Huskers Knock Off No. 11 Arizona in Sand Finale

Tucson, Ariz. - The No. 15 Nebraska sand volleyball team capped off a remarkable week of action with its biggest win of the season, defeating unbeaten No. 11 Arizona 3-2 on Saturday morning to win the Wildcat Spring Challenge. 

The Huskers finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record and wrap up the sand season with a 6-2 record, their best in the program's three-year history. Arizona fell to 7-1. The Wildcats had won 34 of 35 dual pairs this season entering Saturday's match, but dropped three of five against the Huskers on Saturday.

Nebraska got on the board first when Cecilia Hall and Annika Albrecht beat Taylor Arizobal and Allie Cook in the No. 4 match 21-11, 21-14. Arizona tied the match 1-1 when Haley Devlin and Sarah Seiber won the No. 5 match over Melanie Keil and Kelsey Fien 21-18, 21-13.

At. No. 3, Kira Larson and Amber Rolfzen gave NU a 2-1 lead with a 17-21 21-15, 15-11 comeback victory against Kendall Polan and Rachel Rhoades.

The Huskers nearly locked up the match when Kelly Hunter and Kadie Rolfzen won set one 21-17 against twins Madison and McKenna Witt and then took the second set down to the final points. However, the Witts won set two 22-20 and then won the match in the third set 15-7.

With the score tied 2-2, the match hinged on the No. 1 result. Arizona's unbeaten Madi Kingdon and Kaitlyn Leary won set one 21-19, but Justine Wong-Orantes and Alicia Ostrander won set two 21-12, setting up a dramatic finish in set three. Wong-Orantes and Ostrander battled to a 15-12 win to give the Huskers the victory and tournament title.

Wong-Orantes and Ostrander, NU's No. 1 pair all season, finished with an 8-5 record. Hunter and Kadie Rolfzen went 8-3 together and formed NU's No. 2 pair down the stretch. Amber Rolfzen and Larson were a perfect 4-0 as Nebraska's No. 3 pair in the final matches of the season. Albrecht and Hall were 8-3 and played most of the season in the No. 4 slot. Keil and Fien were 3-0 together as the No. 5 pair.  

No. 15 Nebraska 3, No. 11 Arizona 2 (4, 5, 3, 2, 1)
1. Justine Wong-Orantes/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) def. Madi Kingdon/Kaitlyn Leary (ARIZ) 19-21, 21-12, 15-12
2. Madison Witt/McKenna Witt (ARIZ) def. Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rofzen (NEB) 17-21, 22-20, 15-7
3. Kira Larson/Amber Rolfzen (NEB) def. Kendall Polan/Rachel Rhoades (ARIZ) 17-21, 21-15, 15-11
4. Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall (NEB) def. Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook (ARIZ) 21-11, 21-14
5. Hayley Devlin/Sarah Seiber (ARIZ) def. Melanie Keil/Kelsey Fien (NEB) 21-18, 21-13
6. (Exh.) Emily Kiser/Olivia Macdonald (ARIZ) def. Alexa Ethridge/Kelsey Fien (NEB) 21-15, 21-6

Final Records
Justine Wong-Orantes/Alicia Ostrander - 8-5 
Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rolfzen - 8-3
Amber Rolfzen/Kira Larson - 4-0 
Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall - 8-3 
Melanie Keil/Kelsey Fien - 3-0
Alexa Ethridge/Kira Larson - 2-4 
Melanie Keil/Amber Rolfzen - 2-4 
Melanie Keil/Alexa Ethridge - 1-1
Kelsey Fien/Kira Larson - 0-1
Kelsey Fien/Sydney Townsend - 0-1 
Kelsey Fien/Amber Rolfzen - 0-1
Kelsey Fien/Alexa Ethridge - 1-1