Huskers Take Down Cyclones

Ames, Iowa ? Behind career highs from Tara Mueller and Amanda Gates, second-ranked Nebraska survived Iowa State’s upset bid, posting a 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 25-18 victory Saturday night at Hilton Coliseum.

On a night where the Huskers were forced to dig deep, Mueller led the offensive attack with a match-high 16 kills and 10 digs for her second double-double of the year, while Gates led a strong effort from NU’s middle blockers, who combined for 23 kills on .432 hitting and six blocks.

Gates broke into double figures for the first time in her career with 11 kills and three blocks, while Kori Cooper recorded a season-best 12 kills on .524 hitting and three stuffs, as the Huskers held ISU to .193 hitting and out-blocked the Cyclones, 10-6.

Jordan Larson was the fourth Husker to reach double figures, totaling 11 kills and a season-high 19 digs en route to posting her fourth consecutive double-double, as Nebraska remained unbeaten at 12-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big 12. Sydney Anderson was the third Husker to finish with a double-double, dishing out 48 assists, adding 10 digs and leading NU with a season-high five stuffs.

Nebraska overcame a rocky start in the opener, fighting back for a 25-21 victory. Mueller carried the Huskers with five kills in the set, while NU’s block came through with four stuffs to hold Iowa State to .152 hitting. The Cyclones got off to a roaring start, running off the first five points of the match to put the Huskers in an early hole. Trailing 8-3, Nebraska regrouped and won nine of the next 12 rallies, taking a 12-11 lead after Cooper and Anderson combined on a block. NU led 14-13 after a Mueller kill, but the Cyclones run off four unanswered points to take a 17-14 lead on a Diane Kieger kill and force a Husker timeout. Nebraska then took over as kills from Mueller and Larson sparked a 5-0 spurt, taking a 19-17 lead after a Mueller ace. The Cyclones pulled within 20-19 on a spectacular kill from Ashley Mass, who kept a play alive while on her back and the ball rolled on the tape and dropped on NU’s side of the court. ISU could not sustain the momentum, as a service ace and a bad set put NU ahead 22-19. The Cyclones got to within 22-20, but an Anderson solo block and a Mueller kill closed the door on the first set.

In the second set, the Huskers were the ones to get off to a fast start, only to see Iowa State roar back and take a 25-20 victory. ISU out-hit the Huskers .209-.095, in the set and used a 6-0 spurt midway the set to take the lead for good. Nebraska, behind the serving of Mueller, raced off to a 5-1 lead after an Amanda Gates kill, only to see ISU fight back and pull within 8-7 on a Kelsey Peterson kill.  Nebraska roared back as Mueller had a solo stuff and kill as part of run of four unanswered points to extend the margin to 12-7. NU eventually led 14-10, but the Cyclones ran off four straight points, tying the set at 14-all on a Mass ace to force a Husker timeout. NU then committed two straight hitting errors to put the Cyclones up 16-14 before a Husker point ended the run. NU got to within one point three more times and was within 21-19, but a block by Rachel Hockaday and Jen Malcolm and two Henson kills gave the Cyclones a five-point lead. The Huskers got to within 24-20 on a block by Anderson and Gates, but Malcom’s kill sent the teams to the locker room tied at one set apiece.

In the third set, the Huskers used a strong performance by Larson and withstood a furious rally to pull out a 27-25 victory. Larson, who had just two kills in the first two sets, had five kills, including a beautiful tip on set point.  Nebraska trailed 7-5 before Larson sparked a 7-1 Husker spurt that gave the Huskers a 12-8 lead after the senior drilled home two straight kills. Leading 13-10, Mueller highlighted a run of four straight Husker points, pushing the lead to 17-10 after three straight Mueller kills. Nebraska eventually got the margin to nine points, at 20-11, only to surrender five straight points to get ISU with 20-16. NU withstood the first run and led 24-20 after a Cooper kill, but ISU took advantage of a spade of hitting errors to run off five straight points and served for the set but Caitlin Mahoney service error gave the Huskers new life.  Mueller put the Huskers ahead 26-25 before Larson’s tip found the floor, giving the Huskers a crucial set victory.

Nebraska finally got untracked in the fourth set, hitting .432 as a team en route to a 25-18 victory. Cooper and Larson combined for 10 kills, as Cooper totaled five kills on seven swings in the set. NU took control early, using an 7-1 spurt to take a 9-3 lead after a Larson kill. ISU fought back, getting to within 12-9, but two straight Lindsey Licht kills and a kill from Gates pushed back the NU lead to six points. ISU got to within 17-14, but could get no closer, as NU ran off the next three points to take a 20-14 lead after a Larson kill and led by as many as eight points before cruising to a seven-point win.

Victoria Henson led Iowa State (9-6, 1-3 Big 12) with 14 kills and three blocks to lead three Cyclones in double figures in kills.

The Huskers return to action next Wednesday, Oct. 1, as they travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. First serve at the United Spirit Arena is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be carried on the Husker Sports Network and on Huskers.com. Live video of the NU-TTU match will also be available on HuskersNside.