Huskers Open 2013 with Sweep of Louisiana-Monroe

St. Louis, Mo. – The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team opened the 2013 season with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-4) sweep of Louisiana-Monroe at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, hosted by Saint Louis University on Friday.

Amber Rolfzen led the Huskers with eight kills, while Cecilia Hall and Kelsey Robinson both chipped in seven kills. Justine Wong-Orantes guided NU defensively with 15 digs. Robinson also tallied 11 digs and five aces for the match. Mary Pollmiller and Kelly Hunter paced the Husker offense at setter, as each had 14 assists. Nebraska hit .222 for the match, while Louisiana-Monroe was held to a -.132 hitting clip.

The 36 points scored by ULM was the fewest points allowed by a Husker opponent in a three-set match during the rally-scoring era.

The Huskers opened the first set with a 6-1 lead on a block, followed by a kill by Meghan Haggerty. Nebraska then took a 13-5 lead as the Warhawks committed a hitting error and were forced to call a timeout. Hall came through for the Huskers in the first set, using a kill to make it 19-7, NU. The Huskers would hold on to take the first set 25-11 over the ULM.

Amber Rolfzen led NU in the first set with four kills, while Hall had three of her own. The Huskers hit .333 as a team, while Wong-Orantes led the team defensively with six digs. Nebraska held Louisiana-Monroe to a -.143 hitting percentage.

Hall came out strong in the second set, with a huge shot to give NU an early lead. The Warhawks then came alive in the second set, taking an 11-8 lead before Nebraska called a timeout. The Huskers came back to take a 21-18 lead on an ace by Hunter. Hunter and Broekhuis then connected up to give NU a 23-20 advantage. Nebraska went on to win the second set 25-21.

Hall and Broekhuis each had three kills in the second set. Both teams struggled offensively as the Huskers hit .000 and ULM hit -.029. NU out-dug the Warhawks 18-12 for the set.

Nebraska opened the third set on an 8-0 run, aided by three aces from Robinson.  Amber Rolfzen and Haggerty teamed up for a double-block to give NU an 11-2 lead that catapulted Nebraska on 10-0 run to close out the third set at 25-4.

Kelsey Robinson had five kills in the third set, while Amber Rolfzen tallied four. The Huskers hit .407 for the set, holding ULM to a -.250 clip. Nebraska out-dug the Warhawks 20-11. The Huskers held the Warhawks to zero kills in the third set.

The Huskers return to action tomorrow as they face Auburn at 10 a.m., and will take on Saint Louis at 7 p.m. to close out the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic.