No. 1 Huskers Travel to Texas Tech

Match: #21:   NU at Texas Tech (11-11, 4-7 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 29 ? 7 p.m. (central) ? United Spirit Arena
Radio:  Pinnacle Sports Network (B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Live Stats:  Huskers.com 
Live Internet Video:  HuskersNside (subscription required)
Internet Audio:  Huskers.com
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 23-1 (NU has won last 18 matches)
Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 30-16, 30-18, 30-22 on Oct. 12

Match: #22:   NU vs. Oklahoma (6-15, 1-11 Big 12)
Wednesday, Nov. 2 ? 7 p.m. (central) ? NU Coliseum
Radio:  Pinnacle Sports Network (B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Television: Live on Nebraska Educational Television (Ch. 12) and NET-HD
 (Ch. 112 in Lincoln; Tape-Delayed on CSTV (Nov. 3, 8 p.m.)
Live Stats:  Huskers.com 
Live Internet Video:  HuskersNside (subscription required)
Internet Audio:  Huskers.com
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 61-6 (NU has won last 16 matches)
Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 28-30, 30-25, 31-29, 30-20 on Sept. 28

No. 1 Huskers Travel to Texas Tech
Nebraska looks to avoid the upset pratfall this weekend, as the No. 1 ranked Huskers put their undefeated record on the line at Texas Tech. First serve between the Huskers and Red Raiders is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. from the United Spirit Arena. The match will be carried on selected Pinnacle Sports Network Stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, and on Huskers.com. The match will also be shown live on HuskersNside, a subsciption-based site of the Nebraska Athletic Department.

The Huskers (20-0, 11-0 Big 12) look to close the month of October with perfect record after sweeping Kansas on Wednesday in Lincoln. NU, which is 179-21 (.895) all-time in October, have stepped up their defensive efforts, holding five of its last six foes to under .125 hitting, as the Jayhawks hit .056 against NU.

Texas Tech looks to rebound after a tough five-game loss at Oklahoma Wednesday evening to drop to 11-11 overall and 4-7 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders have been tough at home, going 6-4 while taking games from Missouri (two) and Texas (one) in losing efforts. The two teams met on Oct. 12 in Lincoln with Nebraska posting a three-game sweep (30-16, 30-18, 30-22). In that match, Christina Houghtelling (11 kills on .550 hitting) and Jordan Larson (13 kills) combined for 24 kills and hit .440 against the Red Raider defense.

Did You Know?
? The state of Nebraska has the No. 1 ranked team in Division I (Nebraska) and in Division II (Nebraska-Kearney)
? Nebraska has held its last six opponents to a combined .075 hitting, as it ranks second nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.125)
? Nebraska’s nine wins over ranked opponents leads the nation, as Nebraska (9-0), Washington (8-0) and Penn State (7-2) are the only teams with at least six wins against ranked teams.

Worth Noting and Streaks to Watch
? Over her last five matches, Sarah Pavan is averaging 4.27 kills per game on .437 hitting (64-12-119), along with 2.67 digs and 1.33 blocks per game.
? Melissa Elmer is four kills away from being the 14th Husker all-time - and second this season - to reach 1,100 career kills.
? Jennifer Saleaumua, who moved into 11th place on NU’s career kills list on Wednesday, is 10 digs away from No. 1,400 in her career
? Nebraska has won its last 48 matches against the four Big 12 schools from Texas (Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech) dating back to 1999.
? Nebraska is 54-1 in Big 12 road matches under Head Coach John Cook with the only loss coming at Kansas State in 2003.
? Nebraska has won its last 22 road matches dating back to November of 2003. In fact, NU has won 27 of its last 28 matches outside of Lincoln in that span with the only loss coming to USC in the 2004 NCAA Regional Final.
? The Huskers have won their last 34 matches in Big 12 play, dating back to Nov. 19, 2003.
? Nebraska has won its last 44 regular-season matches dating back to Sept. 11, 2004.

Husker Probable Starters
MB - #8 Melissa Elmer: 6-2, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind. - Elmer is a two-time AVCA All-American and one of the best middle blockers in the country. She leads the nation with 2.36 blocks per game, including 10 or more blocks six times, and tops the Big 12 with a .455 hitting percentage, as she averages 2.94 kills per game. She also leads the Big 12 in both categories (2.31 blocks and .472 hitting) in conference matches. She ranks second all-time at NU in total blocks (673), trailing only Amber Holmquist’s school mark of 728 (1999-02). Over NU’s last six matches, Elmer is averaging 3.22 kills on .492 hitting while also averaging 2.70 blocks per game. Elmer nearly recorded her third double-double of the year at Kansas State on Oct. 19 with nine kills and 10 blocks. At Missouri on Oct. 5, she had a season-high 17 kills on .546 hitting before totaling a Big 12 record 16 blocks at Kansas on Oct. 8. Elmer has been named MVP in two tournaments (Sports Imports Classic and InfoUSA/Arby’s Players Challenge).

MB - #11 Tracy Stalls: 6-3, So., Arvada, Colo. - Stalls has played in 12 matches, averaging 1.49 blocks and 1.15 kills per game. She had one of her best blocking performances against Kansas on Wednesday, recording seven blocks in the sweep of the Jayhawks. Stalls, who ranks ninth in the Big 12 in blocks in league play, enjoyed her best match of the year at Oklahoma on Sept. 28, setting season highs in both kills (eight) and blocks (eight). She had seven blocks against No. 20 Texas A&M on Sept. 21 and five stuffs against fourth-ranked Penn State on Sept. 11. Stalls also had six kills and three blocks against No. 7 Missouri on Oct. 5 and four kills on six swings and three blocks at No. 23 Kansas State on Oct. 19. Stalls ranked 11th nationally in blocking as a freshman at 1.65 blocks per game. Before enrolling at NU, Stalls served a two-year stint in the U.S. National Developmental Program and was on the U.S. National Team.

OPP - #9 Sarah Pavan (rhymes with Have-in): 6-5, Soph., Kitchener, Ontario - The AVCA National Freshman of the Year and first-team All-American in 2004, Pavan is having a stellar 2005 season, averaging 3.74 kills, 1.70 digs and 1.41 blocks per game. She ranks seventh in the league in blocks and kills, fifth in points per game (4.76) and seventh in hitting percentage (.355), topping all outside hitters in both blocks and hitting percentage. In Big 12 matches, she is hitting .375 and averaging 3.97 kills per game, ranking third in kills per game. On Wednesday, Pavan had 12 kills on .458 hitting, as she hit above .450 for the seventh time this year. She was dominant at Kansas State on Oct. 19 with 18 kills, six blocks and six digs. She posted her second double-double of the year with 12 kills and 12 digs against Creighton on Oct. 11. Pavan had 11 kills and nine blocks at Kansas on Oct. 8 and had a season-high 18 kills and 11 digs at Missouri on Oct. 5.  She hit .500 or better in NU’s first three Big 12 matches, capped by 13 kills on .522 hitting and seven blocks vs. Iowa State on Sept. 24. Against Pepperdine on Sept. 9, Pavan recorded her first career triple-double with 11 kills, 11 blocks and 10 digs, becoming the first Husker outside hitter since Nancy Metcalf in 1999 to accomplish the feat. Pavan, who carries a 4.0 GPA in biochemistry, was a member of the Canadian National Team at age 16.

OH - #3 Christina Houghtelling (HOTEL-ing): 6-2, Jr., Cambridge, Neb. - Houghtelling has emerged as one of the Big 12’s top performers in  2005. She is second on the team with 3.58 kills per game, while ranking eighth in the league with a .341 hitting percentage. She has reached double figures in kills 15 times, including a 14-kill effort while hitting .462 in a sweep of No. 23 Kansas State on Oct. 19. She picked up her third double-double of 2005 at Kansas on Oct. 8 with 14 kills on .454 hitting and 10 digs. She starred in NU’s win at Oklahoma on Sept. 28, delivering a career-high 20 kills and hitting .404 against the Sooners. Houghtelling has earned all-tournament honors two times, including MVP honors of the AVCA/NACWAA College Volleyball Showcase, where she averaged 4.83 kills on .404 hitting, 2.33 digs and 1.67 blocks per game in wins over No. 4 Hawaii and No. 3 Stanford. Houghtelling spent the summer in the USA Volleyball training program, competing with the A-2 National team in Switzerland.

OH - #26 Jennifer Saleaumua (Sal-ee-ah-MOO-uh): 5-11, Sr., National City, Calif. - A returning AVCA All-American and three-time All-Big 12 performer, Saleaumua’s all-around abilities key the NU attack. She is fourth in the Big 12 with 3.91 digs per game and has recorded double figures in digs 15 times, including a career-high 27 at Minnesota on Sept. 5 and 22 at No. 23 Kansas State on Oct. 19. Saleaumua’s 22 digs against KSU equaled the highest dig total in a three-game match in the Big 12 this season. In Wednesday’s win against Kansas, Saleaumua had seven kills on .375 hitting, 10 digs and four blocks. She shined against No. 20 Texas A&M on Sept. 21 with 10 kills, 13 digs and seven blocks. At Ohio State on Sept. 2, Saleaumua became the second Husker to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. She totaled 12 kills on 16 swings, while adding 14 digs in the sweep of No. 4 Hawaii on Aug. 26. Saleaumua already holds NU’s record in digs (1,390) and has 36 career double-doubles. The Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, she was in the USA Volleyball Training Program over the summer.

OH - #10 Jordan Larson: 6-2, Fr., Hooper, Neb. - One of two newcomers in the Huskers’ starting lineup, Larson is one of the Big 12’s top freshman performers. She averages 3.30 kills on .315 hitting and 2.77 digs per game, topping all Big 12 rookies in kills, digs and hitting percentage. Larson has four double-doubles, including three against top-10 teams. She has led NU in kills a team-best eight times, including a 14-kill effort on .420 hitting against No. 18 Texas on Oct. 15 and a 13-kill, 14-dig, four-ace effort on Oct. 12 against Texas Tech. Larson also had a match-high 14 kills on .480 hitting against No. 4 Penn State on Sept. 11 and 14 kills against No. 20 Texas A&M on Sept. 21. The Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, Larson was a three-time Super-State selection who was rated the No. 2 player in the country by prepvolleyball.com. Larson set a Class C-1 state record with 501 kills on .490 hitting while establishing an all-class record with 179 service aces in 2004. She also spent two years on the U.S. Junior National Team and was the MVP of the 2004 NORCECA Tournament.

S - #18 Dani Busboom: 5-11, Jr., Cortland, Neb. - Busboom is in her third season as Nebraska’s starting setter and splits time with Maggie Griffin in the Huskers’ 6-2 offense. Busboom averages 6.33 assists and 2.03 digs per game, helping the Huskers rank fourth nationally in team hitting and seventh in assists. Busboom became the eighth Husker to reach 2,500 career assists in Wednesday’s win over Kansas. She had her second double-double of the year with 17 assists and 10 digs against No. 18 Texas on Oct. 15. Busboom recorded her first double-double of the year with 31 assists and 11 digs in a five-game win over No. 5 Minnesota and had 26 assists and nine digs at No. 7 Missouri on Oct. 5. She split time with Michelle Lynch in NU’s 6-2 offense in 2003 before taking over the full-time role last season. She averaged 13.10 assists per game in 2004, the highest total by a Husker in seven years, to earn honorable-mention AVCA All-Midwest Region honors.

S - #1 Maggie Griffin: 6-0, So., St. Charles, Ill. - A transfer from Michigan State, Maggie Griffin is in her first season at Nebraska. She splits time with Dani Busboom in running NU’s 6-2 offense, averaging a team-high 7.57 assists and 1.70 digs per game. Griffin, who has helped NU rank fourth nationally in hitting, had 36 assists, three service aces and six digs in a win at No. 5 Minnesota on Sept. 5. Griffin has two double-doubles, setting season bests in assists (37) and digs (15) in a victory at No. 7 Missouri on Oct. 5. Griffin spent her freshman year at MSU, ranking sixth in the Big Ten with 12.98 assists per game to earn All-Freshman honors. She had eight double-doubles and 50 or more assists 12 times. Griffin was a Fab 50 selection at Rosary (Ill.) High School.

Scouting Texas Tech
The Red Raiders enters Saturday’s match with an 11-11 mark, after dropping a five-game loss at Oklahoma on Wednesday. Third-year coach Nancy Todd’s (32-45 overall) club has played well inside the United Spirit Arena, going 6-4 with two of the losses coming to No. 18 Texas and seventh-ranked Missouri, where they took the Tigers to five gamesThe Red Raiders feature one of the Big 12’s top newcomers in junior college transfer Philister Sang. A member of Kenyan National team that competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Seng is averaging 4.54 kills, a total that is third in the league, along with 2.31 digs and 0.25 service aces per game. In addition to Seng, Amy Charlebois averaged 2.60 kills, while Brianna Florus tops the Red Raiders wills with 1.24 digs per game.Nebraska has dominated the series, winning 23 of the 24 all-time matches between the two teams, including the last 18 contests.

Last Time Out: NU 3, Kansas 0
All-American Sarah Pavan had 12 kills, while Nebraska overcame a sluggish start to sweep Kansas, 30-23, 30-20, 30-19 in front of a sellout crowd of 4,133 at the NU Coliseum Wednesday night.

Pavan’s 12 kills were a match high, as the sophomore hit .458 and added eight digs, three blocks and a pair of service aces in leading the Huskers (20-0, 11-0 Big 12) to their 34th straight Big 12 win dating back to the 2003 season. It marked the seventh time this season that Pavan, who leads all Big 12 outside hitters with .355 hitting, has hit above .450 in a match.

Christina Houghtelling also reached double figures for Nebraska with 11 kills and four blocks, while All-Americans Melissa Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua chipped in eight and seven blocks, respectively. Nebraska, which was held to .159 hitting in the opener, hit .282 in the match, but held Kansas (12-9, 4-8 Big 12) to just .057 hitting, including .000 over the final two games. Tracy Stalls led the Husker blocking effort with seven stuffs, while Elmer added six more in helping NU to a 15-3 advantage in that category.