No. 1 Huskers Best No. 5 Bruins for Title

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Omaha ? Behind dominating performances from its middle blockers, the top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team claimed the 2007 AVCA Showcase crown with a 30-23, 22-30, 30-18, 30-21 victory over fifth-ranked UCLA in front of an event record-crowd of 11,076 at the QwestCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

In a match that had the intensity normally reserved for the winter months, Tracy Stalls and Kori Cooper combined for 26 kills on only 44 swings. Stalls hit a blistering .640, putting down 16 kills without an error in 25 attacks. Cooper was also error-free, totaling 10 kills in 19 attacks for a .526 percentage.

 

The play of the middles helped Nebraska (2-0) hit .314 for the match, including a .450 mark in game three. UCLA (1-1) hit .209 and was held to an .093 mark in the third game. Sarah Pavan, the reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, recorded a match-high 25 kills to lead five Huskers in double-figures in kills.

 

Rachell Johnson and Ali Daley each had 19 kills for UCLA, while Dicey McGraw added 12 kills.

 

The NU defense was also stellar, recording 91 digs as Christina Houghtelling recorded 23 digs, a match-high total for the second straight contest. A total of five Huskers had at least 12 digs, while NU also out-blocked UCLA, 10-6.

 

The first game was back and forth early until Nebraska opened up an 11-7 lead on the strength of a 6-1 run. The Huskers maintained a narrow advantage until opening up a 16-10 lead following a quick 3-0 spurt. UCLA closed to 17-15 before a thundering Tracy Stalls kill ended a 5-1 Bruin run.

 

Nebraska began to separate late, as a Rachel Holloway kill, ace and a Husker block put NU in front, 21-16. With Holloway on serve, the Huskers rattled off four consecutive points to cap a 5-0 run that left NU with a comfortable 23-16 advantage.

 

More tough serving from Jordan Larson forced a UCLA timeout after a pair of near aces resulted in NU kills and a 26-17 lead. At the end of the 9-1 run, the Huskers enjoyed a 10-point lead and were just three points away from taking the game. A late surge from UCLA made the final score closer before a Larson roll shot found the floor to give NU a 30-23 win.

 

NU hit .340 in the first game and recorded 25 digs while UCLA hit .240. Reigning AVCA National Player of the Year Sarah Pavan ripped eight kills on just 14 swings to pace the Huskers, who also out-dug UCLA, 25-17.

 

Game two saw the Bruins get off to a hot start and never looked back. Tough serving and seven early kills from Ali Daley (four) and Dicey McGraw (three) forced an early Nebraska timeout with the Huskers trailing, 9-4. UCLA continued to keep NU at bay, leading by at least three points and as many as nine.

 

The Bruins continued to pull away, taking a 27-19 lead before withstanding a brief Nebraska rally en route to a 30-22 game two victory.

 

Dailey was dominant in game two for UCLA, tallying 10 kills on 22 swings, while McGraw added seven kills on only nine swings. With Dailey and McGraw providing the offense, the UCLA defense stepped up, digging 26 balls while recording three blocks and limiting Nebraska to a .125 hitting percentage.

 

The two squads battled back and forth early in game three, with Rachell Johnson sparking UCLA with an ace and four kills to account for five of the Bruins’ first seven points. Neither team led by more than two until a kill from Pavan gave Nebraska a 13-10 advantage.

 

Leading 18-16, the Huskers opened up some breathing room when Stalls connected on her fifth and sixth kills of the game ? on only eight swings ? and Christina Houghtelling added an ace to put NU ahead 23-16.

 

With Nebraska in the midst of a game-changing 7-1 run, UCLA was forced to use its second timeout trailing 25-17. The Huskers finished strong, scoring the game’s final five points on kills from three different players in a 30-18 win.

 

 Stalls finished with six kills on eight swings in game three, while Pavan added six kills on 12 swings as Nebraska hit a whopping .450 in the game. The Huskers’ defense was just as good, recording three blocks and 22 digs.

 

The Huskers’ strong play from the end of game three carried over to game four, as NU jumped out to a 4-1 lead. UCLA rallied to tie the game at 7-7.

 

Although the Bruins were ultimately never able to take the lead, the game remained within four points until late.

 

Nebraska led 21-17 following Kori Cooper’s 10th kill of the match and the Huskers built a five point lead with a pair of consecutive points. An attacking error put UCLA down 25-20 and forced head coach Andy Banachowski to call a timeout.

 

Consecutive kills from Pavan and Holloway, a pair of blocks and an attack error capped a match-ending 5-0 run for the Huskers and wrapped up their second AVCA Showcase title in the past three years with a 30-21 win.

 

Pavan drilled nine kills in the deciding game, while Cooper added five. Nebraska hit .358 and committed a match-low two errors in the final game while also recording three blocks.

 

Nebraska makes its 2007 regular-season debut at the NU Coliseum next Friday at 7 p.m. against Creighton at the Holiday Inn Downtown Classic.

 

2007 AVCA Showcase All-Tournament Team
Sarah Pavan, Nebraska (MVP)
Jordan Larson, Nebraska
Tracy Stalls, Nebraska
Milan Clarke, Tennessee
Ali Daley, UCLA

Nellie Spicer, UCLA
Connie Dangerfield, Utah