Huskers Sweep Tech on Senior Night

Lincoln - Each of Nebraska's three seniors contributed heavily in the third-ranked Husker volleyball team's 25-18, 25-13, 25-12 sweep of Texas Tech on Saturday night in front of the 118th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum.

On Senior Night, Nebraska natives Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz helped pace NU in nearly every statistical category. Larson led NU with 15 kills, while Gates added 10 kills and a team-high four blocks. Schwartz tied Larson and sophomore Kayla Banwarth for team-high honors with seven digs. Gates hit .692 on the night, while Larson attacked at a .355 clip, helping Nebraska hit .400 on the evening.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 26-2 overall and 17-2 in Big 12 play and can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title with a win at Baylor next Saturday. Texas Tech (5-24, 0-18 Big 12), hit just .039 on the night, the second-lowest total by a Nebraska opponent this season.

The win helped Nebraska extend its home winning streak to 85 matches, as Nebraska’s seniors close the regular-season with a 70-0 home record during their career, and could potentially become the first Husker senior class to be perfect at home.

Nebraska got off to a quick start, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back in a 25-18 victory. The Huskers hit .312 as a team, as middle blockers Amanda Gates and Jordan Wilberger combined for seven kills on just 10 swings and three blocks. Gates pounded home five kills on seven swings, while Wilberger had two kills and two stuffs, both in a game-opening spurt. The Huskers got off to a quick start, thanks to the defensive efforts of Wilberger. The redshirt freshman combined on a pair of early blocks to help the Huskers jump to a 6-1 lead. Nebraska continued to extend the margin, pushing the lead to 11-5 after a Jordan Larson ace and forcing Texas Tech to take a timeout. The Red Raiders clawed back, pulling to within 15-13 after an Amanda Dowdy kill, but would not any closer. Larson slammed two straight kills to ingite a run of five unanswered points for Nebraska, taking a 20-13 lead after Lindsey Licht and Gates. Tech got to within 21-16, but a kill from Gates and two straight kills from Mueller ended the Red Raiders’ hopes of taking the opener.

The Huskers got their offense fired up in the second set, hitting .542 as a team in posting a 25-13 victory. Lindsey Licht and Larason had five kills apiece for the Big Red, who committed just two hitting errors. Trailing 4-2, Nebraska used an 11-2 spurt to take a 13-6 lead after a Tara Mueller kill. Nebraska eventually stretched the lead to 17-8 after a Wilberger kill before Texas Tech came back. The Red Raiders pulled to within 19-12 after a Jenn Herrell service ace, but a kill from Licht and a Banwarth ace helped NU push the lead back to nine points, at 21-12, as NU cuised to a 12-point win.

Nebraska’s defense clamped down in the finale, limiting the Red Raiders to just four kills on -.133 hitting in a 25-12 win. Larson totaled seven of her 15 kills in the finale, as NU hit .379 in the set and totaled three digs. Leading 10-8, the Huskers took control with a run of five straight points, taking a 15-8 lead after a Red Raider hitting error. Tech was within 19-11, but three straight Larson swings began a match-ending 6-1 spurt, with Gates and Mueller combining on a block at match point.

Nebraska closes the regular season next Saturday, when the Huskers travel to Waco, Texas, for a match with the Baylor Bears. NU can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 Conference title with a win in Waco. The match will be carried on selected Husker Sports Network stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha.

Rachel Schwartz
On the match
“It was hard. It possibly could be the last time we play in the Coliseum and it’s been my home now for four years. So to say goodbye to it and goodbye to all the people who make it great is hard.”

On the seniors
“Our relationship has grown so much this year. We’ve always been friends previous years, but this year has really made us really get to know each other and it’s been an amazing journey together. That’s what we’ve wanted. We wanted to be close and show everyone else what really matters.”

Her memories of Nebraska
“The wins and the losses are great, but at the end of the day it’s the friendships with the people around you that are really going to matter. You bring home a National Championship and that’s great, but you don’t really remember the games, you remember the people that have made it so great.”

On Jordan Wilberger
“It’s funny because you want everyone to feel like they’re a huge part of the team whether they’re on the court or off the court.  Her role just changed, so she knows now she has a really big role and big shoes to fill, but we want her to also know that it’s not about playing time. We’ll love her no matter what happens.”

Coach John Cook
“Considering what happened Wednesday with the Texas match and losing (Kori) Cooper and the emotions of senior night, I thought our players came out a little shaky, but they settled down and did a really nice job. It was a big jump to go from Texas to Texas Tech in style with play and athletes. I thought we did a nice job and got it done tonight and I think they felt good about their effort to help set up the ending with the seniors.”

On the seniors
“It’s incredibly difficult with the seniors. All day today you could see the emotions inside of them. I see them every day, so you could tell Jordan (Larson) was very, very emotional. She usually has like ice in her veins, but started this match tonight very emotional. And Amanda (Gates), of course, just cries all the time. And Rachel (Schwartz) kept saying, ?I know I’m going to lose it tonight at the end.’ I thought Amanda had a great match tonight and Jordan made some great plays and served Texas Tech off the court and Rachel was her usual self, so what a great night for those three. Of course, where else in college volleyball does that happen where 4,000 people stay here and give those guys a great send out. It’s incredible.”

On his emotions
“You’re emotions are flying all over the place. For me, it was very hard for me to be focused tonight because a lot of times as a coach you feel what your players are feeling. I knew they were very emotional today. They have invested so much in this program and done so much and to know this is going to be their last match in the Coliseum, you’re emotions are all over the place.”

Jordan Larson
Overall
“It was a little shaky at first, but I think that’s going to come with missing Kori Cooper. We really haven’t had a chance to work with Jordan Wilberger in there in yesterday’s practice and we didn’t really even practice on Thursday, so we’re still working on some things. I think this next week, with a bye this week, just getting into the gym and practicing together and getting in the groove again is really going to help us get the energy to finish the Big 12 and then get into the tournament.”

On the match
“I thought we finished the match well, and I thought we had a great serving night. I think we had, like, seven aces, so it was a great serving night. I think that’s the one thing we’ve been doing well.”

On Jordan Wilberger
“I think our team close-knit that we don’t have to do anything extra. We asked her how she was feeling and she was confident and that’s just how we expected her to be. All we could do is pump her up and really encourage her to do her best. It’s all we had to do.”

On the emotions of the night
“It was like you wanted to have your emotions out in your final game, but we needed to win this game, too. It was so hard to not focus on senior night tonight, but focus on the match. We were trying to have a happy medium, and as you can see in my game one it wasn’t so hot. My emotions were a little out of whack, but I think I finished the match well.”

Amanda Gates
Overall
“It’s just incredible being a Nebraska girl and growing up just dreaming of this and it all comes true. You see the journey end, but we still have a couple of games left. I know that, but I blocked it all out today so I wouldn’t get emotional about it, but it all just let go tonight.”

On her career
“I have enjoyed the journey and I hope that people will always know that I gave everything that I had and I put my whole heart and soul into this. It’s been an incredible journey and it’s been so worth it. It is great to see all the little fans and you just have to give them an extra smile. It’s for all those people too who can’t come and they just have those big dreams too, but they can reach them no matter what they do. You’re just a role model and that’s what I love doing.”

On what she will remember most
“Definitely the fan base is amazing her at the Coliseum, and you’ll never get anything like that anywhere else. That’s a great tradition that Nebraska holds. It’s something that’s so special that you’ll never forget how incredible it was.”