Huskers Can't Hold Off Missouri

Lincoln -- Missouri came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat eighth-ranked Nebraska, 30-28, 30-24, 25-30, 29-31, 15-9, Wednesday night at the NU Coliseum, snapping its 44-match losing streak against the Huskers. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 15-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12, while Missouri improved to 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the league.

The loss marks the first time since 1997 that Nebraska, which fell to Kansas State last Saturday, has lost two straight conference matches. It also marks the first time that NU has lost back-to-back matches since the 1999 season. The contest was also the first time since 1999 that Nebraska held a 2-0 lead in a match and lost.

Nebraska bested Missouri in every statistical category except blocks, but the Huskers committed a season-high 44 hitting errors and swung for a .131 percentage. Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer led NU with 17 kills on a .297 hitting percentage. Freshman right side hitter Kelsey Fautsch had 13 kills and swung at a .241 clip. No other Husker with 10 attempts hit over .200. Missouri hit .121 on the night.

Freshman Amanda McCormick started at libero in place of the injured Jenae Dowling and led Nebraska with a career-high 31 digs. McCormick's total was the third-highest in school history and the most digs by an NU player since 1995.

"Right now, we are committing too many errors," NU Coach John Cook said. "We are just giving teams games. Not to take anything away from Missouri, but you should not lose to a team that hits .121 against you. Our mental approach to the game and the mistakes are concerning me."

The Huskers trailed 9-1 in game five before Fautsch and Anna Schrad pounded a kills to make it 9-3. Elmer pounded two straight kills to cut Missouri's advantage to 10-5. Lisa Boyd slammed two key kills to make it 13-7 for the Tigers. The teams exchanged kills, as MU forced a game-point situation. Fautsch held the Tigers off momentarily with a kill, but Shen Danru blocked Fautsch on the next play to secure the Missouri win.

"We have so much potential, and we're not living up to it," NU setter Michelle Lynch said. "I think not living up to your potential, no matter what you do in life, is one of the most disappointing things. Tomorrow will be a test for us in practice. We can't be satisfied with the way we're playing."

Nebraska led 23-18 in game one before Missouri reeled off four straight points in a run that included kills by Lindsey Noll, Nicole Wilson and Danru. After the Huskers called timeout, Elmer slammed a kill to regain the two-point advantage for NU. The Huskers remained in control until MU tied the score at 28 with the help of back-to-back kills from Lindsey Hunter and Noll. But Jennifer Saleaumua answered with a kill, and Elmer and Fautsch blocked Noll to secure a 30-28, first-game win for the Huskers.

The Huskers cruised to a 19-9 lead in game two behind four early kills from Elmer. Nebraska led by at least eight until Missouri closed it to 26-21 with the help of four straight NU errors and a block by Danru and Wilson. Saleaumua stopped the run with a kill, and Nebraska eventually took the second game, 30-24, when Schrad and Houghtelling blocked Jessica Vander Kooi on game point.

Missouri turned the tables in game three, racing to a 17-7 lead, but the Huskers battled back. Trailing 19-11, NU scored three straight points in a run that included two block assists and a kill from Saleaumua. Nebraska continued to chip away at Missouri's lead, and Missouri led 28-24 after Danru committed a hitting error.

Nebraska lost an early lead in game four and trailed 20-16 after kills by Wilson and Noll and a block of Schrad. Missouri increased its lead to 27-21 after an attempt by Elmer sailed wide. But Saleaumua drilled a kill on the next rally, and Nebraska scored five straight points. The run included back-to-back kills by Rebholz, who combined with Elmer to block Danru and tied the game at 27. The game was tied again at 29, but Missouri scored the final two points with kills by Wilson and Danru to sent it to a deciding fifth game.

Nebraska returns to action this Saturday, Oct. 18, when it travels to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. The match can also be heard live on selected Pinnacle Sports Network affiliates and B107.3 FM in Lincoln.