No. 2 Huskers Host Sooners in Midweek Tussle

This Week in Husker Volleyball

Oklahoma (7-8, 3-4 Big 12) at Nebraska (15-0, 6-0 Big 12)
Wednesday, Oct. 8 ? NU Coliseum ? 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
TV: ESPNU (DirecTV Ch. 613; DISH Network Ch. 148; Time Warner Cable Ch. 235; Cox Cable Ch. 220)
Live Video: None

No. 2 Nebraska at Missouri (8-7, 2-3 Big 12)
Sunday, Oct. 12 ? Columbia, Mo. (Hearnes Center) ? Noon
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 Fox Sports Midwest (DirecTV Ch. 647; DISH Network Ch. 418)
Live Video: None

The second-ranked Nebraska volleyball team returns to a sold-out Nebraska Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 8, as it plays host to the Oklahoma Sooners. First serve for the nationally televised contest between the Huskers and Sooners is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be carried nationally on ESPNU with Justin Kutcher and Cathy Nelson calling all of the action. It is first of two regular-season appearances on ESPNU this season, as the network will also carry the Nov. 19 match at Texas in Austin. While Wednesday’s match is the first on ESPNU, it is the eighth of 15 regular-season matches televised this season.

Wednesday’s match, the 112th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum, can also be heard across the state on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com, with John Baylor, Diane Mendenhall and Dani Busboom calling all of the action.

The Huskers (15-0, 6-0 Big 12) wrapped up one of their busiest stretches of the season Sunday afternoon with a three-set sweep over Creighton, winning by scores of 25-19, 25-18, 25-19. NU, playing its third match in five days, put together one of its best defensive efforts of the year, holding the Bluejays to a season-low .091 hitting percentage and recording 65 digs. Kayla Banwarth and Jordan Larson combined for 39 digs, as NU’s total was its best in a three-set match in over two years.

Oklahoma (7-8, 3-4 Big 12) looks to break a two-match losing streak, as the Sooners fell to Iowa State in three sets in Ames on Saturday. The Sooners, who have made the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons, have five of their losses to teams in CBS College Sports/AVCA poll.

Quick Sets
?-The Huskers have held their opponents to a Big 12-low .134 hitting percentage. Only one team has hit over .200 against the Huskers in 15 matches.
?-The 12 blocks against Creighton marked the fifth time the Huskers have had at least 10 blocks in a match.
?-Nebraska is 105-6 at home during the Coliseum sellout streak.
?-Nebraska’s win over Creighton on Sunday was the Huskers’ 37th consecutive regular-season non-conference win dating back to 2004.

Worth Noting
?-At 15-0 entering Wednesday’s match with Oklahoma, the Huskers join Wichita State (16-0) and Penn State (16-0), as the nation’s only unbeaten teams.
?-The Huskers are a perfect 5-0 against ranked opponents and are just one of four teams in college volleyball with at least four wins versus ranked foes.
In addition, the Huskers are also the only  Big 12 team this year to win a road match against a ranked foe, collecting wins at then-No. 14 Cal Poly and then-No. 18 Kansas State.
?-The Huskers were ranked first in the NCAA’s initial RPI rankings released on Oct. 3. NU is also 4-0 against the other teams rated in the top 10, posting wins over Stanford (No. 2), Texas (No. 6), USC (No. 7) and Kansas State (No. 8).
As a league, the Big 12 is the only conference with three teams in the top 10, including No. 6 Texas and No. 8 Kansas State.
?-The Huskers are 86-3 in Big 12 action dating back to the 2003 season.
?-The Huskers have won their last 48 Big 12 home contests dating back to the 2003 season and are 81-2 (.976) in conference home matches under John Cook.
?-Following Saturday’s win over Colorado, Nebraska has won 69 straight home matches at the NU Coliseum dating back to September of 2004 and have dropped only five sets in the last 42 home matches in the building dating back to 2005.
?-Nebraska has allowed more than 20 points only 11 times in 50 sets this season.
?-Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz have helped the Huskers to a 111-5 (.957) record over the last four seasons. Of the 116 matches during their career, NU has been ranked first or second in the AVCA poll in 114 of those contests.
?-Wednesday’s match features two of the Big 12’s best serve-receive teams. The Huskers have allowed just 38 aces (0.76/set) to lead the Big 12, while the Sooners have allowed just 47 aces (0.77/set).

Scouting Oklahoma
Head Coach Santiago Restrepo (76-63 in five seasons at OU) has built the Sooners into one of the Big 12’s up-and-coming programs. Oklahoma burst on to the national scene in 2006, reaching the regional semfinals, and made a return trip to the NCAAs in 2007. This season, OU comes to Lincoln with a 7-8 record, including a 3-4 mark in the league. OU tested itself outside Big 12 play, taking on Cal Poly, USC, San Diego and Wichita State in a challenging non-conference schedule.

One of the youngest teams in the league, the Sooners start a trio of freshmen and have just one senior on the 2008 roster. Sophomore Francie Ekwerekwu tops OU in both kills (2.85) and hitting percentage (.307), while freshman Caitlin Higgins and junior Bridget Laplante add 2.44 and 2.31 kills per set, respectively. Freshman Brianne Barker guides the OU offense, averaging 9.05 assists and 2.65 digs per set.

Series History: Nebraska leads the all-time series, 68-6, dating back to 1975. The Huskers are 23-1 all-time against the Sooners since the Big 12 was formed, and have on the last 21 matchups. With a win on Wednesday, Nebraska can match the longest winning streak in the series, which is 22 matches between 1980 and 1987. John Cook is 16-0 against the Sooners in his coaching career.

Last Meeting: Tracy Stalls delivered 11 kills on just 13 swings, as No. 2 Nebraska swept No. 22 Oklahoma, 30-18, 30-25, 30-20 at the NU Coliseum. Stalls paced the Husker attack with 11 kills on .846 hitting, the third-highest hitting percentage in school history. Sarah Pavan led four Huskers in double figures with 12 kills, while Christina Houghtelling, Jordan Larson and Stalls added 11 kills apiece, helping NU out-hit the Sooners .317 to .122. Houghtelling collected her ninth double-double of the year with a match-high 16 digs, while also adding three blocks.

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 1.57 kills and a team-best 1.08 blocks per set, ranking fifth in the Big 12 in blocks. She has led NU in blocks six times in 2008, including three in league play. Gates has played her best volleyball of late, averaging 2.33 kills on .356 hitting in her last four 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 2.16 kills on .405 hitting and 1.02 blocks per set, ranking fourth 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. Cooper matched her season best with six blocks and added seven kills on .455 hitting against Creighton on Oct. 5. 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, set against Missouri in 2007. 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., Salt Lake City, 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 11.44 assists, 2.12 digs, and 0.38 aces per set, leading the Big 12 and ranking 10th 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 4.09 digs and 0.73 assists per set, ranking fourth in the Big 12 in digs. She has reached double figures in digs 12 times in 14 matches and in 20 of her 23 career starts following a season-high 20 digs against Creighton on Oct. 4.  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 2.58 kills and 0.90 blocks per set this season. She has hit .450 or better five times, including a season-high .667 with nine kills on 12 swings at Texas Tech on Oct. 1. Licht turned in a strong effort against Colorado on Oct. 4, finishing with 11 kills on .533 hitting. 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 1.90 digs and 0.118 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. 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 3.72 kills, 2.98 digs and 0.36 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. Larson totaled a team-high 17 kills on .355 hitting in NU’s sweep of Colorado on Oct. 4 and nearly recorded a double-double with a season-best 19 digs and nine kills at Creighton on Oct. 5. She was named AVCA National Player 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 3.39 kills and 2.04 digs per set, ranking ninth in the league in kills per set. She has been in double figures in kills nine 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.

Last Time Out: Huskers Sweep Creighton
 No. 2 Nebraska put on a defensive show, holding Creighton to a season-low .091 hitting in posting a 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 victory Sunday afternoon.

The Huskers totaled 65 digs on the afternoon and received season highs from both Kayla Banwarth (20) and Jordan Larson (19). Nebraska’s stout defensive performance was not limited to digging, as the Huskers also recorded 12 blocks ? their best three-set total of the season ? including six from Kori Cooper and four from Lindsey Licht.

While Nebraska used its defense to stifle Creighton, Tara Mueller paced the offensive charge with a match-high 15 kills and added eight digs of her own. Larson fell one kill short of a double-double with nine kills, while Sydney Anderson also fell one dig short of a double-double of her own, finishing with nine digs and 39 assists.

No Place Like Home
 Nebraska has enjoyed an overwhelming homescourt advantage across the state. The Huskers have won their last 87 matches inside the state’s borders dating back to 2004, including matches in Lincoln (73), Omaha (13) and North Platte (1).  With the Oct. 4 win over Colorado, the Huskers extended their home winning streak to 78 matches - the second-longest streak in NCAA history. It is the longest home win streak since Penn State won 87 consecutive home matches between 1995 and 2000.  NU is the only program to have a pair of home win streaks of at least 60 matches, as Nebraska won 63 consecutive home matches between 1999 and 2002.

A Husker First
 Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz accomplished a first for the Husker program in 2008. They became the first Husker senior class in program history to go an entire career without losing a regular-season non-conference match.
 ?-NU went 34-0 in non-conference matches over the last four years. The Huskers won 16 matches against ranked teams, including eight matches against top-five teams.
 ?-Nebraska’s seniors are a combined 111-5 over the last four years, posting three 30-win seasons and helping the Huskers to a national title in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2005.

Sophomores Step Up in 2008
After replacing four All-Americans, Nebraska needed its sophomore class to step to the forefront this fall. Nebraska lost over 60 percent in kills and total points from 2007. To replace those losses, the Huskers have relied on a quartet of sophomore starters - 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 15-0 record. Prior to this season, the group had combined for 11 starts at Nebraska in 2007 - including 10 starts at libero by Banwarth and Mueller. The group has performed admirably combined for nearly half of Nebraska’s total of kills and aces, as well as most of the Huskers’ assist and dig totals.

Larson and Mueller Provide 1-2 Punch
Nebraska’s outside hitting duo of Jordan Larson and Tara Mueller have been one of the Big 12’s top outside hitter combinations. The pair combines for 7.11 kills per set and Nebraska is one of only two schools in the Big 12 with two players among the Big 12 leaders in kills per set (KSU’s Rita Liliom and Natalya Korobkova).

Either Larson or Mueller have led the Huskers in kills in all 15 matches this season, as both players have led NU in kills, including ties, in eight matches.

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 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 115 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.

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 and from eighth to third on NU’s career digs chart. She now only trails a pair of former teammates on the school’s career dig list.

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 in 2007, becoming the first Husker to reach the 1,000-1,000 plateau prior to her senior campaign.

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.

Anderson Sets Her Sights on Big 12
Sydney Anderson has made an immediate impact in her first season as a Husker. The Salt Lake City, Utah, native enters the week tied for the Big 12 lead in assists (11.44) and is fifth in service aces.  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 10th nationally in assists in this week’s rankings, has claimed the league’s rookie-of-the-week accolade three times

 She has been tabbed for all-tournament teams in all three of Nebraska’s tournaments and is second to Jordan Larson with four double-doubles, including three against ranked teams. Anderson has also helped NU rank among the league leaders in hitting percentage, working with a lineup that lost three of its top four hitters from a year ago. 

Anderson dished out a season-best 53 assists in NU’s win over the No. 3 Longhorns on Sept. 17, helping 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.