Huskers Host Power of Pink Night

No. 3 Nebraska (17-1, 9-0) vs. Texas Tech (3-15, 1-8)
Wednesday, Oct. 20 • NU Coliseum • 7 p.m.
TV:NET - Lincoln - (Time Warner: SD-12/HD-112  |  DirecTV:  SD/HD-29 |  Dish Network: SD/HD-12)
                Omaha - (Cox: SD-12/HD-712 | DirecTV: 379 | Dish Network: 26)
      CBS College Sports - Lincoln - (Time Warner: SD-305/HD-125 | DirecTV: 613 | Dish Network: 152)
                                  Omaha - (Cox: 234 | DirecTV: 613 | Dish Network: 152)
Radio:Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KTWI 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Web Video: Huskers.com (Free Video)
Live Stats: Huskers.com

No. 3 Nebraska vs. Missouri
Saturday, Oct. 23 • NU Coliseum • 7 p.m.
TV:NET - Lincoln - (Time Warner: SD-12/HD-112  |  DirecTV:  SD/HD-29 |  Dish Network: SD/HD-12)
               Omaha - (Cox: SD-12/HD-712 | DirecTV: 379 | Dish Network: 26)
Radio:Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KTWI 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Web Video: Huskers.com (Free Video)
Live Stats: Huskers.com

The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team (17-1, 9-0) will be halfway through its Big 12 slate after its 7 p.m. match with the Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-15, 1-8) on Wednesday night at the NU Coliseum.

The Huskers will also be hosting Husker Power of Pink tomorrow to raise awareness of breast cancer. The Match Club will be selling replica Nebraska breast cancer awareness t-shirts that the Huskers will be wearing during pre-game warm-ups.

After the Red Raiders won the first ever conference match between the two schools on Oct. 26, 1996, Texas Tech has dropped 27 straight to the Huskers. Not only has Nebraska taken the last 27 matches, but it has also swept the past 12 matches dating back to 2004.

Along with being carried statewide on NET the match will be shown nationally on CBS College Sports. Huskers.com will also provide free live video stream of the match.

In Lincoln, NET can be found on channel 12(SD)/112(HD), DirecTV channel 29 and on DISH Network channel 12. While in Omaha, NET is on Cox Communications channel 12(SD)/712(HD), DirecTV channel 379 and DISH Network channel 26.

CBS College Sports is channel 305(SD)/125(HD) on Time Warner and channel 234 on Cox. For satellite subscribers it is channel 613 on DirecTV and channel 152 on Dish Network.

Fans can also listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Dianne Mendenhall on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha. Fans outside the state will also be able to catch the live audio feed for free on Huskers.com.

Scouting the Red Raiders

• The Red Raiders will be playing their second straight ranked opponent on the road Wednesday night when they face No. 3 Nebraska. Texas Tech was swept by No. 11 Texas last Saturday in Austin.
• During Big 12 play, junior middle block Amanda Dowdy leads the conference in kills with 4.50 per set. On the season, Dowdy ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 4.00 kills per set. Dowdy is the only Red Raider to rank in the top-five of any of the seven major statistical categories.
• Amanda Dowdy posted a Big 12 season best for kills (37) and attacks (87) in a five-set loss to Colorado on Oct. 13 in Lubbock.
• Texas Tech ranks last in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.155) and opponent hitting (.282) as well as assists (10.56), kills (11.33) and service aces (0.63) per set. In conference matches, Texas Tech ranks last in both hitting percentage (.172) and opponent hitting (.294).
• Barbara Conceicao averages 1.00 blocks per set, she is the only Red Raider to average at least 1.00 blocks per set.

Scouting the Huskers

• Nebraska is 17-1 overall in 2010 and remains the only undefeated team in the Big 12 this season at 9-0 entering Wednesday night's match with Texas Tech.
• The Huskers are ranked No. 3 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll for the fourth straight week, their highest ranking this season since they were ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll. Nebraska received four first-place votes this week and has been ranked in the top 10 all season.
• The Huskers are 15-0 this season when holding opponents below .200 hitting after the Huskers held Kansas State to .128 hitting. Nebraska is 2-1 when opposing teams hit above .200.
• After hitting .305 at Kansas State, the Huskers are 178-0 under Head Coach John Cook when they hit .300 or better.
• Nebraska has never lost to Texas Tech in Lincoln as the Huskers are 15-0.
• The Huskers have taken 27 straight from the Red Raiders, including sweeps in the last 12 matches dating back to 2004.
• Nebraska last dropped a set to Texas Tech on Oct. 29, 2003 when NU won 3-1, but the Red Raiders won the first set, 30-24.
• The Huskers are ranked in the top-five nationally in three categories, including blocks (1st-3.19), kills (3rd-14.86) and assists (4th-13.89) per set.
• Nebraska has totaled double-digit blocks in nine of its last 13 matches, including a season-high 19 blocks vs. Illinois on Sept. 11. The Huskers hit double-digits just once in their first five matches (11 against BYU) of 2010.
• In Big 12 play this season, Nebraska ranks first in four of the seven major statistical categories.
• In conference matches the Huskers are tops in opponent hitting (.148), as well as assists (14.16), kills (15.06) and blocks (3.39) per set.
• Under Head Coach John Cook, the Huskers improved to 291-8 when winning the first set of the match after their 3-0 win at Kansas State. The last time Nebraska won the first set and then lost the match was during the 2009 NCAA Regional Final, when Texas won 3-1 after NU took set one, 25-21.
• Four Huskers have combined for 14 double-doubles on the season, including seven from Hannah Werth, three each from Tara Mueller and Lauren Cook and one from Sydney Anderson.
• Junior middle blocker Brooke Delano leads the nation with a .438 hitting percentage and is tied for sixth in blocks per set (1.50). Both marks rank first in the Big 12.

The Last Meeting Between Nebraska and Texas Tech (Oct. 28, 2009)
Hannah Werth and Tara Mueller combined for 26 kills, as eighth-ranked Nebraska posted a 3-0 victory over Texas Tech, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-20, 25-20.

The Huskers relied on the outside attack against the Red Raiders, as Werth posted her 10th double-double of the season with a match-high 15 kills and 12 digs, while Mueller picked up her sixth double-double of the campaign with 11 kills on .360 hitting and 10 digs.

On the night, Nebraska out-hit Texas Tech, .308-.093, as Sydney Anderson dished out 39 assists and added four kills, three blocks and 10 digs for her 13th double-double.

Nebraska also played well defensively, out-digging Texas Tech, 55-48, as four Huskers finished in double figures in digs

Chart Topper
Junior middle blocker Brooke Delano leads the NCAA with a .438 hitting percentage. An All-American in 2009, Delano has hit .500 or better eight times in 2010, including two matches where she hit over .700.

Delano is looking to become just the fourth Husker in school history to hit .400 or better in a season. Tracy Stalls was the last Husker to do so when she set the NU single-season record when she hit at a .473 clip in 2007. Stalls also hit .400 in 2006.

Commanding the Conference
Nebraska currently holds a 16-match winning streak in Big 12 matches dating back to last season. It is the seventh longest streak in the nation and longest streak for any team in the six BCS conferences.

Team (Wins) - Conference
1. Maryland Eastern Shore (34) - MEAC
T-2. Central Arkansas (21) - Southland
T-2. Hawaii (31) - WAC
4. Lipscomb (30) - Atlantic Sun
5. UNI (27) - Missouri Valley
6. Tulsa (17) - Conference USA
7. Nebraska (16) - Big 12

All in the Numbers
The Nebraska volleyball team currently  ranks second in the NCAA RPI rankings and trails only Florida. The top five is rounded out by No. 3 Illinois, No. 4 Stanford and No. 4 Penn State.

Return to Sender
The Husker defense is once again ranked No. 1 in the country in blocks with 3.19 per set. The Huskers have punished opponents at the net this season with double-digit stuffs in 10 matches, including 15 or more in three matches.

During Big 12 play the Huskers have been even tougher on opposing attackers with 3.39 blocks per set. Texas ranks a distance second with 2.55 blocks per set during conference play.

Along with Brooke Delano's conference best 1.50 blocks per set, which is tied for sixth nationally, Lindsey Licht and Jordan Wilberger join Delano on the Big 12 top-10 list with 1.19 block per set each.

Since Head Coach John Cook took over at Nebraska in 2000, the Huskers have earned the NCAA blocking title five times, including 2000, '01, '02, '04 and '05.

76 to Go
Dubuque, Iowa, native Kayla Banwarth is on her way to breaking NU's career record in digs, currently held by Jennifer Saleaumua (1,568). A senior in 2010, Banwarth needed 383 digs entering this season to break the mark and should have no problem achieving the feat after she compiled 570 digs in 2009. Her 570 digs nearly broke Dani Busboom's 2006 single-season record of 580.

Through 18 matches this season, Banwarth leads NU with 307 digs.

Temp Falls, Huskers Heat Up
Historically, the Huskers' two best months are September (287-25) and November (207-18), as they have all-time winning percentages of .920 in each. The Huskers are looking to carry their success from a 10-0 September this season into October, where NU is 4-0 in 2010 and holds an all-time  winning percentage of .895 (213-25).

The Huskers will be looking for their first perfect October since 2006 when they went 7-0. Head Coach John Cook is 84-6 all-time in the year's 10th month.

Packing the House
The Nebraska volleyball team currently ranks second nationally in home attendance with an average of 5,218 fans per match. Through seven matches, including a match at the Devaney Center, 36,528 fans have seen the Huskers play this season. Only national leader Hawaii (6,186 fans per contest) and Nebraska average more than 4,000 fans per match. Wisconsin ranks a distant third with 3,807 fans per match.

1. Hawaii (6,215)
2. Nebraska (5,218)
3. Wisconsin (3,807)
4. Penn State (3,705)
5. Minnesota (2,949

National Noise
Along with holding the top spot on the NCAA blocks list with 3.19 per set, the Huskers also rank in the top-five in two other categories. Nebraska ranks fourth in assists with 13.89 per set, which has translated into a third-place ranking on the kills chart with 14.86 per set.

Try to Take a Set
In Big 12 play this season the Huskers have won 27 of the 31 sets they've played. No other team in the conference has lost less than 10 sets. Overall this season Nebraska is 53-11 in sets.

Battle Tested
Nebraska is now 5-1 in 2010 against top-25 ranked teams after defeating then-No. 13 Texas.

Prior to the Texas match, Nebraska had posted wins over three other top-15 teams, including Iowa State, Kentucky and Illinois.

Nebraska is the only Big 12 school that is .500 or better against top-25 teams and is one of five schools with one or more wins over a top-25 opponent.

The Huskers only loss on the year came to then-No. 13 Florida at the Runza/AVCA Showcase.  Florida is currently 16-1 and is ranked No. 1 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.

The Assists Keep Coming
Entering the season ranked ninth on Nebraska's career chart with 2,683 assists, senior Sydney Anderson's 386 assists this season have already moved her to seventh place with 3,069 dishes. With another 115 assists this season, Anderson will overtake Christy Johnson (3,183) for fifth on the career list.

No Place Like Home
The Huskers hold a home-court advantage at the Coliseum due to the Huskers' passionate fan base.

Nebraska currently holds a streak of 141 consecutive sellouts at the NU Coliseum, the longest sellout streak across all NCAA women's athletics. The Huskers averaged 5,197 fans per home contest last season (including a match at the Devaney Center) and are averaging 4,105 fans through six matches at the Coliseum in 2010. Including the Devaney Center match this season against Illinois, the Huskers are averaging 5,218 fans per home contest.

Tough on the Road
Nebraska is a perfect 7-0 in true road matches this season and is one of only seven schools that remains undefeated on the road this season.

School (Record)
Tulsa (9-0)
Nebraska (7-0)
Northern Illinois (6-0)
Arizona (6-0)
Miss. Valley State (5-0)
Florida (5-0)
Hawaii (2-0)

En Fuego
All-American Brooke Delano was on fire when the Huskers visited Missouri on Wednesday, Oct. 6, as the junior middle blocked put away 14 kills on 16 swings and had no errors.

Her .875 hitting percentage was the fourth-best individual performance all time and tops for a Huskers since Tracy Stalls tied Megan Korver's (1998) school record on Nov. 24, 2007 when she went a perfect 13-13 at the net. Stalls also hit .846 earlier in the same season with a 11-0-13 performance against Oklahoma.

Sharing the Kill
As a team in 2010 the Huskers rank first in the Big 12 Conference and third nationally with 14.86 kills per set, but Nebraska doesn't have one player on the individual Big 12 top-10 list or national top-50 list.

Five Huskers average at least two kills per set, including Lindsey Licht (3.02), Brooke Delano (2.92), Hannah Werth (2.62), Tara Mueller (2.19) and Morgan Broekhuis (2.00).

Stay Away from the Middle
Nebraska's middle blockers have been a force both offensively and defensively this season. Brooke Delano and Jordan Wilberger rank first (.4398) and third (.383), respectively, in the Big 12 in hitting percentage and also rank first (1.50) and seventh (1.19) in blocks.

Dishing it Out
Setters Sydney Anderson and Lauren Cook have led the Huskers to a fourth-place ranking nationally and the top mark in the Big 12 Conference when it comes to assists with 13.89 per set.

With the Huskers running a 6-2 rotation, neither Anderson or Cook rank in the top-50 nationally or in the 10 top of the conference, but the pair has helped the Huskers rank 17th nationally and second in the Big 12 in hitting percentage at .276.

Double-Dipper
Coming off a freshman season that saw her earn Big 12 Freshman of the Year, honorable-mention All-America and honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors, Hannah Werth has continued to put up solid numbers in 2010.

Through 18 matches, Werth leads the team with seven double-doubles, including four in Big 12 play.

After becoming the first Husker freshman to lead the team in kills per set (3.18) since Sarah Pavan in 2004, Werth ranks third on the team this season in both kills, 2.62, and digs, 2.93, per set.

The Other Blackshirts
The Nebraska football team isn't the only team on campus with a dominant defense, as the Husker volleyball team held Colorado to just seven points in the second set on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the NU Coliseum. It was the least amount of points a team have scored against the Huskers since the NCAA switched to 25-point rally scoring prior to the 2008 season. Nebraska had previously held a team to nine points on two occasions, including Tulane in 2009 and Kentucky in 2010's season opener.

Setter-U
Sydney Anderson had been the latest setter to shine in the scarlet and cream, as last season she became the eighth setter in NU history to earn multiple AVCA All-America honors.

A senior in 2010, Anderson will try to become just the third setter in school history to capture All-America three times during their career at NU. If she achieves the feat, Anderson would join Griechaly Cepero (2000-02) and Fiona Nepo (1996-98).