Huskers Take Down the Lobos

Albuquerque, N.M.- The fifth-ranked Nebraska Volleyball team finished with a perfect weekend at the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic on Saturday night with a 3-0 sweep of New Mexico (25-16, 25-17, 25-17). The Huskers opened the event on Friday with a come-from-behind win over New Mexico State 3-2.

Gina Mancuso totaled 11 kills on the night to lead the Huskers. Morgan Broekhuis and Hannah Werth each had 10 kills. In addition, Lauren Cook notched 40 assists and 12 digs to lead NU.

In the first set the Huskers and Lobos battled point-for-point as the Huskers took a 10-6 lead and New Mexico called their first timeout. The Huskers stretched their lead to 16-10 before eventually taking the first set, 25-16.

Werth and Brooke Delano came out firing in the first set, both tallying five kills on 10 and eight attempts, respectively. The Huskers notched 20 team digs behind the efforts of Cook and Lara Dykstra, who had six apiece. Nebraska tabbed a hitting percentage of .333 compared to New Mexico's -.103.

Nebraska burst out to a 10-3 lead in the second set before the Lobos cut it to 10-6 and the Huskers had to call a timeout. NU eventually went up 19-11 and won the second set 25-17. Nebraska went into the break leading two sets to none.

In the second set, Broekhuis totaled six kills on 13 attempts. The Huskers tallied a hitting percentage of .235 with a total of 4.5 team blocks.

NU fought back and forth with the Lobo's in the third set, but New Mexico cut it close at 16-13 and forced Nebraska to call a timeout. The Huskers stretched their lead to 21-16 before clinching the match with a 25-17 third set win.

In the third set Mancuso and Werth both had four kills, while Cook had 11 assists. Werth also notched a service ace in the third set.

Next weekend the Huskers hit the road again as they travel to Fort Collins, Colo. Nebraska is set to take on Colorado State on Friday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. The Huskers then face Albany on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. Fans can listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Lindsay Peterson 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 listen to a live audio feed for free on Huskers.com.  

MCM Elegante All-Tournament team
Jennah DeVries, New Mexico State
Meredith Hays, New Mexico State
Allison Buck, New Mexico
Ashley Rhodes, New Mexico
Gina Mancuso, Nebraska
Lauren Cook, Nebraska
Morgan Broekhuis, Nebraska - MVP