No. 2 Huskers Set to take on Buffaloes, Bluejays

This Week in Husker Volleyball 

Colorado (8-5, 2-2 Big 12) at
No. 2 Nebraska (13-0, 5-0)
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

No. 2 Nebraska at Creighton (5-6, 2-2 MVC)
Sunday, 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 returns to action this weekend, playing matches on consecutive days. The Huskers (13-0, 5-0 Big 12) host Colorado (8-5, 2-2 Big 12) Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Nebraska Coliseum before heading to Omaha to wrap-up the non-conference portion of its schedule against Creighton (5-6) Sunday evening at 5 p.m. Fans can listen to both matches on selected Husker Sports Network Stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com. Sunday’s match will be carried live on NET Television (Ch. 12 and Ch. 112) and shown nationally on CBS College Sports. Both matches will also be video streamed live on the Internet on HuskersNside.

The Huskers come off a solid effort, sweeping Texas Tech in three sets in Lubbock on Wednesday. Tara Mueller’s match-high 13 kills led a balanced NU attack that saw four players finish with at least nine kills on the night. Sydney Anderson dished out 37 assists and added four kills and a pair of aces, as the Huskers hit .337 on the night, their best team hitting effort since Sept. 12. The Huskers held Texas Tech to just 20 kills on .118 hitting, the third Big 12 opponent held under .125 hitting to date.

Colorado has been one of the surprises of the Big 12 this season, coming into Saturday’s match with an 8-5 record. The Buffaloes look to rebound after being swept at Baylor Wednesday night, but have played well at times against ranked teams, taking sets off of both Florida and Colorado State.

Creighton heads into a busy weekend of its own, as the Bluejays take on Drake Friday night before tangling with the Huskers on Sunday. Nearly 6,000 advanced tickets have been sold for the matchup between the state’s two Division I programs, while the Bluejays have split a pair of matches against Big 12 foes this season, including a sweep of Texas A&M in Omaha on Aug. 30.

Quick Sets
? Amanda Gates reached double figures in kills in each of her last two matches, the first two times she has reached double figures in her career. 
? Nebraska is a perfect 12-0 all-time at the Qwest Center since 2005.
? The Huskers have won their last 36 regular-season non-conference matches dating back to 2004.

Worth Noting
?-At 13-0 entering this weekend’s matches, Nebraska is one of only four unbeaten teams in the country, joining Penn State (15-0), Wichita State (14-0) and Pepperdine (12-0). Miami (Fla.) and Michigan both suffered their first losses last 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.
?-NU assistant Erik Sullivan goes against his former team for the first time on Saturday, as Sullivan served on the Colorado staff from 2004 until 2007.
?-NU’s defense continues to be solid, as the Huskers lead the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.137). NU has held 11 of its 13 opponents under a .200 hitting team hitting percentage.
?-Texas Tech’s 20 kills was the fewest by a Husker conference opponent in the rally-scoring era (2001-present).
?-The Huskers are 85-3 in Big 12 action dating back to the 2003 season.
?-The Huskers have won their last 47 Big 12 home matches dating back to the 2003 season and are 80-2  in Big 12 matches under John Cook.
?-Nebraska has won 67 straight home matches at the NU Coliseum dating back to September of 2004 and have dropped only five sets in the last 41 home matches in the building dating back to 2005.
?-Lindsey Licht’s .667 hitting percentage at Texas Tech on Wednesday was the best hitting percentage by a Husker this season (min. 10 swings).
?-With her solo block at Iowa State last 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 10 times in 44 sets this season.

Scouting Colorado
Under Coach Pi’i Aiu (184-143 in 11 seasons), Colorado has rebounded after an injury-plagued 2007 campaign. The Buffaloes are 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 entering Saturday’s match. Senior right-side hitter Alex Buth leads the Buffaloes with 3.06 kills per set while also averaging 2.72 digs and 0.72 blocks per set. Buth is one of four CU players averaging at least two kills per set.

Series History: Nebraska leads the all-time series 44-6 and has won 19 of the last 20 meetings. The only blemish on that mark was a five-set loss in Boulder in 2006, marking the only setback on NU’s 33-1 national title season.

Last Meeting: Jordan Larson’s 17 kills and 17 digs led three Husker double-doubles, as No. 2 Nebraska rolled past Colorado, 30-17, 30-22, 30-20. Larson paced a blistering NU attack, hitting .414 on 29 swings. Christina Houghtelling and Sarah Pavan joined Larson in posting double-doubles against the Buffaloes. Houghtelling totaled 11 kills on .421 hitting with 16 digs, while Pavan chipped in 12 kills, 10 digs and four blocks.

Scouting Creighton
The Bluejays come into this weekend with a 5-6 record after downing Missouri State and falling to No. 14 Wichita State last week. Creighton, which has three of its losses to nationally ranked teams, but swept Texas A&M earlier in the season. Jessica Houts leads the Bluejay attack with 3.64 kills and 1.05 blocks per set. Outside hitters Amanda Cvejdlik and Carolyn Decker average 2.86 and 2.46 kills per set, respectively, while Korie Lebeda dishes out 10.38 assists and averages 2.45 digs per set for the Bluejays. 

Series History: Nebraska is a perfect 10-0 all-time against Creighton, dating back to 1980. NU has swept nine of the matchups, with Creighton winning a set in the 2006 meeting at the Qwest Center. That match drew 12,112, the second-largest regular-season crowd in NCAA history at the time.

Last Meeting:  Sarah Pavan and Jordan Larson combined for 33 kills, lifting No. 1 Nebraska to a 30-23, 30-18, 30-26 sweep of Creighton in 2007.  Pavan finished with a match-high 18 kills on .394 hitting and seven digs, while Larson totaled 15 kills on .345 hitting, four service aces and three blocks. Larson stepped up in the finale, delivering four kills and serving the final four points to help NU close out the third set with a 5-0 run.

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 1.60 kills and a team-best 1.12 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 has played her best volleyball of late, averaging 3.00 kills on .432 hitting in her last two matches. She had 11 kills on .571 hitting at Texas Tech on Oct. 1 and totaled 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 2.19 kills on .407 hitting and 1.00 blocks per set, ranking third in hitting percentage and eighth 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 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 11.30 assists, 2.07 digs, and 0.39 aces per set, leading the Big 12 in assists and ranking 16th nationally 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 3.97 digs and 0.73 assists per set, ranking fifth in the Big 12 in digs. She has reached double figures in digs 11 times in 12 matches and in 19 of her 21 career starts. She had a team-high 14 digs at Texas Tech on Oct. 1. 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 2.50 kills and 0.91 blocks per set this season. She has hit .450 or better four times, including a season-high .667 with nine kills on 12 swings at Texas Tech on Oct. 1. She established personal bests in kills (17) and attempts (30), hitting .500 against No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. 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 1.93 digs and 0.18 service aces per set. She totaled eight digs in a sweep of Texas Tech on Oct. 1 and 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 3.64 kills, 2.84 digs and 0.41 service aces per game, ranking among the 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 3.38 kills and 1.92 digs per set, ranking ninth in the league in kills per set. She has been in double figures in kills eight 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.

Huskers Sweep Red Raiders
Second-ranked Nebraska used a balanced offensive attack to subdue Texas Tech, 25-13, 25-23, 25-13, Wednesday night at the United Spirit Arena.

Sophomore Tara Mueller’s 13 kills led the Huskers, as four players totaled at least nine kills in Nebraska’s eighth sweep of the season and first in league play.  Amanda Gates continued her stellar play, drilling home 10 kills on just 14 swings, while Lindsey Licht and Jordan Larson added nine kills apiece to help the Huskers out-hit Texas Tech, .337-.118, on the night. Licht hit a season-best .667 on 12 swings while Sydney Anderson dished out 37 assists and added four kills and a pair of aces. Kayla Banwarth added 14 digs, as the Huskers allowed just 20 kills, its lowest total in the rally-scoring era.

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 over two kills per set and hitting .380 through the first five league matches, over .160 points higher than entering conference action.  Gates has recorded back-to-back double figure kill totals at Iowa State and Texas Tech, setting a personal best with 11 against the Cyclones on Sept. 27. She had tied career highs with eight kills and 10 blocks at K-State on Sept. 17. Her 10 blocks match the most blocks in a conference match this season.

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 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, now has 165 career aces, betting Novak’s total of 161 set between 1987 and 1990.

The record for Larson is impressive considering that she has had only 27 of the 113 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.

Air Jordan Climbs Husker Career Lists
Larson has continued to climb up the Husker career charts this fall, jumping into the top-10 list in both kills and digs. Larson has jumped from 14th to eighth on NU’s kills list, passing All-American Janet Kruse for seventh place on Sept. 24, against Kansas.

Larson, who began the season ranked seventh in digs, has quickly jumped up the list, moving past Lindsay Peterson (1,111, 1999-02) for third place against Kansas State on Sept. 17. She now only trails a pair of teammates on the school’s career dig list. 

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 13-0 record.

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 enters the weekend leading the Big 12 in assists (11.30) and ranks fifth in service aces (0.41) while averaging nearly a kill per game.  Anderson 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 13-0 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 Sept. 27 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 73 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 Saturday’s match against Colorado.

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
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 3.38 kills per set.

She has reached double figures in seven of her last eight 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 eight contests, she is averaging a team-best 3.70 kills per set and has topped the Huskers in kills in each of the last three matches.

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 19 of her 21 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 fifth in the Big 12 in digs with 3.97 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, as Nebraska limited nine of its 13 opponents to under .150 hitting.

Larson Captures AVCA National Honor
Jordan Larson received a national honor on Sept. 23, as she was selected as the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Player of the Week. She earned the accolade after lifting NU to wins over No. 18 Kansas State and No. 3 Texas. Larson averaged 5.0 kills, 2.62 digs and 5.44 points per set, collecting a pair of double-doubles in the process. At No. 18 Kansas State, Larson matched a career high with 21 kills, while also getting 10 digs, two blocks and an ace. She followed that up with her 41st career double-double, recording a match-high 19 kills and 11 digs in the win over the Longhorns.

The honor marked the 10th time a Husker volleyball has been chosen for the  AVCA’s weekly national honor, while Larson becomes the seventh different Husker to receive the accolade.