Huskers Head to Scottsbluff to Face Wichita State

Lincoln ? The Nebraska volleyball team continues its spring campaign this weekend, as the Huskers travel to Scottsbluff to take on Wichita State this Saturday, April 11. The match is set for 1 p.m. (MDT) at Western Nebraska Community College with doors opening 90 before first serve.

All 2,400 tickets for the match were sold within a day back in March, as the facility is one of the largest venues in the  western part of the state.

Fans can listen to Saturday’s exhibition match online as KNEB, the Husker Sports Network affiliate in Scottsbluff, is providing live audio on its website - www.KNEB.com - beginning at 12:30 p.m. MDT (1:30 CDT). The broadcast team of Rob Barney and Linsday Peterson will bring fans all of the pageantry of Saturday’s contest.

Saturday’s match continues a tradition of playing matches in the western part of the state, allowing fans an opportunity to see the Huskers in person. NU has played volleyball matches in Ogallala and North Platte in previous spring seasons under John Cook and even played a regular-season match against Creighton in North Platte in 2004.

Saturday’s match is also a homecoming for rising sophomore middle blocker Jordan Wilberger, who graduated from Scottsbluff High School.  Last year, Wilberger moved into the starting role for the Huskers after Kori Cooper’s season-ending injury and performed admirably. She averaged 1.12 kills and 0.85 blocks per set to help NU win seven of its final eight matches and reach the National Semifinals in 2008.

The Huskers are 2-0 on the spring with four-set victories over Hawaii and Missouri State in their two previous matches. Last weekend, All-American Tara Mueller posted a match-high 14 kills to lead four Huskers in double figures, as the Nebraska defeated Missouri State (25-14, 25-22, 20-25, 25-16) in front of a crowd of 2,372 at the NU Coliseum.

Freshman Hannah Werth and Brooke Delano added 12 kills apiece, while Wilberger totaled 10 kills to complete the quartet in double figures. All-American Sydney Anderson dished out 51 assists, while Kayla Banwarth recorded a match-high 17 digs to help hold Missouri State to .095 hitting. Last Saturday’s match also saw the competitive debut of outside hitter Kaitlynn James, who missed all of last season following shoulder surgery. James had three kills in four swings in the finale, sparking the Huskers to a strong finish of the match.

The Shockers will pose a tough test for the Huskers, as they finished the 2008 campaign with a 30-2 record before losing to Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. WSU finished the season ranked 18th in the final Bison/AVCA Coaches poll and went after winning their first 29 matches before falling to Missouri State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

The Huskers will wrap up the spring portion of their schedule next weekend, participating in the Collegiate Beach Championship in Riverside, Calif., on Saturday, April 18. Four teams of two athletes will compete as part of CBS College Sports’ Alt Games.

-- Huskers  --