Huskers Take on No. 1 Penn State

2008 NCAA Championships
NCAA National Semifinals:
No. 3 Texas (29-3) vs. No. 2 Stanford (30-3)
Thursday, Dec. 18 ? Qwest Center Omaha ? 6 p.m.
TV: ESPNU (Ch. 614; DISH Network Ch. 148; Time Warner Cable Ch. 235; Cox Cable Ch. 220)
Live Stats: NCAASports.com

NCAA Regional Semifinals: 
No. 4 Nebraska (31-2) at No. 1 Penn State (36-0)
Thursday, Dec. 18 ? Qwest Center Omaha ? 8 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: NCAASports.com
TV: Live on ESPN2, ESPNU (Ch. 614; DISH Network Ch. 148; TW Cable Ch. 235; Cox Cable Ch. 220) and ESPN360.com

NCAA Championship:  Thursday’s Winners
Saturday, Dec. 20 ? Qwest Center Omaha ? 7 p.m.
Live Stats: NCAASports.com
TV: Live on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com

The Nebraska volleyball team looks for its fourth national title in school history, as the Huskers travel to Qwest Center Omaha for the 2008 NCAA Championship. The fourth-ranked Huskers are making their 11th trip to the National Semifinals and third in the last four seasons. One of the largest crowds in NCAA history is expected, as nearly 17,000 tickets have been sold for this weekend’s matches.

Thursday’s first semifinal features No. 2 Stanford (30-3) and third-ranked Texas (29-3) with first serve coming at 6 p.m. The Huskers (31-2) will be in the evening’s second semifinal match, as they take on top-ranked and undefeated Penn State (36-0). That match will begin at 8 p.m. or 30 minutes following the first semifinal.  Thursday’s winners will square off Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the  national title match. All three matches this weekend will be televised by either ESPN2 or ESPNU with Beth Mowins and Karch Kiraly calling all the action.

All of Nebraska’s matches this weekend in Omaha will be carried across the state on the IMG Husker Sports Network with John Baylor, Diane Mendenhall and Dani Busboom calling all of the action. Fans can listen on flagship stations B107.3 FM in Lincoln, Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington.

The Huskers have followed a similar script to their most recent national title two years ago. NU went four sets in its opener, swept its next two matches and then fell behind 2-0 in the regional title match, only to see the Huskers regroup and win the last three sets. Regional Most Outstanding Player Tara Mueller led the Huskers against fifth-ranked Washington with a career-high 24 kills and 16 digs, while Jordan Larson added 21 kills, 18 digs, four blocks and a pair of aces, including a service ace on match point to return Nebraska to Omaha.

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Penn State, 11-5, with seven of the meetings coming in the NCAA Tournament. NU has won the last two matchups, including a 3-0 sweep of Penn State in 2007. The Huskers will be looking to knock off a No. 1 team for the first time since defeating UCLA on Sept. 6, 1990.

Worth Noting
?-The 2008 season marks only the second time since the bracket went to 64 teams that the top four seeds all advanced to the national semifinals. The other time it occurred was in 2006, the previous time the championship was in Omaha.

?-Since 1986, every four-year senior class at Nebraska except one (1994) has been to at least one national semifinal during their Husker career.

?-NU is making its 11th NCAA National Semifinal appearance (1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008). The Huskers are 6-4 in their previous nine national semifinals, including a 3-1 mark under John Cook.

?-Nebraska’s 11 National Semifinal appearances tie UCLA for second all-time. Only Stanford, which is making its 18th National Semifinal appearance, has been there more times than the Huskers. Nebraska’s 77 NCAA Tournament wins is also the second-highest total in NCAA history. 

?-Nebraska is 13-1 against the NCAA Tournament field, trailing only Penn State among teams with more than 10 matches against NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

?-The Huskers’ streak of 15 straight NCAA Regionals is the longest active in the country. Only three programs (NU, UCLA and Penn State) have advanced to an NCAA Regional in each of the past six seasons. In addition, the Huskers are the only team in the country to play in the last five NCAA Regional finals.

?-The Huskers are 8-1 in matches with ranked foes this season, including wins against fellow national semifinalists Stanford and Texas. NU is 94-14 (.870) versus ranked opponents under John Cook. The Huskers are 18-7 (.720) against top-five teams under Cook, including a 14-3 mark over the last four years.

?-The Big 12 has turned in its most impressive showing in the NCAA Tournament, going 10-2 and placing two teams in the national semifinals for the first time in league history. The Big 12’s two national semifinalists comprise half of this weekend’s field, as no other conference had more than one. The 2008 season marked the first time that three Big 12 teams (Iowa State, Nebraska and Texas) have advanced to the regional finals.

?-NU reached the 30-win plateau for the fifth consecutive year and the 20th time in school history on Dec. 12. The Huskers are the only program in the nation to win 30-or-more matches in each of the last five years. Among Big 12 schools, NU has won 30 or more matches 10 times in the last 13 years, while the other 10 teams in the league have accomplished the feat once - Kansas State in 2003.

?-NU will be facing a No. 1 team for the first time since 1999 in the national semifinals. Ironically, that team was also Penn State, which defeated the Huskers in four sets at the NACWAA Showcase in Lincoln. NU has not defeated a No. 1 team since 1990.

?-The Huskers are 2-0 against higher ranked teams this season, knocking off No. 2 Stanford and No. 4 USC at the AVCA Showcase.

?-Of Nebraska’s 13 wins in the Qwest Center, eight have come against top-five teams. NU is 3-0 in the building against Stanford (2005 and 2006 and 2008) and 1-0 against Penn State (2007).

?-The Huskers have swept 21 of their 33 opponents during the 2008 season and are now 2-0 in five-set matches following Saturday’s win at Washington.

?-NU finished 14-0 at the NU Coliseum in 2007, which marked the 18th time - and sixth time in nine years - that NU has had a perfect home record.

?-The Huskers lead the Big 12 in kills (14.60/set), assists (13.44/set) and opponent hitting percentage (.143) and also rank second in hitting percentage (.271), blocks (2.62/set) and service aces (1.34/set).

?-Two-time All-American Jordan Larson is on pace to become the first Husker to average more than three kills and digs per set in a career. She enters the NCAA National Semifinals averaging 3.60 kills and 3.16 digs per set in 133 career matches.

?-The Huskers have won at least 20 matches every year in program history (a total of 34 years). The second-longest active streak in the Big 12 is five by Texas.

?-Nebraska has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 27 years. Missouri owned the second-longest active streak with eight, but did not qualify in 2008.

?-Prior to Saturday’s match against Washington, the last time two Huskers had at least 20 kills in a match was in the 2006 NCAA Gainesville Regional Final (Larson, 21; Sarah Pavan, 20)

??Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz will go for their 128th career win Thursday against Penn State. The class is an impressive 127-7 at Nebraska over the last four years. The NU seniors - along with the seniors from both Stanford and Penn State - began their college careers at the 2005 AVCA Showcase in the Qwest Center. 

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 for three years. The honorable-mention All-Big 12 pick averages 1.78 kills and a team-high 1.14 blocks per set, ranking fourth in the league in blocks and sixth in hitting percentage (.334). Gates had eight kills and five blocks against Michigan and had seven stuffs in the regional final against Washington. She had 11 kills in the first-round win over Liberty, one of five matches with at least 10 kills this year. Gates also had 11 kills on .450 hitting against No. 4 Texas and 11 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Gates has led NU in blocks 16 times, including a career-high 10 stuffs at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17. Last year, she averaged 1.29 kills and 0.81 blocks per set in 16 contests. Gates appeared in 23 matches as a sophomore and had 10 blocks against San Diego in her first career start in 2006. Gates is a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, carrying a 3.96 GPA in communication studies.

MB - #6 Jordan Wilberger: 6-1, R-Fr., Scottsbluff, Neb. - Wilberger has started at middle blocker during the postseason, averaging 1.11 kills and 0.96 blocks per set in 11 matches. She has averaged 1.27 kills and 1.00 blocks per set during the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by seven kills on .700 hitting against Liberty on Dec. 5. Wilberger turned in a solid effort at Baylor with a career-high eight blocks to lead NU in stuffs. Wilberger played the majority of the final set at No. 4 Texas, coming up with a pair of kills and a block. She redshirted in 2007 after earning second-team all-state honors as a senior, delivering 311 kills and 158 blocks to help Scottsbluff to a 25-9 record and state tournament appearance in 2006.

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. A first-team All-Big 12 and all-region selection and the league’s Newcomer of the Year, Anderson averages 11.66 assists, 2.09 digs and 0.30 aces per set, ranking second in the Big 12 in assists and sixth in service aces. She is seventh in the country in assists and has eight double-doubles on the year, including three in the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the Seattle Regional All-Tournament team, setting a season best with 57 assists and adding 13 digs in the win over Washington. She has helped NU rank in the top 15 nationally in kills, assists and hitting percentage, helping the Huskers hit .300 or better 15 times. She had 45 assists and four blocks in NU’s Big 12 clinching win at Baylor on Nov. 29. Anderson had 42 assists, nine digs and four kills, while helping the Huskers hit .447 at Kansas on Nov. 15. She had 42 assists and two blocks in helping NU hit .352 against No. 15 K-State on Nov. 8. Anderson dished out a season-high 53 assists and added 10 digs while helping NU hit .319 versus No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. She 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 MWC Setter and Freshman of the Year.

L - #2 Kayla Banwarth: 5-10, So., Dubuque, Iowa - Banwarth is in her first full season as NU’s libero, averaging 4.18 digs and 0.84 assists per set, ranking third in the Big 12 in digs. She has reached double figures in digs in 28 matches and has topped NU in digs 25 times this season. Banwarth collected her fifth 20-plus dig effort with 22 digs while tying bests in service aces (three) and assists (five) against No. 5 Washington on Dec. 13. Banwarth enjoyed a career night at Texas A&M on Nov. 5, setting personal bests in both digs (27) and aces (three). It is one of 12 matches with at least 15 digs, including 22 digs at Baylor on Nov. 29. She also had 20-dig efforts at Creighton on Oct. 4 and against USC on Aug. 31. 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. Banwarth closed the 2007 season as Nebraska’s libero and averaged 2.75 digs, 0.45 assists and 0.17 service aces per set. 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 NU’s starter on the right side, averaging 2.55 kills and 0.93 blocks per set. Licht has hit .450 or better six times, including a season-high .667 with nine kills on 12 swings at Texas Tech on Oct. 1, and has reached double figures in kills in 13 matches. She was named to the Seattle Regional All-Tournament team, averaging 2.12 kills and 1.38 blocks per set, leading NU with six stuffs against No. 19 Michigan on Dec. 12. Licht had 12 kills on .556 hitting and four blocks in NU’s sweep of UAB on Dec. 6. She added 12 kills and six blocks in the regular-season finale at Baylor on Nov. 29. Licht turned in a strong effort in the win over Iowa State, coming up with 12 kills on .435 hitting and two blocks. She had team bests in both kills (14) and blocks (six) at Colorado on Oct. 29. She established personal bests in kills (17) and attempts (30), hitting .500 against No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. Licht had 10 kills on .450 hitting against No. 2 Stanford and had a career-high eight blocks against No. 4 USC. As a freshman, 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 NU’s starting defensive specialist, averaging 2.04 digs, 0.25 assists and 0.12 service aces per set. She has reached double figures in digs six times this year, including a season-best 17 at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17, and 16 in the regional final at No. 5 Washington on Dec. 13. She also reached double figues at Texas A&M  (15) on Nov. 5, at No. 4 Texas (11) on Nov. 19 and at Baylor (11) on Nov. 29. Her best performance of 2008 came at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17, when she had a season-high 17 digs while handling nearly all of the Huskers’ passing duties as NU’s libero against the Wildcats. 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 17 times in 2007, including a career-best 21 digs against Missouri.

OH - #10  Jordan Larson: 6-2, Sr., Hooper, Neb. - A two-time All-American, Larson averages 3.95 kills, 3.17 digs and 0.34 service aces per game, ranking among the league leaders in aces (second), points (4.61, second), kills (fourth) and digs (10th). Larson was chosen as the Big 12’s Player of the Year, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time that any player has earned both honors in one year. She has a team-high 16 double-doubles, including 10 of NU’s last 12 contests. Larson was named to the Seattle Regional all-tournament team following a 21-kill, 18-dig effort against No. 5 Washington on Dec. 13. Larson averaged 4.43 kills and 3.00 digs per set in last weekend’s opening rounds, picking up a pair of double-doubles. Larson helped NU clinch a share of the Big 12 title at Baylor on Nov. 29, finishing with 20 kills and 18 digs. She led NU in both kills (15) and digs (16) at Texas on Nov. 19. Larson totaled 17 kills, 18 digs and a career-high eight blocks in the win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. She was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Oct. 27, averaging 4.17 kills and 2.67 digs per set in sweeps of Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Larson had 13 kills on .407 hitting in a sweep of Texas A&M on Oct. 22. 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 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. 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 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Larson averaged 4.13 kills and 3.50 digs per set 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. - A first-team All-Big 12 and all-region pick, Mueller is in her first year starting at outside hitter and averages 3.53 kills and 2.39 digs per set. She ranks sixth in the league in kills and seventh in points. Mueller has seven double-doubles, including a career-high 24 kills and 16 digs against No. 5 Washington on Dec. 13. The Most Outstanding Player of the Seattle Regional, Mueller averaged 4.00 kills and 3.25 digs per set last weekend. She had 15 kills and six digs in NU’s first-round win over Liberty. Mueller established a then- career best in kills with 20 kills on a personal best .613 hitting. Mueller had 19 kills and 16 digs in the five-set win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. Mueller had a strong effort against Texas A&M on Oct. 22, drilling 13 kills and setting career bests in both hitting percentage (.478) and blocks (five). She 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 15 kills in a sweep of No. 2 Stanford on Aug. 29.  As a freshman, Mueller averaged 1.27 kills and 0.95 digs per set. 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 Weekend
vs. No. 19 Michigan: No. 4 Nebraska put on a serving and blocking clinic, sweeping No. 19 Michigan, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18 in the NCAA Seattle Regional semifinals. Nebraska out-blocked Michigan, 11-2, as Lindsey Licht and Amanda Gates combined for 11 blocks and 15 kills. Licht led the Huskers with six blocks, while Gates had five blocks, including a personal-best three solo stuffs, and added eight kills on .615 hitting.
NU hit an efficient .347 as a team with five starters recording at least seven kills. Sydney Anderson guided the attack with 29 assists and a team-best 11 digs Nebraska also dominated at the service line, racking up eight aces, including three from Anderson and two from Tara Mueller, who also had eight kills and 10 digs.

at Washington: Behind a career-high 24 kills from Regional Most Outstanding Player Tara Mueller, No. 4 Nebraska kept its magical season alive with a 3-2 victory over No. 5 Washington. The Huskers dropped the first two sets, 25-14, 25-23 before rallying to win the final three sets by scores of 25-17, 26-24 and 15-13.

Mueller turned in an amazing performance, shattering her previous career high of 20 set against Kansas State on Nov. 8, and added 16 digs, as the Huskers advanced to their 11th national semifinal in program history. She was one of two Huskers to eclipse the 20-kill mark, as Jordan Larson matched her career high with 21 kills and added 18 digs and four blocks for NU, which won a regional on an opponent’s home court for the first time in program history.

The Huskers trailed 9-3 in the finale before using a nine-point run, keyed by the serving of libero Kayla Banwarth. The sophomore ran off eight straight points from the service line, as NU took a 12-9 lead on a block from Amanda Gates and Lindsey Licht. The Huskies pulled even at 13, but an attack error put the Huskers at match point before Larson ripped her second ace of the match.

Four Named AVCA All-Central Region
Four Nebraska volleyball players were honored Dec. 10, as they were named first-team All-Central Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The players included senior outside hitter Jordan Larson, junior middle blocker Kori Cooper, sophomore setter Sydney Anderson and sophomore outside hitter Tara Mueller. Nebraska’s four first-team selections were the most in the region, as all four Huskers are now under consideration for All-America honors, which will be announced on Dec. 17. It was the third honor for Larson and the first for Anderson, Cooper and Mueller.

Larson Leads Big 12 Honors
Two-time All-American Jordan Larson led five Nebraska volleyball players who earned Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches on Dec. 1. Larson became the first player in Big 12 history to win two league awards in one year, as she was chosen as both the Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Larson paced a Huskers’ contingent that also included the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in sophomore setter Sydney Anderson and the Big 12 Coach of the Year in John Cook. The Huskers placed a league-high five members on the All-Big 12 teams, including first-team selections Larson, Anderson, Kori Cooper and Tara Mueller. Senior Amanda Gates rounded out NU’s honorees, as she was named honorable-mention by the league’s coaches.

It is the fourth All-Big 12 award for Larson and the first for Anderson, Cooper, Mueller and Gates. Cook was chosen as the league’s top coach for the third time in his nine years at Nebraska (also 2001 and 2005) after guiding the Huskers to an 18-2 league mark and a share of the Big 12 title. The Huskers have won or shared the last five Big 12 titles and have captured eight league crowns in Cook’s nine years at Nebraska.

Larson and Mueller Provide 1-2 Punch
Nebraska’s outside hitting duo of Jordan Larson and Tara Mueller has been one of the nation’s top outside hitting duos. The pair combines for 7.48 kills per set, as Nebraska and Texas A&M are the only two Big 12 schools with multiple hitters in the top 10 in kills.

The Husker duo joins Penn State’s All-American duo of Megan Hodge and Nicole Fawcett as the only pair of hitters averaging more than 3.50 kills apiece for ranked teams.

Either Larson or Mueller has led the Huskers in kills in 32 of 33 matches this season, as Larson has topped NU 21 times, while Mueller has enjoyed team-high honors in 13 contests. They have tied on two occasions, most recently against Texas A&M on Oct. 22. Lindsey Licht is the only other Husker to lead NU in kills in a match, as she totaled 14 at Colorado on Oct. 29.

Three Huskers Named Academic All-Americans
Three Nebraska players were honored on Nov. 24, as Kori Cooper, Amanda Gates and Jordan Larson were chosen to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America team.

Gates and Cooper were both chosen as first-team selections while Larson was a second-team honoree. NU was the only school with two first-team selections and three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2008. The two first-team selections marked the third time in the last four years that Nebraska has placed multiple members on the six-member first team.

Gates earned the first honor of her career, as she carries a 3.96 GPA in communication studies. A two-time academic All-Big 12 pick, Gates has been active in NU’s community outreach efforts and was selected to the Big 12 Good Works Team the past two years. On the court, Gates is averaging 1.78 kills and 1.14 blocks per set, ranking among league leaders in blocks (fourth) and hitting percentage (.334, sixth).

Cooper joined Gates on the six-member first-team after putting together a solid year. A speech-language pathology major with a 3.82 GPA, Cooper is a two-time academic All-Big 12 pick, Cooper averaged 2.09 kills and 0.88 blocks per set, ranking second in the Big 12 with a .396 hitting percentage before suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 19.

Larson earned the first CoSIDA Academic All-America honor of her career, as she was chosen to the second team. A three-time academic All-Big 12 pick, she carries a 3.31 GPA in communication studies and will graduate in December. Larson ranks among the conference leaders in kills, service aces, digs and points.

The 2008 Senior Class
Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz has already forged an impressive legacy. The trio has helped Nebraska win four straight Big 12 titles and reached three national semifinals during their careers.

?-The group became the first Husker senior class in program history to go an entire career without losing a regular-season non-conference match. They went 34-0, including 16 wins over ranked teams and a perfect 8-0 versus top-five foes.

?-They became the first senior class to go undefeated at home, going a perfect 72-0 in home contests. They have helped NU tie the NCAA record for most consecutive home wins with 87. 

?-They are just the fourth class of Huskers to win four consecutive Big 12 volleyball titles, joining the 2001, 2002 and 2007 senior classes.

?-The 2008 seniors are now 127-7 (.948) over the last four years, posting four 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 of its kills and total points from 2007.

To offset those losses, the Huskers have relied on a quartet of sophomore starters - setter Sydney Anderson, libero Kayla Banwarth, right side hitter Lindsey Licht and outside hitter Tara Mueller - and all four have helped the Huskers to a 31-2 record, an appearance in the national semifinals and a Big 12 title.

Prior to this season, the group combined for 11 starts at Nebraska - 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’ assists and digs.

No Place Like Home
Nebraska has enjoyed an overwhelming home court advantage across the state. The Huskers have won their last 96 matches inside the state’s borders dating back to 2004, including matches in Lincoln (82), Omaha (13) and North Platte (1).

With the victory over UAB on Dec. 6, the Huskers tied the NCAA record for most consecutive home wins with 87. The total matched Penn State’s streak of 87 consecutive home wins 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. The Huskers are 500-32 (.940) all-time at home and have lost just six home matches this decade.

Air Jordan Climbs Husker Career Lists
Jordan Larson has continued to climb the Husker career charts, jumping into the top 10 in kills, digs and solo blocks during the 2008 campaign. Larson has moved from 14th to fifth on NU’s kills list, passing Eileen Shannon with her 20 kills in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29.  In digs, Larson moved from eighth to second this year, passing former teammate Dani Busboom against K-State on Nov. 8. Larson now only trails another former teammate, as Jennifer Saleaumua holds the school mark with 1,568. Larson is also seventh on NU’s career solo blocks list, joining Greichaly Cepero as the only non-middle blockers on the top-10 list.

Larson is New Queen of Aces
Jordan Larson took sole possession of one of the oldest marks in the NU record book earlier this season, as she overtook Val Novak’s school mark for career aces. Larson now has 185 career aces, surpassing Novak’s total of 161 set between 1987 and 1990.

The record for Larson is impressive considering that only 34 of the 133 matches she played has gone 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 several scoring changes have occurred 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 Jennifer Saleaumua and Eileen Shannon on the prestigious list in 2007, as Larson became the first Husker to reach the 1,000-1,000 plateau prior to her senior campaign.

Larson is now poised to become the first player at Nebraska to ever average more than 3.00 kills and 3.00 digs in an entire career. Larson is currently at 3.60 kills and 3.16 digs per set entering Thursday’s national semifinal match against Penn State.

Larson Doubles Up
With double-doubles in 10 of her last 12 matches, two-time All-American Jordan Larson raised her career total to 54. That is the most by a Husker in the Big 12 era, breaking the previous high of 44 established by three-time All-American Nancy Metcalf from 1997 to 2001. Larson has a team-best 16 double-doubles this season. The Huskers are 15-1 in 2008 and have won 52 of 54 matches when Larson earns a double-double.

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 national semifinals ranking second in the Big 12 in assists (11.66) and sixth in aces (0.30). She has helped the Huskers hit .300 or better 15 times, including .350 or better in five of the last 10 contests.

A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Anderson is making a strong bid to become the first Husker to ever lead the Big 12 in assists, an impressive fact considering that NU has had three multiple All-American setters in Big 12 Conference history (Fiona Nepo, Greichaly Cepero and Rachel Holloway). In fact, the last Husker to lead a conference in assists is current Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson in 1995.

Anderson has lived up to her billing as the league’s top newcomer, earning the weekly honor five times in 2008 and being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She is seventh in the country in assists and has helped NU rank in the top 15 nationally in kills, assists and hitting percentage despite losing a trio of All-America hitters from 2007.

She was tabbed for all-tournament teams in all three of Nebraska’s tournaments and has eight double-doubles, including five versus ranked foes. Anderson established season bests in assists (57) and digs (13) in the Huskers’ regional final win over Washington to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. She has dished out at least 50 assists in four matches, including a then-season high 53 assists in NU’s win over No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20.

Tara’s Just Getting Better
Outside hitter Tara Mueller has performed admirably replacing two-time All-American and former AVCA National Player of the Year Christina Houghtelling. Mueller is one of the Big 12’s top outside hitters, ranking seventh in the league with 3.53 kills per set, while chipping in 2.39 digs and 0.43 blocks per set.

Mueller, who has steadily increased her numbers each month, increasing her kills per game each month during the regular season. Mueller had 15 kills in NU’s NCAA opener, but took just 16 swings against UAB. She made the most of her attempts, finishing with six kills on .375 hitting. Mueller then starred in the Seattle Regional, averaging over four kills per set en route to regional Most Outstanding Player honors. She had 24 kills and 16 digs in NU’s regional final win over Washington, setting personal bests in both marks. Her previous high in kills was a 20-kill performance against No. 15 Kansas State on Nov. 8. It was Mueller’s seventh double-double of the year, as she is one of three Huskers with at least seven double-doubles.

Gates Gains During Big 12 Action
One of the most overlooked aspects of the Huskers’ Big 12 success has been the play of middle blocker Amanda Gates. The Columbus, Neb., native is averaging nearly two kills per set and finished among the conference leaders in both blocks (1.10, fourth) and hitting percentage (.376, second) in league play. Gates raised her totals significantly in conference play, including an amazing 151 point jump in hitting percentage, helping her earn honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors.

Gates continued her late-season surge in the postseason, averaging 2.07 kills and 1.33 blocks per set to help the Huskers reach the NCAA Semifinals. She tied her career best with 11 kills against Liberty, one of five matches where she reached double figures. Gates also had 11 kills against NCAA Elite Eight qualifiers Texas (Nov. 22) and Iowa State (Sept. 27). Defensively, Gates tied her personal best with 10 blocks at No. 18 K-State on Sept. 17 and had seven blocks in the win at No. 5 Washington on Dec. 13.

Super Duper Cooper is Efficient
Kori Cooper has been one of the Huskers’ most efficient hitters during her Husker career. She has a career .366 hitting percentage in 86 matches and has ranked among the Big 12 hitting leaders all three years before suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 19.

With her 500th career kill on Nov. 1 against Iowa State, Cooper ranks among the most efficient hitters in school history. Her .366 hitting percentage is tied for sixth among all Huskers with at least 500 career kills. Cooper has 40 career matches where she has hit .400 or better (with a minimum of 10 swings) and hit a personal-best .396 in 2008 to rank second in the Big 12 and 10th nationally.

A first-team All-Big 12 pick, Cooper reached double figures for the fourth time this year against Missouri on Nov. 12, drilling 10 kills on .363 hitting and had six kills on eight swings. All four double-figure efforts have come in conference play. She enjoyed one of her best matches against Iowa State on Nov. 1, chipping in nine kills on .467 hitting and equaling her season best with six blocks against the Cyclones. Her season best was 12 kills on .524 hitting against Iowa State on Sept. 27.

KGB Spies on Opposing Hitters
For Kayla Grace Banwarth, shutting down the opposition has been her speciality. Banwarth enters the NCAA Semifinals ranked third in the Big 12 in digs with 4.19 digs per set and is bidding to be only the third Husker to ever average at least four digs per set. Her defensive efforts have been instrumental, as Nebraska has limited 20 opponents to under .150 hitting and has allowed only four teams to hit .200 this season. She is also second among Big 12 liberos in assists (0.84/set) and is a primary reason NU has allowed a Big 12-low 0.69 service aces per set.

Banwarth has reached double figures in digs in 36 of her 41 career starts, including a career-best 27 digs in the win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. It is one of five times she had at least 20 digs. The others were a 22-dig efforts at  No. 5 Washington (Dec. 13) and at Baylor (Nov. 29) and 20 digs against No. 4 USC (Aug. 31) and at Creighton (Oct. 5).

Huskers Continue Big 12 Dominance 
Nebraska’s Big 12 title in 2008 continues one of the most successful runs in NCAA history. The Huskers have won or shared 11 Big 12 titles in the last 13 years and own 30 Big Eight/Big 12 crowns in 33 years of conference action. The five straight Big 12 titles ties the longest streak in Big 12 history, as NU also won five straight crowns between 1998 and 2002.

Nation’s Best Since 2000
John Cook has been amazingly successful during his Husker tenure, posting a 280-17 record (.939 winning pct.) to lead all programs this decade. A two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, Cook has enjoyed greater success in the Big 12, going 172-8 in conference matches over the past nine seasons. NU has won eight Big 12 titles, including each of the past five years.

Huskers Rank Second All-Time in Wins
The Nebraska volleyball team is one of only six programs to reach the 1,000-win plateau and rank second in NCAA history with 1,060 wins.  Friday’s national semifinal marks only the second time in NCAA history that two teams with at least 1,000 wins squared off. The first matchup also took place in Omaha, as Nebraska defeated UCLA in the 2006 AVCA Showcase.

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.

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

Crowd Pleasers
Nebraska has traditionally shown the ability to draw big crowds, and 2008 has been no different. Not only did the Huskers break the NCAA regular-season single-match record for attendance against LSU on Sept. 12, but they have been involved in four of the seven largest crowds of 2008.

The Huskers are second nationally in average attendance (4,769) and that total does not include the Runza/AVCA Showcase matches in Omaha, which both drew crowds in excess of 7,000. Nebraska has now broken the NCAA regular-season single match attendance mark three times over the last two years and has been involved in the eight largest regular-season crowds in NCAA history.

Four Huskers Named Academic All-Big 12
Four Huskers were among the 48 student-athletes named to the academic All-Big 12 Team Nov. 18. All four Huskers were chosen to the first team, which consists of players with a 3.20 or better GPA.

Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz are three-time selections, while Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper were honored for the second time. Gates, Larson and Cooper also became academic All-Americans on Nov. 24.

Nebraska Coliseum: Sold Out for 2008
One school record was established early this fall, as it took just 10 minutes to sell out the entire 2008 ticket allotment at the NU Coliseum. It was the quickest that the single-match Coliseum allotment had ever sold out.

The Huskers will carry a streak of 120 consecutive sellouts entering the 2009 home opener.  The Huskers are 114-6 at home during the sellout streak and 501,876 fans have been to the Coliseum since the sellout streak began in 2001.

Nebraska’s streak marks only the second time in NCAA history that a women’s sport has enjoyed a sellout streak of at least 100 matches. The only other one was UConn women’s basketball, which had a streak of 113 straight regular-season sellouts between 1999 and 2005.

Huskers in the Polls
The Nebraska program is a fixture in the Bison/AVCA Coaches poll. The Huskers are ranked third in this week’s poll and have been ranked in all 382 polls since its inception in 1982.  NU is one of only two schools to hold that distinction, joining Stanford. In addition, the Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 for 349 weeks, which trails only Stanford’s 353 weeks in the top 10.

Nebraska has been ranked in the top 10 for the last 79 polls, dating back to the start of the 2004 season.

The Huskers head all programs at the top of the all-time polls, spending 81 weeks all-time at No. 1, including an incredible 26-poll stretch over the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The 81 weeks at No. 1 is 30 more than runner-up UCLA in that category.  NU has spent 62 weeks at No. 1 since the start of the 2000 season. That total is more than any other program has spent in the top spot since the AVCA Poll began in 1982.

Huskers Continue Academic Success in ?08
The Nebraska volleyball team placed three members on the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year on Nov. 24. The group included first-team selections Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper and second-team honoree Jordan Larson. It is the first academic All-America award for all three players, while Nebraska was the only school in the nation with three selections or two first-team honorees.

Nebraska volleyball has had 16 academic All-Americans under Head Coach John Cook, including seven players who have combined for 10 first-team certificates. In all, Nebraska has now had 35 academic All-Americans in volleyball, a total that leads the nation by a large margin.

Nebraska: All-America U 
NU continued its string of All-America success in 2007 with a school-record five Huskers earning AVCA All-America accolades. Rachel Holloway, Christina Houghtelling, Jordan Larson, Sarah Pavan and Tracy Stalls were all selected, increasing Nebraska’s NCAA-leading totals to 29 players and 62 certificates, respectively. Nebraska has had at least one All-American every season since 1983, a total of 26 straight seasons, including 27 in Cook’s eight seasons.

Huskers on Television
The Huskers received plenty of television exposure during the 2008 season, as 18 NU matches have been televised this season. NU has enjoyed the bright lights of TV, going 43-3 in televised matches since the start of the 2006 season, including a 17-1 mark this season.

Huskers Announce Recruiting Class
Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook announced on Nov. 14 that four high school seniors have decided to join Husker volleyball program. The recruiting class features outside hitters Gina Mancuso and Hannah Werth, libero Megan Pendergast and middle blocker Hayley Thramer. All four players are rated among the top-70 players by recruiting services.

Thater Honored with Retired Jersey
Former Husker great Stephanie Thater became the most recent NU player to have her jersey retired, receiving the honor at the Red/White Scrimmage on Aug. 23.  Thater was the sixth Husker to be recognized on the Huskers’ Wall of Honor since the wall was initially unveiled in 2003.

A three-time All-American and two-time Big Eight Player of the Year, Thater led her team to the NCAA Semifinals as a sophomore and compiled an 81-14 record during her three years as a starter.

25 is the New 30; And Other Things to Watch
College volleyball fans are noticing several changes that have been implemented for the 2008 season.  Here are some of the more significant changes.

Rule Changes
Coaches Position: When the ball is in play, coaches will be asked to stay at least 1.75 meters from the court’s sideline.  An imaginary line perpendicular to the outside edge of the extended attack line indicates this distance.  If a coach doesn’t comply, the referees may assess a team delay sanction.    

Terminology: The term “game” will be changed to “set.” A match still consists of the best three out of five sets.

Points Required to Win a Set: Instead of 30 points, the number of points needed to win sets one through four is now 25 (and a two-point lead).  Fifteen points (and a two-point lead) is still the requirement to win the fifth (deciding) set. It is the same format used during international matches.

Substitutions: Each team is now allowed a maximum of 12 substitutions per set.   

Points of Emphasis
Ball-Handling Decisions: In recent years, referee training has emphasized focusing on the player’s contact point with the ball, and not allowing outside influences, such as spin after release, to influence ball-handling decisions. A 2008 point of emphasis regarding the second team contact now instructs referees to only call multiple contacts that are obvious enough to be readily seen, and to be less severe when judging extremely athletic plays.

Huskers Battle Injuries
A trio of injuries have limited the Huskers’ depth during recent weeks. Middle blockers Kori Cooper and Brooke Delano are out for the season, while true freshman Kaitlynn James has yet to play this season following off-season shoulder surgery.

Cooper suffered the injury in the Huskers’ match at Texas on Nov. 19, and underwent knee surgery two days later. Cooper averaged 2.09 kills and 0.88 blocks per game while ranking second in the Big 12 and 10th nationally with a .396 hitting percentage.

Delano underwent surgery on Nov. 13 following a bout with appendicitis. She had been NU’s backup at all three front row positions, averaging 1.00 kills and 0.67 blocks per set in 13 matches.

0-2 Comebacks In School History
One trait NU has shown in recent years is the ability to fight back. The Huskers have overcome an 0-2 deficit 13 times in program history, including six times under John Cook. Two of those recent occurances have happened in regional finals in 2006 (vs. Minnesota in Gainesville, Fla.)  and 2008 (at Washington).

Husker Quick Hits
?-The 2008 Huskers feature 10 players (Anderson, Banwarth, Cooper, Delano, Gates, Larson, Licht, McNeal, Mueller and Yanz) who were previously named to Volleyball Magazine’s Fab 50 List, signifying the top 50 players in their respective classes.
?-In 2008, the Husker volleyball program received the AVCA GamePlan Academic Team Award for the 13th time, the most of any Division I program.