Huskers Prepare for Sugar Bowl Classic

This Week in Husker Volleyball
Matches 4-6 ? at Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic (New Orleans, La.)

Nebraska (3-0) vs. New Orleans (1-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, 5 p.m. Where: Fogelman Arena.
Series: First meeting. Cook vs. New Orleans: 0-0.

Nebraska (3-0) vs. Louisiana State (2-1)
When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, 10:30 a.m. Where: Fogelman Arena.
Series: Nebraska leads, 5-0. Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 3-0, 9/17/94.
Cook vs. Louisiana State: 0-0.

Nebraska (3-0) at Tulane (3-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, 7 p.m. Where: Fogelman Arena.
Series: Nebraska leads, 1-0. Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 2-0, 9/14/79.
Cook vs. Tulane: 0-0

Media Information
Radio: All three matches can be heard live on B107.3 FM in Lincoln and selected Pinnacle Sports Network affiliates. Tom Stevens will call the action, while NU volleyball Director of Operations Diane Mendenhall will provide color analysis.
Live Audio: Huskers.com

Storylines

• Preseason Big 12 Co-Player of the Year Anna Schrad is living up to her billing. Schrad pounded a career-best 22 kills against Illinois State Aug. 30 and averaged a team-best 4.20 kills per game at the Barker GMC Classic. Schrad is averaging 1.55 more kills per game than in 2002, and her digs per game average is up 0.60.
• Coach John Cook predicted that sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer could be NU's next All-American, and her campaign has already begun. Elmer was named the MVP of the Barker GMC Classic after averaging 3.00 kills per game and 2.40 blocks per game. Elmer was also one of the Huskers' toughest servers, and she recorded a team-best eight service aces.
• This weekend, John Cook could earn his 100th win as Nebraska's head coach. Cook is in his fourth season at NU and owns an incredible 99-4 (.961) record. 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.

Nebraska Looks for Offensive Improvement at Sugar Bowl Classic
Fifth-ranked Nebraska hopes to continue its early season success when it travels to New Orleans, La., for the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic Sept. 5-6. NU will face New Orleans Friday at 5 p.m. before taking on Louisiana State Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and tournament host Tulane Saturday at 7 p.m. The Huskers do not have a long history with any of the teams in the field. NU has never faced New Orleans, owns a 5-0 series record against LSU and was victorious in its only meeting with Tulane in 1979.

The Huskers are coming off an impressive showing at last weekend's Illinois State Barker GMC Classic, where NU swept Clemson and Illinois and defeated the Redbirds in four games. Nebraska went into the weekend with an air of uncertainty created by the loss of three 2002 All-Americans and the addition of at least three new starters. However, several questions were answered. New starters Ally Rebholz, Dani Busboom and Kelsey Fautsch were all impressive at times. Rebholz produced 11 blocks against Illinois and ranked second on the team with 2.20 blocks per game. Busboom kept opponents off-balance with her serve, as she recorded six aces. Fautsch recorded 2.20 kills per game on a team-best .381 hitting percentage.

Returning starters Anna Schrad and Melissa Elmer also provided several highlights offensively. Schrad slammed a career-best 22 kills against Illinois State, and Elmer averaged 3.00 kills per game en route to earning tournament MVP honors. However, NU hopes to improve its efficiency this weekend. The Huskers swung for a .260 hitting percentage in the tournament while running a 6-2 (two-setter) offense for the first time since 1999. Nebraska has hit over .300 each of the past three seasons.

Defensively, NU appears to be on track to becoming a dominant team. The Huskers out-blocked their three opponents 44-11 at the Barker GMC Classic, averaging 4.40 blocks per game. NU averaged 3.38 blocks per game last season with one of the top blocking teams in school history. Nebraska also recorded 16.60 digs per game last weekend, a slight increase over its 2002 average. NU posted 2.40 service aces per game, nearly one more per game than in 2002.

NU Coach John Cook enters the weekend looking for his 100th win at Nebraska. Cook is an incredible 99-4 (.961) in four seasons with the Huskers. Cook owns a 260-77 career record.

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 averaged 4.20 kills per game in three matches at the Barker GMC Classic, including a career-best 22 kills against the Redbirds. 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 averaged 2.50 kills per game and 3.10 digs per game at the Barker GMC Classic. 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 was inconsistent at times offensively over the weekend, but her blocking was the best of her career. Rebholz averaged 2.20 blocks per game and 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 flourished as a go-to player in 2003. She was named the Barker GMC Classic MVP after averaging 3.00 kills per game (.323 hitting percentage) and an impressive 2.40 blocks per game.
• #15 Sara Westling (6-2, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.): Westling started all three matches at the Barker GMC Classic but split playing time with freshman Christina Houghtelling. Westling had seven kills in eight games.

Setter

• #2 Michelle Lynch (5-11, Sr., Jacksonville, Ill.): Lynch tallied 69 assists (6.90 per game) last weekend in her first significant action at setter. Because NU runs a 6-2 (two-setter) offense, Lynch shares setting duties with freshman Dani Busboom.

Libero

• #6 Jenae Dowling (5-6, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.): Dowling led Nebraska with 4.43 kills per game in her first weekend as the starting libero.

Huskers vs. the Field
Nebraska is 6-0 combined vs. the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic Field. NU has never faced New Orleans, owns a 5-0 series record against LSU and was victorious in its only meeting with Tulane in 1979.

New Orleans Quickly
Nebraska opens the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic at 5 p.m. Friday against New Orleans. The Privateers are 1-2 after falling to Southeastern and Butler but defeating Samford during last weekend's UNO Invitational. The Privateers were led by junior outside hitter Jennifer Cruz, the only player to post double-figure kill totals in all three matches. Cruz had a season-high 14 kills against Samford while swinging at a .300 clip.

Cruz is one of seven returning letterwinners from last season's team that went 13-20 and finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference west division.

The Privateers are led by head coach Julie Stempel Ibieta, who owns a 56-76 record in her fifth season at New Orleans.

Series Notes: Nebraska has never faced New Orleans.

Louisiana State Quickly
The Huskers continue tournament action with Louisiana State at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The Tigers are 2-1 with wins over Centenary and Alabama-Birmingham, and a loss to Virginia.

Junior outside hitter Regan Hood is LSU's top offensive threat, as she averages 4.27 kills per game. Hood posted double-figure kill totals in all three matches last weekend, and she pounded a match-best 20 kills to go along with 12 digs against UAB Aug. 30.

Hood is one of six starters returning from LSU's 17-11 2002 team last season. The Tigers finished second in the west division of the Southeastern Conference in 2002.

The Tigers are led by head coach Flan Flory, who owns an 82-71 record in her sixth season at LSU.

Series Notes: Nebraska leads the all-time series against Louisiana State, 5-0 ... the Huskers have not faced the Tigers since Sept. 17, 1994 ... Nebraska is 2-0 against LSU in the state of Louisiana with wins over the Tigers in Baton Rouge in 1983 and 1994 ... NU has won 13 consecutive games in the series since droppiong the third game of a 3-1 win over LSU in 1983.

Tulane Quickly
Nebraska concludes tournament play against tournament host Tulane at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The Green Wave owns a 3-0 record after defeating Nicholls State, Elon and Wright State last weekend.

A pair of juniors lead Tulane statistically. Outside hitter Anastasia Kenon is averaging a team-high 3.46 kills per game and a team-best 3.46 digs per game. Middle blocker Deva Fowler ranks second on the team with 3.23 kills per game, and she leads Tulane in blocks per game with 1.31.

Kenon and Fowler, are two of six starters who returned from last season's team that finished with a 21-14 record. The Green Wave placed fifth in Conference USA with a 9-4 mark.

Tulane is coached by Betsy Becker, who owns a 70-62 record in her fifth season at the helm.

Series Notes: Nebraska's only previous meeting with Tulane came at the Mean Green Invitational in Denton, Texas, on Sept. 14, 1979. The Huskers prevailed, 15-12, 15-2.

Block Party
During Head 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.

In three games at the Barker GMC Classic Aug. 29-30, Nebraska averaged 4.40 blocks per game and out-blocked its opponents 44-11. Against Illinois, the Huskers produced 20 team blocks, a mark they reached just once last season.

Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer, who ranked second in the Big 12 behind Holmquist in blocks per game last season, led NU with 2.40 stops per game. Junior right side hitter Ally Rebholz may be emerging as a top blocking threat, as she averaged 2.20 per game and led the Huskers with four solo blocks.

NU's three opponents at the Barker GMC Classic hit just .073 collectively against the Husker block.

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.) all saw time on the court at the Barker GMC Classic in NU's season-opening weekend.

Busboom played more than any other freshman in the Huskers' 6-2 offense, sharing the setting duties with sophomore Michelle Lynch. Busboom averaged 5.00 assists per game in her first weekend and made an impressive at the service line. Busboom posted six aces in 10 games with her jump serve.

McCormick played in six games, serving as the Huskers' libero in the last three games against Illinois State. She averaged 2.17 kills per game and posted a team-best 13 digs against the Redbirds.

Houghtelling played in just four games but was highly successful, averaging 1.25 kills per game on a .364 hitting percentage. The 6-2 Houghtelling also made an immediate impact blocking, with two stops each against Clemson and Illinois despite limited action.

Mancuso saw action in two games at the Huskers' deepest position with senior Anna Schrad and sophomore Jennifer Saleaumua entrenched in the starting lineup. Mancuso has been the most consistent freshman in practice and could see more playing time. Freshman outside hitter Emily Schroeder (Belden, Neb.) will likely redshirt.