Huskers Take on Red Raiders

This Week in Husker Volleyball

No. 2 Nebraska (12-0, 4-0 Big 12)
at Texas Tech (5-10, 0-4 Big 12)
Wednesday, Oct. 1 ? Lubbock, Texas (United Spirit Arena) ? 7 p.m.
Radio:          Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Stats:  Huskers.com
Live Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)
TV:               MyTV (Ch. 10.2 in Lincoln, Ch. 110 on Time Warner Cable; Ch. 17 on Charter; and Ch. 25 on DirecTV)

Colorado (8-4, 2-1 Big 12) at Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 4 ? NU Coliseum ? 3 p.m.
Radio:          Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Stats:  Huskers.com
Live Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)
TV:               None

Nebraska at Creighton (5-6, 2-2 MVC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 ? Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center Omaha) ? 5 p.m.
Radio:          Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Stats:  Huskers.com
TV:  Live on NET Television (Ch. 12 and Ch. 112) and on CBS College Sports (Ch. 613 on DirecTV; Ch. 152 on DISH)
Live Video:   Huskers.com

The second-ranked Nebraska volleyball team begins one of its busiest stretches of the year on Wednesday, as the Huskers travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders. First serve at the United Spirit Arena is at 7 p.m., and fans can listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Lindsay Peterson on the Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com. In addition, fans in Lincoln can watch Wednesday’s match live on MyTV (Ch. 10.2 in Lincoln, Ch. 110 on Time Warner), as the broadcast will feature live audio from the Husker Sports Network and a video feed from Texas Tech. It is MyTV’s first regular-season Husker volleyball broadcast.

Wednesday’s match is the first of three matches in a five-day span for the Huskers (12-0, 4-0 Big 12), who come off a four-set win at Iowa State on Saturday night. In that match, NU got a season-high 16 kills from Tara Mueller and got strong efforts from middle blockers Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper, who combined for 23 kills and six blocks. Gates totaled a career-high 11 kills against ISU, while Cooper added a season-best 12 kills on .524 hitting to help the Huskers remain unbeaten heading into October.

Texas Tech comes into Wednesday’s match with a 5-10 record and is seeking its first Big 12 win. The Red Raiders are much improved from a year ago, taking Oklahoma to five sets for the second time this year on Saturday before falling in five in Norman. The Red Raiders are led by freshman middle blocker Amanda Dowdy, who is averaging 2.89 kills per set and 0.79 blocks per set. 

Following Wednesday’s match, the Huskers return home to face Colorado on Saturday afternoon before heading to Omaha to take on the Creighton Bluejays at Qwest Center Omaha the following day.

Worth Noting
?-Wednesday’s match is a homecoming for junior middle blocker Kori Cooper, whose hometown of Amarillo, Texas, is two hours from the Texas Tech campus. Cooper has performed well against the Red Raiders during her Husker career, hitting .458 in four career matches against Texas Tech.
?-Saturday’s match marked the first time this season that both Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper  totaled at least 10 kills in a match. Both players had season bests against the Cyclones, including a career-high 11 kills for Gates.
?-Nebraska is 78-4 (.951) on the road in Big 12 action in nine seasons under Coach John Cook.
?-The Huskers are 84-3 in Big 12 action dating back to the 2003 season.
?-Two-time All-American Jordan Larson has collected four straight double-doubles to open Big 12 action, marking her longest stretch since totaling  11 in a row during the 2006 season. Nebraska is 42-1 when Larson records a double-double during her Husker career.
?-At 12-0 entering Wednesday’s match at Texas Tech, Nebraska is one of only four unbeaten teams in the country, joining Penn State (14-0), Wichita State (14-0) and Pepperdine (12-0). Miami (Fla.) and Michigan both suffered their first losses over the weekend.
?-The Huskers’ five wins over ranked opponents are the most by any team in the country, as the Huskers, Penn State and Stanford are the only teams with at least three wins over ranked teams. The Huskers are also the only  Big 12 team this year to win a road match against a ranked foe, collecting wins at No. 14 Cal Poly and No. 18 Kansas State.
?-With her solo block at Iowa State on Saturday, Jordan Larson tied Melissa Elmer for 10th on NU’s career solo blocks list with 70. Larson joins setter Greichaly Cepero as the only two non-middle blockers on the list. Nearly 30 percent of Larson’s career blocks are solo stuffs.
?-Nebraska has allowed more than 20 points only nine times in 41 sets this season.
?-The Huskers remained second in the weekly CBS College Sports/AVCA Coaches poll Monday afternoon. NU was chosen No. 2 on all 60 of the coaches ballots.
?-NU’s defense continues to be solid, as the Huskers lead the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.138). NU has held 11 of its 12 opponents under a .200 hitting team hitting percentage. Not including NU, the Huskers have already faced three of the Big 12’s top four offensive teams in the first two weeks of conference action.
?-Tara Mueller led the Huskers in kills in both matches last week, as the sophomore averaged 3.50 kills per set. Mueller reached a career high in kills for the third time this year at Iowa State on Saturday.

Scouting Texas Tech
Under Coach Nancy Todd (56-110 in six seasons), the Red Raiders are relying on a number of newcomers to turn their fortunes around. Texas Tech is led by freshman Amanda Dowdy, who is averaging a team-best 2.89 kills per set and ranks fifth in the Big 12 with a .350 hitting percentage. She is one of seven newcomers on the Red Raider roster this season. Junior college transfers Hayley Bell (2.06 kills per set) and Caroline Witte (8.35 sets per set) are two other newcomers who have given the Red Raiders a boost. In league play, Tech has pushed Oklahoma to five sets twice already, dropping the final two sets in the most recent matchup.

Series History: The Huskers have dominated the all-time series, winning 28 of the 29 meetings in the series dating back to 1979. NU is 23-1 against the Red Raiders in Big 12 action and has not lost since Texas Tech handed NU a five-set loss in 1996. NU has swept 14 of the past 15 matchups, including each of the last eight contests.

Last Meeting: Tracy Stalls tied an NCAA record by putting down 13 kills on 13 swings for a perfect 1.000 attack percentage, as the Huskers clinched a share of the Big 12 title with a 30-18, 30-10, 30-11 win.  Stalls’ perfect evening marked the second time in school history that a Husker had enjoyed a perfect attack percentage, as Megan Korver was a perfect 10-for-10 against Iowa State on Sept. 25, 1998.

The Huskers’ senior class of Stalls, Maggie Griffin, Christina Houghtelling and Sarah Pavan all starred to help NU hit .472 on the night as Griffin dished out 42 assists. Pavan had a match-high 18 kills on only 25 swings, while tying a career high with five aces.  Houghtelling chipped in 10 kills and 10 digs for a double-double.

Husker Probable Starters
MB - #17 Amanda Gates: 6-2, Sr., Columbus, Neb. - Gates is in her first year as a full-time starter for NU after being the Huskers’ top backup at both spots. She averages 1.48 kills and a team-best 1.17 blocks per set, ranking fifth in the Big 12. She has led NU in blocks five times in 2008, including twice in league play. Gates comes off one of the best matches of her career, drilling a personal-best 11 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27. It is the second time she has tied or bettered her career high this season, as Gates tied career highs in both blocks (10) and kills (eight) at Kansas State on Sept. 17. She also performed well against No. 4 USC on Aug. 31 with seven kills on .357 hitting and six blocks. Last year, she averaged 1.29 kills and 0.81 blocks per set over 16 matches. Gates appeared in 23 matches as a sophomore and had a career-high 10 blocks against San Diego in her first career start. Gates will also contend for academic honors, carrying a 3.96 GPA in communication studies.
MB - #15 Kori Cooper: 6-2, Jr., Amarillo, Texas - A preseason All-Big 12 selection, Cooper is averaging 2.25 kills on .407 hitting and 1.00 blocks per set, ranking fourth in hitting percentage and 10th in blocks. Cooper, who is 16th nationally in hitting percentage, has hit .500 or better five times in 2008, including a season-best .875 against New Mexico on Sept. 13. She had a season-best 12 kills on .524 hitting at Iowa State on Sept. 27 and totaled nine kills and a team-high five blocks versus Kansas on Sept. 24. Cooper dominated the inside at K-State on Sept. 17 with a 11 kills without an error and five stuffs. She had her best weekend of the year, averaging 2.50 kills on .636 hitting and 1.50 blocks per set at the Players Challenge to earn all-tournament honors. Last year, Cooper averaged 2.31 kills and 1.01 blocks per set, ranking seventh in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.356). Her career high for kills is 14 kills, set against Missouri. Cooper was one of NU’s starting middle blockers as a freshman, averaging 1.67 kills and 0.95 blocks per set in 30 contests. She also carries a 3.81 GPA in speech language pathology.

S - #1 Sydney Anderson: 6-0, So., Alta, Utah - Anderson is in her first season at NU after spending  2007 with the U.S. National Team in Colorado Springs. The Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, Anderson averages 11.22 assists, 2.10 digs, and 0.37 aces per set, ranking second in the league and 16th nationally in assists in this week’s NCAA rankings. She already has four double-doubles, most recently a 48-assist, 10-dig, five-block effort at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Anderson dished out a season-high 53 assists and added 10 digs while helping NU hit .319 in a win over No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. At No. 18 Kansas State, she totaled 46 assists, 10 digs and three aces. Anderson has been selected to all three all-tournament teams this fall. Anderson collected her first double-double at No. 14 Cal Poly on Sept. 5. She was a member of the U.S. A-2 National Team at the USA Open in both 2007 and 2008. Anderson began her collegiate career at Utah, earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2006. That year, she averaged 12.45 assists, 2.77 digs and 0.76 blocks per set en route to being named both the Mountain West Conference Setter and Freshman of the Year. Anderson totaled nine double-doubles on the year, including a 64-assist, 19-dig performance against Wyoming.

L - #2 Kayla Banwarth: 5-10, So., Dubuque, Iowa - Banwarth is in her first full season as NU’s libero, averaging 3.92 digs and 0.68 assists per set, ranking sixth in the Big 12 in digs. She has reached double figures in digs 10 times in 11 matches and in 18 of her 20 career starts. Banwarth had 17 digs at Iowa State on Sept. 27, her highest total since collecting a season-best 20 digs against USC on Aug. 31. She has topped NU in digs eight times, including 15 in a victory over third-ranked Texas on Sept. 20. Banwarth earned a spot on the Runza/AVCA Showcase All-Tournament team after averaging 4.85 digs per set in wins over No. 2 Stanford and No. 4 USC, including 20 against the Women of Troy. Banwarth closed the 2007 season as Nebraska’s libero and averaged 2.75 digs, 0.45 assists and 0.17 service aces per set on the year. Banwarth totaled a career-high 21 digs versus Michigan State in the NCAA Regional semifinal. She was a three-time all-state selection at Wahlert Catholic High School in Iowa and was a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection.

OPP - #4 Lindsey Licht: 6-5, So., Aurora, Colo. - Licht is in her first year as a full-time starter, averaging 2.46 kills and 0.95 blocks per set this season. She has hit .450 or better three times, including a season-high .500 against Texas on Sept. 20. In that match, she established personal bests in kills (17) and attempts (30). Licht put together a solid match  at No. 18 Kansas State with 12 digs, seven blocks and six kills. She tied her then-career high with 10 kills and added four blocks against LSU on Sept. 12.  She had a 10 kills on .450 hitting against No. 2 Stanford and had a career-high eight blocks against No. 4 USC. As a freshman, Licht appeared in 13 matches, averaging 0.59 kills per set in 25 contests. Licht was a two-time Mizuno/Volleyball Magazine All-American and was a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection.

-or- DS - #5 Rachel Schwartz: 5-9, Sr., Lincoln, Neb. -  Schwartz is one of NU’s primary defensive players, averaging 1.88 digs and 0.20 service aces per set. She totaled nine digs in a win at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Her best performance of the year came at Kansas State on Sept. 17, when she had a season-high 17 digs while handling nearly all of the Huskers’ passing duties. Schwartz had seven digs in both of the Huskers’ matches at the Players Challenge, and matched a career best with three aces against Tulane on Sept. 6. In 2007, Schwartz ranked 11th in the Big 12 in digs, averaging a career-high 3.66 digs and 0.16 service aces per set. She totaled double figures in digs in 17 matches, including a career-best 21 digs against  MU.

OH - #10  Jordan Larson: 6-2, Sr., Hooper, Neb. - A two-time All-American, Larson is one of the nation’s best outside hitters. The preseason Big 12 co-Player of the Year, Larson averages 3.68 kills, 2.93 digs and 0.41 service aces per game, ranking among league leaders in all three categories. She has a team-high five double doubles, including 19 digs and 11 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27. She was named AVCA National of the Week on Sept. 22, as she averaged 5.00 kills on .319 hitting, 2.62 digs and 0.50 blocks per set in wins over Texas and K-State. Larson had a match-high 19 kills and 10 digs in the win over the Longhorns on Sept. 20. Larson carried the Huskers to a win at K-State, matching her career best with 21 kills on .372 hitting and adding 10 digs. She was named to the all-tournament teams in each of NU’s first three events and was chosen as MVP of the Players Challenge after averaging 3.83 kills, 0.60 aces and 0.67 blocks per set. She had 11 kills and 11 digs in a win at No. 14 Cal Poly on Sept. 5 and earned AVCA Showcase All-Tournament honors after totaling 27 kills, six service aces and 19 digs in wins over No. 2 Stanford and No. 4 USC. Larson was a third-team AVCA All-American in 2007 after averaging 3.45 kills, 3.18 digs, 0.51 aces and 0.63 blocks per set. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, Larson averaged 4.13 kills and 3.50 digs per set as a sophomore and was the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top 10 in kills and digs.

OH - #19 Tara Mueller: 6-0, So., Scottsdale, Ariz. - Mueller is in her first year starting at outside hitter and averages 3.30 kills and 1.97 digs per set, ranking ninth in the league in kills per set. She has been in double figures in kills seven times, including a career-best 16 kills and 10 digs at Iowa State on Sept. 27.  Against No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20, she recorded her first career double-double with 14 kills and a career-high 11 digs. Mueller was selected to the Cal Poly all-tournament team after averaging 3.67 kills, 1.67 digs and 0.78 blocks per set. Mueller opened the year with a career-best 15 kills in a sweep of No. 2 Stanford on Aug. 29.  Mueller averaged 1.27 kills on .211 hitting, 0.95 digs and 0.36 blocks per set in 13 matches in 2007. A Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection, Mueller was the 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona and started for the U.S. Junior National Team in 2007.

Mueller, Gates Lift Huskers Past ISU
Behind career highs from Tara Mueller and Amanda Gates, No. 2 Nebraska survived Iowa State’s upset bid, posting a 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 25-18 victory on Saturday. 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. 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.

Saturday Match vs. Colorado Set for 3 p.m.
NU officials announced that Saturday’s match between the Huskers and Colorado will start at 3 p.m. The start time for that NU-CU volleyball match had been listed as TBA until the kickoff time for the Nebraska-Missouri football game was announced. The football game will kick off at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Gates Gains During Big 12 Action
One of the most overlooked aspects of the Huskers’ Big 12 success has been the play of senior Amanda Gates. The Columbus, Neb., native is averaging nearly two kills per set and hitting .338 through the first four matches, over .100 points higher than entering conference action. Gates has been at her best on the road, tying or establishing career highs in both of the Huskers’ Big 12 road wins, including 11 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27 and eight kills and 10 blocks at K-State on Sept. 17. Her 10 blocks are the most in a conference match this season.

Comparing Gates in Big 12 vs. Non-Conference
Matches  K/Set       Pct.            Bl/Set
Big 12       1.88         .338           1.19
Non-Conf.                 1.28           .219   1.17

Larson Doubles Up
Jordan Larson’s double-double against Iowa State on Sept. 27, marked her 43rd career double-double, passing Jennifer Saleamua among Husker players. The only Husker to post more double-doubles in the Big 12 era (1996-present) is Nancy Metcalf, who had 44 double doubles during her illustrious career. Larson has had four consecutive double-doubles to open Big 12 action, her longest streak since an 11-match run in 2006.

Larson is New Queen of Aces
Jordan Larson took sole possession of one of the oldest marks in the NU record book on Sept. 27, overtaking Val Novak’s school mark for career aces. Larson, who ripped three aces against Kansas, upped her career total to 164, breaking the tie she had with Novak, who totaled 161 aces between 1987 and 1990. The record for Larson is impressive considering that she has had only 27 of the 112 matches she appeared in go longer than three sets. 

Since Mary Buysse’s career ended in 1984, four players have held the school record for aces at one time or another. Novak held the mark for 18 years, and it may take a long time for someone to eclipse Larson, especially since the numerous scoring changes that have taken place since the start of the decade.

1,000-1,000 Club 
Outside hitter Jordan Larson is part of another exclusive club in Husker volleyball, as she is one of only three players in school history with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Larson joined All-American Jennifer Saleaumua and Eileen Shannon on the prestigious list and was the first Husker to reach that plateau prior to her senior campaign.

Sophomores Step Up in 2008
After replacing four All-Americans, Nebraska needed its sophomore class to step to the forefront this fall. The Huskers have started four sophomores - setter Sydney Anderson, libero Kayla Banwarth, right side hitter Linsdey Licht and outside hitter Tara Mueller - and all four have helped the Huskers to a quick start. The group had combined for only 11 starts at Nebraska last season - including 10 starts at libero by Banwarth and Mueller. The group has combined for nearly half of Nebraska’s total of kills and aces, as well as most of the Huskers’ assist and dig totals.

Anderson Sets Her Sights on Big 12
 Sydney Anderson has been an impact transfer in her first season as a Husker. The Salt Lake City, Utah, native is second in the Big 12 in assists (11.22) and seventh in service aces (0.41) while averaging nearly a kill per game. She is bidding to become the first Husker to lead the Big 12 in assists, and has lived up to the billing as the league’s top newcomer.
 
Anderson, who is 16th nationally in assists in this week’s rankings, has already claimed the league’s rookie-of-the-week accolade three times in helping NU to a 12-0 record, including wins over five ranked teams. She has been tabbed for all-tournament teams in all three of Nebraska’s tournaments and put together her best week two weeks ago in helping NU to wins over two ranked teams. Against K-State and Texas, Anderson averaged 12.39 assists, 2.50 digs and 0.88 kills a set while recording a pair of double-doubles. Anderson dished out a season-best 53 assists in NU’s win over the No. 3 Longhorns to help the Huskers hit .319 as a team. On Saturday at Iowa State, Anderson picked up her fourth double-double of the year, dishing out 48 assists and adding 10 digs along with a team-high five blocks.

Cooper Cleans Up in the Middle
Junior middle blocker Kori Cooper has been one of the Huskers’ most efficient hitters during her time at Nebraska. She has a career .362 hitting percentage in 72 matches and has ranked among the Big 12 hitting leaders in all three years. She has 25 career matches where she has hit .400 or better (with a minimum of 10 swings) and is hitting a personal-best .407 in 2008 to rank fourth in the Big 12 and 16th nationally entering Wednesdays’ match at Texas Tech.

Cooper was solid at Iowa State on Sept. 27, drilling a season-best 12 kills on .524 hitting against the Cyclones. She put together one of the  best matches of her career against No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17, when she totaled 11 kills and five blocks. Cooper is also putting together her best defensive season, averaging a 1.00 blocks per set to rank among the league leaders.

Tara Time: Mueller Adds to NU Attack
 Sophomore outside hitter Tara Mueller has stepped into the shoes left by two-time All-American Christina Houghtelling. Mueller, who made just two starts as a true freshman, has been steady offensively for NU, ranking ninth in the Big 12 with 3.30 kills per set. She has reached double figures in six of her last seven appearances, including a career-high 16 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Mueller also has a pair of double-doubles to her credit, including a 14-kill, 11-dig effort in the win over No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. In her last seven contests, she is averaging 3.63 kills per set.

KGB Spies on Opposing Hitters
 For Kayla Grace Banwarth, shutting down the opposition has been her speciality. Since moving into the starting lineup at libero at the end of last season, the sophomore has been a force in the Husker lineup. She has reached double figures in 18 of her 20 career starts, including 21 digs in last year’s NCAA Regional against No. 24 Michigan State and a season-high 20 digs in a win over No. 4 USC. She is fourth in the Big 12 in digs with 3.92 digs per set and is bidding to be only the third Husker to average at least four digs per set. Banwarth’s defensive efforts have been instrumental,