Huskers Look to Iowa HawkeyesHuskers Look to Iowa Hawkeyes
Volleyball

Huskers Look to Iowa Hawkeyes

No. 2 Nebraska at Iowa • Tuesday, Nov. 22 • Carver-Hawkeye Arena • 6 p.m.

Web Video: BTN.com (subscription)
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KTWI 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Stats: hawkeyesports.com

The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team will travel to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6 p.m. The match can be seen on BTN.com with a subscription.

The Huskers (23-3, 16-2) topped Wisconsin 3-1  (12-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-22) on Saturday night, clinching at least a share of the Big Ten title. Nebraska will need to win one of its two matches this week to claim the conference crown outright.

Iowa and Nebraska have met 13 times, with NU holding a 13-0 record over the Hawkeyes. The last time the two teams met was on Oct. 19 when Nebraska swept Iowa 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-11).

Fans will be able to see the match live on BTN.com with a subscription.

Fans can also 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 catch the live audio feed for free on Huskers.com.

Getting to Know the Iowa Hawkeyes

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Enrollment: 30,328

Nickname: Hawkeyes

Colors: Black and Gold

Head Coach: Sharon Dingman (Northern Michigan, '84)

Record at School: 34-59 (3 Years)

Overall Record: 370-271 (20 Years)

Asst. Coaches: Jason Allen, Ben Boldt

2010 Record: 7-22

2010 Big Ten Record: 2-18

2010 Postseason: Did not qualify

2010 Final Ranking: NR

Letterwinners R/L: 10/1

Starters R/L: 6+1/1

Series Record: Nebraska leads, 13-0

Last Meeting: NU won, 3-0 (10/19/11)

Last NU Win: 10/19/11

Last NU Loss: None

Longest NU Winning Streak: 13

Current NU Winning Streak: 13

Two sets: 3-0

Three sets: 9-0

Four sets: 1-0

All-Time Nebraska/Iowa Series (NU Leads 13-0)

Oct. 9, 1976               W, 15-2, 15-3
Nov. 12, 1977            W, 15-5, 15-6}
Nov. 17, 1977            W, 15-6, 15-8
Nov. 16, 1978            W, 15-6, 10-15, 15-6
Nov. 20, 1980            W, 15-5, 15-6, 15-6
Sept. 3, 1983             W, 15-6, 15-9, 15-7
Sept. 8, 1984             W, 15-9, 15-4, 15-6
Sept. 8, 1985             W, 15-8, 15-1, 15-4
Sept. 5, 1987             W, 15-6, 15-5, 15-17, 15-8
Sept. 2, 1989             W, 15-11, 15-12, 15-6
Sept. 1, 1993             W, 15-5, 15-5, 15-8
Sept. 4, 1999             W, 15-10, 15-3, 15-3
Oct. 19, 2011             W, 25-14, 25-14, 25-11

Scouting the Iowa Hawkeyes

  • The Hawkeyes are 11-20 on the year, heading into their match-up with the Huskers on Tuesday.
  • Iowa went 0-2 last weekend, falling 3-0 to Wisconsin on Friday, Nov.18, and dropping the match 3-1 against Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 19.
  • In the match against the Badgers, senior Tiffany Nilges led the Hawkeyes with her seventh double-double of the season. She finished with 10 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Nikki Dailey added 31 assists and sophomore Bethany Yeager picked up 14 digs.
  • Senior Megan Eskew and Dailey both posted double-doubles for the Hawkeyes against Minnesota on Saturday. Eskew added 13 digs to her team-high 14 kills to post her 10th kill-dig double-double of the season. Dailey recorded her team-high 13th double-double of the year, posting team highs in assists (45) and digs (21).
  • Alex Lovell leads Iowa in kills on the year with 288 and an average of 2.62 per set. Eskew has 269 kills on the season, averaging 2.32 per set.
  • At setter, Dailey has 1,073 assists, with an average of 9.25 per set.
  • Defensively, Yeager leads the Hawkeyes in digs with a total of 495 and an average of 4.30 digs per set. Eskew has 346 digs on the year, averaging 2.98 digs per set.
  • In the Big Ten standings, Iowa ranks 12th in hitting percentage (.263), 12th in assists (10.59), fourth in blocks (2.65), fifth in digs (15.44), 11th in opponent hitting percentage (.213), 12th in kills (11.33) and ninth in service aces (1.06).
  • Dailey ranks ninth in the conference in assists (9.25), while also ranking ninth in service aces (0.28). Bethany Yeager is fifth in digs (4.30).

The Last Time Nebraska and Iowa Met (Oct. 19, 2011)

Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team (16-1, 9-0) made quick work of Iowa, sweeping the Hawkeyes 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-11). With the victory, Nebraska remained undefeated in conference play.

Iowa hit. 000 for the match, marking the lowest hitting percentage the Huskers have held an opponent to this season. Nebraska out-blocked the Hawkeyes 8-0, while notching a .302 hitting percentage for the match. NU also out-dug Iowa 63-45 and out-blocked the Hawkeyes 8-1.

Gina Mancuso led NU on the night with 14 kills on 29 swings (.345), while Hannah Werth tabbed eight kills of her own. Lauren Cook tallied 32 assists with a season-high 16 digs. Werth had 15 digs, while Lara Dykstra totaled 14. The Huskers also notched five blocks each from Hayley Thramer and Morgan Broekhuis.

Big Ten Weekly Awards

(3 honors by 2 players)

Gina Mancuso

Co-Player of the Week (Sept. 26)

Mancuso averaged 3.7 kills per set with a .319 hitting percentage, along with 1.6 digs and 0.4 blocks per set in the Huskers' back-to-back wins over Penn State and Ohio State. She recorded a double-double against Penn State with 22 kills and 10 digs, marking the fifth double-double of her career. She also tied her career-high mark for attacks against Penn State.

Player of the Week (Oct. 23)

Mancuso posted 4.1 kills, 3.3 digs and 1.0 block per set in Nebraska's wins over the Hawkeyes and Fighting Illini. She recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 14 digs, adding five blocks and two aces to help the Huskers take down Illinois. She also notched 14 kills, nine digs and two blocks against Iowa. Her efforts helped Nebraska earn its first win over a top-ranked opponent since 1990. The honor marked the second conference player-of-the-week award for Mancuso.

Hannah Werth

Player of the Week (Oct. 17)

Werth averaged 4.0 kills and 2.9 digs per set and recorded a .385 hitting percentage in back-to-back wins at Wisconsin and Minnesota. She posted 17 kills on .536 hitting and added 10 digs against the Badgers. Werth recorded her second double-double of the weekend against the Gophers, tallying 15 kills and 17 digs while adding six blocks.

Player of the Week (Nov. 21)

Werth recorded 3.8 digs and 3.5 kills on .323 hitting to lead No. 4 Nebraska to four-set wins over No. 19 Minnesota and Wisconsin last weekend, helping the Huskers clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title. She posted 14 kills, 17 digs and a .379 hitting percentage against Minnesota. Werth then notched her second double-double of the week against the Badgers, recording 14 kills and 13 digs.

The honor marked the second Big Ten Player-of-the-Week accolade for Werth this season.

Nebraska Clinches Share of Big Ten Title

Huskers Earn First Big Ten Title

Nebraska clinched a share of the Big Ten Championship on Saturday after a 3-1 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers at the NU Coliseum. If the Huskers win either of their matches this week, they would earn the outright Big Ten title and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.

The 2011 Big Ten title marks the 32nd conference title for Nebraska overall and their first as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is also the first Big Ten Conference crown for any sport at Nebraska.

Hot in November

Huskers Boast All-Time Record of 219-19 in November


Historically, the Huskers' two best months are September (293-26) and November (219-19), as they have all-time winning percentages of .919 and .920, respectively.

Comeback Kids

Huskers Are 7-2 when Losing the First Set of a Match


The Huskers have dropped the first set nine times this season, most recently against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 19. However, Nebraska holds a record of 7-2 when losing the first set in 2011, winning the last two contests against Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Volleyball Blackshirts

Huskers' Defense Halts Opponents

Nebraska held Iowa to a .000 hitting percentage on Oct. 19, marking the lowest percentage for a Nebraska opponent this season. The Huskers also held Albany to a .038 hitting percentage for the match, Creighton to a .053 hitting percentage on Sept. 8, Indiana to a .022 hitting percentage on Oct. 8 and Michigan State to a .026 hitting percentage of Nov. 5.

Scouting the Huskers

  • Nebraska is 23-3 in 2011 and enters this week's match ranked No. 4 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.
  • The Huskers are 19-1 this season when holding opponents below .200 hitting. Nebraska is 4-2 when opposing teams hit above .200.
  • Nebraska has totaled double-digit blocks in 14 matches this season, including a season-high 18 blocks against Michigan.
  • The Huskers tallied a season-low six errors against Albany on Sept. 3. The last time NU had six errors or less in a match was against Sacred Heart on Dec. 2, 2010.
  • As of Nov. 20, Nebraska ranked second in the Big Ten in hitting percentage (.263), eighth in assists (12.54), fourth in blocks (2.65), ninth in digs (14.78), first in opponent hitting percentage (.146), eighth in kills (13.51) and 12th in aces (0.80).
  • Gina Mancuso has 345 kills so far in 2011, averaging 3.52 per set.
  • Mancuso was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 24 after leading the Huskers over previously top-ranked Illinois and the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 26 after her stellar weekend against Penn State and Ohio State.
  • Werth was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 17, after solid outings at Wisconsin and Minnesota.
  • Lara Dykstra has 355 digs so far in her freshman campaign, averaging 3.62 per set. She currently ranks second in the all-time freshman digs record at Nebraska.
  • Lauren Cook has totaled 1,002 assists in 2011, averaging 11.01 per set.
  • Brigette Root made her first career start at setter against Michigan on Friday, Nov. 4. She notched the first double-double of her career with 25 assists and 11 digs.
  • As of Nov. 13, the Huskers ranked 25th nationally in blocks per set with 2.63. NU was 17th in hitting percentage at .265. Lauren Cook ranked 31st nationally in assists per set (11.05) and Hayley Thramer was 38th in blocks per set (1.23).
  • Nebraska continued its string of All-America success in 2010, as Brooke Delano, Lindsey Licht and Hannah Werth were named AVCA All-Americans. The trio upped Nebraska's NCAA-leading totals to 34 players and 70 certificates. Nebraska has had at least one All-American every season since 1983, a total of 29 straight seasons, including 35 All-America awards in Cook's 11 years at Nebraska.
  • Nebraska has eight players on its 2011 roster who were Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selections, representing the top 50 players in that year's recruiting class.

Year          Players

2008         Allison McNeal

2009         Gina Mancuso, Hannah Werth, Hayley Thramer, Lauren Cook

2010         Morgan Broekhuis

2011         Lara Dykstra, Taylor Simpson

Tough Tests

With the match against No. 19 Minnesota last Wednesday, Nebraska was taking on its 13th top-25 team this season.

Opponent                                 Result

at No. 15 Colorado State           L, 3-2
vs. No. 12 Iowa State                W, 3-0\
vs. No. 5 Penn State                 W, 3-2
vs. No. 24 Ohio State                W, 3-1
at No. 11 Michigan                    W, 3-0
vs. No. 11 Purdue                     W, 3-1
at No. 14 Minnesota                  W, 3-2
vs. No. 1 Illinois                        W, 3-1
at No. 23 Ohio State                  W, 3-1
at No. 8 Penn State                   L, 3-1
vs. No. 23 Michigan                   W, 3-1
at No. 10 Purdue                       L, 3-0
vs. No. 19 Minnesota                 W, 3-1

Cook Reaches 500

With the Huskers' win over Albany on Sept. 3, Head Coach John Cook tallied his 500th win as a head coach.


No Place Like Nebraska

Nebraska celebrated a streak of 150 consecutive sellouts at the NU Coliseum on Sept. 8. It is the longest continuing sellout streak across all NCAA women's athletics. The Huskers averaged 4,632 fans per home contest last season. As of Nov. 20, Nebraska ranks second nationally in current home win streaks with 35.

Small Membership

Lara Dykstra became just the seventh true freshman to start a season opener during Head Coach John Cook's era at Nebraska. Sophomore Morgan Broekhuis was the last Husker to do so in 2010.

Dykstra Digging

Through the first 24 matches of her collegiate career, freshman Lara Dykstra has notched 355 digs of her own and an average of 3.62 digs per set. Her 28 digs against New Mexico State ranked ninth in Nebraska volleyball single-match performances and were the highest total by a Husker since 2009.

Thramer Makes Impact

Sophomore Hayley Thramer made her first career start at New Mexico on Aug. 27. She notched a career-high 10 blocks against Illinois on Oct. 22. She currently ranks sixth in the Big Ten in blocks, averaging 1.16 per set.

Producing Double-Doubles

Five Huskers have combined for 40 double-doubles in 2011, with Mancuso tallying 11, Broekhuis tabbing five,  Root adding one, Werth notching nine of her own and Cook adding 14.

Brigette Root |  2011 (1)  |  NU Career (1), All (1)

Opponent (Date)           K          A          D          B
Michigan (Nov. 4)          5          35         11         2

Gina Mancuso  |  2011 (11)  |  NU Career (11), All (11)

Opponent (Date)                       K          A          D          B
New Mexico State (Aug. 26)       16         0          14         2
Colorado State (Sept. 2)            24         3          10         1
Creighton (Sept. 8)                    12         0          10         1
Saint Mary's (Sept. 9)                15         1          11         3
Iowa State (Sept. 17)                 14         0          11         1
Penn State (Sept. 21)                22         0          10         2
Michigan State (Sept. 30)           12         1          10         3
Purdue (Oct. 7)                          16         0          19         0
Minnesota (Oct. 15)                   18         0          15         5
Illinois (Oct. 22)                         15         0          14         5
Minnesota (Nov. 16)                  14         1          16         1

Lauren Cook |  2011 (14)  |  NU Career (33)

Opponent (Date)                       K          A          D          B
New Mexico State (Aug. 26)       1          51         10         0
New Mexico (Aug. 27)                0          40         12         1
Colorado State (Sept. 2)             2          49         12         2
Albany (Sept. 3)                        2          34         13         1
Creighton (Sept. 8)                    5          33         13         0
Penn State (Sept. 21)                1          53         17         2
Ohio State (Sept. 24)                 4          41         14         3
Purdue (Oct. 7)                          0          51         12         1
Wisconsin (Oct. 14)                   1          38         11         0
Minnesota (Oct. 15)                   2          45         19         0
Iowa (Oct. 19)                            4          32         16         0
Illinois (Oct. 22)                         0          54         13         0
Penn State (Oct. 29)                  1          32         11         0
Minnesota (Nov. 16)                  1          47         12         4

Hannah Werth |  2011 (9)  |  NU Career (31), All (31)

Opponent (Date)                       K          A          D          B
Colorado State (Sept. 2)            12         0          15         1
St. Mary's (Sept. 9)                   10         1          11         1
Wisconsin (Oct. 14)                   17         0          10         0
Minnesota (Oct. 15)                   15         2          17         6
Illinois (Oct. 22)                         14         1          17         0
Ohio State (Oct. 28)                   11         1          13         3
Michigan State (Nov. 5)             11         0          10         3
Minnesota (Nov. 16)                  14         0          17         2
Wisconsin (Nov. 19)                  14         0          13         2

Morgan Broekhuis |  2011 (5)  |  NU Career (5), All (5)

Opponent (Date)                       K          A          D          B
Iowa State (Sept. 17)                 11         2          10         4
Penn State (Sept. 21)                12         4          11         4
Purdue (Oct. 7)                          13         2          10         2
Illinois (Oct. 22)                         17         2          11         4
Minnesota (Nov. 16)                  14         1          16         1

Broekhuis Breakout

Morgan Broekhuis recorded the first double-double of her career against Iowa State on Sept. 17, with 11 kills and 10 digs. She has notched four others this season. Her 22 kills at Michigan State on Sept. 30 marked a career high her.

Mancuso Paving Her Way

Gina Mancuso has notched 11 double-doubles so far in 2011, most recently against Minnesota on Nov. 16. She tallied 14 kills and 16 digs to lead NU against the Gophers.


Wilberger's Senior Night Performance

Jordan Wilberger notched career-high numbers in kills and hitting percentage on senior night against Wisconsin. The Scottsbluff, Neb., native tabbed 12 kills and a hitting percentage of .750 in guiding the Huskers to a 3-1 win.