No. 1 Huskers Head to Iowa State

Match: #23:   NU (22-0, 13-0 Big 12) at Iowa State (13-12, 6-8 Big 12)
 Saturday, Nov. 5 * 4 p.m. (central) * Hilton Coliseum
Radio:  Pinnacle Sports Network (B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Television: None
Live Stats:  Huskers.com 
Live Video: Not available for the ISU match
Internet Audio:  Huskers.com
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 67-0
Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 30-8, 30-24, 30-16 on Sept. 24

Match: #24   NU at Texas A&M (11-11, 4-9 Big 12)
 Wedneaday, Nov. 9 ? 6:30 p.m. ? G Rollie White Coliseum
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, 22-6, and has won the last 12 meetings
Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 30-24, 30-21, 30-19 on Sept. 21 in Lincoln

No. 1 Huskers Head to Iowa State
Nebraska returns to the road on Saturday afternoon, as the Huskers travel to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Iowa State Cyclones. First serve is set for 4 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum, as part of a triple-header of Cyclone sports (ISU football hosts KSU at 1 p.m. and men’s basketball has an exhibition at 8 p.m.). Saturday’s match between the No. 1 Huskers and Cyclones will be carried on B107.3 FM in Lincoln and on the Internet at Huskers.com.

The Huskers have gotten defensive in the last month, holding each of its last eight opponents to under .125 hitting. Nebraska opponents were hitting .146 in its first 14 matches, but that total has dipped to .061 in the last eight contests, as NU now ranks first nationally in opponent hitting percentage. Against Oklahoma on Wednesday, the Huskers held the Sooners to .042 hitting in posting their seventh straight sweep.

The Cyclones are 13-12 on the year and are in sixth place with a 6-8 Big 12 mark. ISU has dropped its last four matches, including five-set losses to Baylor and No. 24 Kansas State. ISU, under former Husker All-American Christy Johnson, has already posted its highest Big 12 win total and has a home win over No. 14 Texas, the only other conference team besides NU  with a win over the Longhorns.

Worth Noting and Streaks to Watch
? Over Nebraska’s last eight matches Christina Houghtelling is hitting .375 while averaging 3.52 kills, 2.52 digs and 1.32 blocks per game.
? The Huskers have won all 67 meetings with Iowa State in series history that dates back to 1975. In fact, Iowa State has won only 12 games in the entire series.
? Nebraska has hit .350 or better in 10 matches, including four matches above .400.
? Nebraska is 55-1 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 24 road matches dating back to November of 2003. In fact, NU has won 28 of its last 29 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 36 matches in Big 12 play, dating back to Nov. 19, 2003.
? Nebraska has won its last 46 regular-season matches dating back to Sept. 11, 2004.

Did You Know?
? Nebraska is spending its 50th week at No. 1 this week, becoming only the second program in Division I history to spend at least 50 weeks in the No. 1 spot. UCLA holds the record with 51 weeks at No. 1
? The state of Nebraska has the No. 1 ranked team in Division I (Nebraska) and in Division II (Nebraska-Kearney)
? Tracy Stalls averaged 2.17 blocks per game in Nebraska’s last four matches and has had at least seven blocks in each of NU’s last three matches
? Nebraska (9-0) and Penn State (9-2) lead the nation with nine wins over ranked teams.
? NU Head Coach will be going for his 200th career conference win on Saturday. He is 199-54 in league matches.

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. The mid-season National Player of the Year by ESPN.com, Elmer ranks among the top-five nationally in both hitting percentage and blocks. She leads the nation with 2.31 blocks per game, including 10 or more blocks six times, and tops the Big 12 with a .432 hitting percentage (fourth nationally), as she averages 2.85 kills per game. She also leads the Big 12 in both categories (2.21 blocks and .439 hitting) in conference matches. She ranks second all-time at NU in total blocks (683), trailing only Amber Holmquist’s school mark of 728 (1999-02). 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 15 matches, averaging 1.64 blocks and 1.20 kills per game. She would rank third in the Big 12 in blocking, but has not played in the minimum number of games. The 6-foot-3 sophomore is hitting .270 and averaging 2.17 blocks per game in NU’s last three matches. At Texas Tech on Oct. 29, Stalls matched her career high with nine blocks and had four kills on .375 hitting in NU’s sweep. She also totaled seven blocks against Kansas on Oct. 26 and against Oklahoma on Nov. 2. She is fourth in the league in blocks in conference matches. Stalls enjoyed one of her best efforts of the year at OU on Sept. 28, setting  season highs with eight kills and blocks. 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 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 3.71 kills, 1.74 digs and 1.33 blocks per game. She ranks fifth in the league in hitting percentage (.356) and points per game (4.72) and seventh in blocks and kills. In Big 12 matches, she is hitting .375 and averaging 3.77 kills per game, ranking fourth in kills per game. Pavan matched her career high with four aces against Oklahoma on Wednesday. In NU’s sweep of Kansas on Oct. 26, 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 an All-American candidate in 2005. She is second on the team with 3.57 kills per game, while ranking eighth in the league with a .347 hitting percentage. She has reached double figures in kills 16 times, including a 13-kill effort on .419 hitting vs. Oklahoma. She also had 14 kills on .462 hitting at 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 3.88 digs per game and has recorded double figures in digs 16 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 in 2005. Last week, Saleaumua averaged 2.33 kills, 3.17 digs and 1.67 blocks, while hitting .455 in two matches. At Texas Tech, Saleaumua had seven kills, six blocks and a match-high nine digs. She had seven kills on .375 hitting, 10 digs and four blocks in a sweep of Kansas on Oct. 26. Saleaumua 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 3.22 kills on .312 hitting and 2.85 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.

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 6.38 assists and 1.97 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 against Kansas on Oct. 26. 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 7.50 assists and 1.61 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 Iowa State
First-year head coach Christy Johnson has already made great strides in the ISU program since taking the reigns last December. A former two-time All-American at NU, Johnson served as assistant coach at Wisconsin for eight seasons, working with current Husker coach John Cook in 1997 and 1998.

The Cyclones look to snap a four-match losing streak, as they have lost their last two matches in five games. ISU already has one win over a ranked team, a 3-1 win over No. 18 Texas in September.

ISU is led by sophomore Erin Boeve, who is second in the Big 12 with 1.69 blocks per game while also averaging 3.16 kills per game after a career-high 28 kills in Wednesday’s loss to No. 24 Kansas State.  The Cyclones are third in the Big 12 in blocking, averaging 3.08 blocks per game, while libero Katie Churm leads the Big 12 with 4.51 digs per game.
Nebraska has owned the all-time series with the Cyclones, winning all 67 matches in series history. The Huskers have not dropped a game to ISU since 1994, when current ISU head coach Christy Johnson was NU’s starting setter.

Last Time Out: NU 3, Oklahoma 0
No.  1 Nebraska posted its seventh straight sweep with a 30-14, 30-24, 30-19 victory over Oklahoma in front of a sellout crowd of 4,055 at the NU Coliseum Wednesday evening.

Houghtellling, who had a career-high 20 kills in the first meeting in September, led the Husker attack, as she had 13 kills and no errors in 31 swings. The junior also chipped in five blocks for Nebraska, which improved to 22-0 overall and 13-0 in the Big 12.
While Houghtelling carried the offense, it was the Huskers’ tough defense and blocking that keyed NU’s 17th straight win over the Sooners. NU tied a three-game season high with 16 blocks, including seven by Tracy Stalls and six by Melissa Elmer.
The Huskers, who rank second nationally in hitting defense, also held Oklahoma to .042 hitting ? a far cry from the .229 effort that the Sooners (6-17, 1-13) totaled in the first matchup. NU also held Oklahoma middle blocker Elaine Santos to five kills and .000 hitting after she totaled 21 kills ? a high by a NU opponent in 2005 - in September.