Schrad Leads Huskers to 3-0 Win at Baylor

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Waco, Texas ? Senior outside hitter Anna Schrad pounded a match-high 15 kills to lead the eighth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-24, 30-23, 30-26 win at Baylor Saturday night. Schrad hit .353 and added two service aces.

Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua added her team-leading eightth double-double of the season with 10 kill and 18 digs, junior outside hitter Ally Rebholz had eight kills on a .316 hitting percentage.

 

Defensively, NU out-blocked Baylor, 10-3, led by sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer’s six blocks. The Huskers hit .254 and held the Bears to a .163 mark.

 

With the win, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska improved to 16-3 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12. The Huskers also lengthened their series advantage over the Bears to 16-0. Baylor fell to 11-11 and 3-6 in the conference.

 

“In a lot of ways, this was a scary match for us,” NU Coach John Cook said. “We were coming off two emotional losses, and Baylor has shown that it is capable of playing at a very high level. I was happy to see us respond and stay steady and organized and win some of the long rallies.”

 

The Huskers trailed most of game one and were behind, 20-18, after Andrea Vakulya pounded a kill. But Sara Westling put up a solo block against Tisha Schwartz, Dani Busboom served three straight points, including an ace, to give Nebraska a 22-20 advantage. Rebholz and Elmer blocked Vakulya to make it 29-20, Huskers, and Elmer slammed the game-winning kill off the Baylor block for the 30-24 win.

 

Nebraska carried its momentum into game two. Leading 12-10, NU scored five straight in a run that included an ace serve by Michelle Lynch and a kill by Elmer. The Huskers led 26-28 after Jennifer Saleaumua produced two straight kills. Nebraska eventually took a 30-22 second-game victory on a kill by Schrad, who finished the game with six kills.

 

Baylor fought back in game three and led, 19-17, after a service ace by Maggie Chlebana. Westling drilled a kill to stop the run, but the Huskers fell behind by two again after a net violation call. Schwartz increased the lead to three with a kill. The Huskers responded and tied the game at 22 when Rebholz and Elmer combined for a block of Desiree Guilliard-Young.  NU led 27-24 after back-to-back kills by Schrad. Nebraska took the 30-26, third-game win and the match on a service ace by Schrad.

 

NU has a week off before returning to action against Iowa State Saturday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.