaha Gross graduate made the most of her opportunity by pounding a match-high 16 kills while swinging at a .429 clip.

McCormick played in NU's first six games before suffering an elbow injury. She served as the Huskers' libero in the last three games against Illinois State Aug. 31. McCormick averaged 2.17 kills per game and posted a team-best 13 digs against the Redbirds.

Houghtelling has played in nine games and was in the starting lineup against Tulane Sept. 6. She owns a 1.11 blocks-per-game average.

Freshman outside hitter Emily Schroeder (Belden, Neb.) will likely redshirt.

Big Shoes to Fill
NU faces the tall task of replacing All-Americans Greichaly Cepero, Amber Holmquist, Laura Pilakowski and Lindsay Wischmeier in 2003. Just how valuable were the departed players to Nebraska? Holmquist left as the all-time total blocks and block assists leader. Wischmeier left as the all-time digs leader. Cepero ranks third on the NU career setting charts, and Pilakowski is among the top 10 in kills and hitting percentage.

In 2002, the foursome combined for 51 percent of the Huskers' kills, 90 percent of their assists, 55 percent of their digs, 46 percent of their block assists and 67 percent of their solo blocks.

Cook's Winning Ways
Nebraska Coach John Cook has been amazingly successful during his four seasons at the helm, posting a 102-4 record. Cook's only losses in three seasons were to 2001 NCAA champion Stanford, 2001 NCAA runner-up Long Beach State, 2002 NCAA champion USC and 2002 NCAA semifinal participant Hawaii. The Huskers have played 326 games during Cook's tenure, winning 290 and losing just 36 (.890).

Cook has never lost a Big 12 Conference match, going 60-0 and winning three league titles. NU has dropped just 11 of the 191 conference games they have played over the past three seasons, good for a .942 winning percentage.

Cook was the AVCA Coach of the Year in 2000 after leading Nebraska to a 34-0 season and a national title. He was also named the 2001 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Rank and File
Nebraska is one of two teams that have been ranked in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll for all 287 weeks of its existence. The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 for 256 of the 287 weeks, which ranks second behind Stanford's 268. Nebraska has spent 38 weeks in the top spot, and its most recent No. 1 ranking was Sept. 24, 2001.

Nebraska was ranked seventh in the Aug. 11 USA Today/AVCA Coaches preseason poll. The preseason ranking was the Huskers' lowest since 1993, when they also received a No. 7 preseason ranking. In the past 11 years, NU has been ranked lower than No. 5 three times. The other instance was in 2000, when the Huskers were listed sixth in the AVCA preseason poll and went on to win the national championship.

All-America U
In 2002, at least three Nebraska players earned All-America status for the third straight season. Seniors Greichaly Cepero and Amber Holmquist were named to the first team, and senior Laura Pilakowski was recognized on the second team. In program history, 22 NU players have earned 45 AVCA All-America certificates, which ranks first nationally.

2003 will mark the first time since 2000 that the Huskers will not field a lineup that includes a returning All-American. Nancy Metcalf (Meendering) earned All-America honors in 1999 but redshirted the 2000 season.