Huskers Sweep Iowa, Move to 2-0 in B1GHuskers Sweep Iowa, Move to 2-0 in B1G
Volleyball

Huskers Sweep Iowa, Move to 2-0 in B1G

Lincoln - The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team picked up its second sweep of Iowa this week with a 25-10, 25-21, 25-18 victory before a season-high crowd of 8,427 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday night, the Huskers' second annual "White Out" match.

The Huskers (11-1, 2-0 Big Ten) relied on their middles early and often, as Amber Rolfzen led the way with a season-high 11 kills - on a season-best .556 hitting percentage - and six blocks, while Cecilia Hall added eight kills and two blocks. Kadie Rolfzen had 10 kills, eight digs and five blocks, while Mikaela Foecke produced eight kills and three blocks. Kelly Hunter had 36 assists and seven digs, and Justine Wong-Orantes led NU with 10 digs. 

Nebraska outblocked Iowa 10-6. After totaling six blocks at Iowa on Wednesday night, the Huskers had six on Saturday by the fourth rally of set two. 

Iowa (10-5, 0-2) was led by Lauren Brobst's eight kills. Nebraska held Iowa to .077 hitting on the night, its best defensive performance of the season. The Huskers hit .292. 

Nebraska closed a dominant first set on a 13-1 run to win 25-10. The Huskers hit .667 with 14 kills on 21 error-free swings, just shy of the Huskers' season-best effort of .680 against Georgia Tech. The Huskers also posted five of their 10 blocks in the first game.

The Huskers extended their season-best stretch of 19 kills without an error to begin a match as they went up 9-5 in the second set. Iowa drew within 18-16 with a 5-1 spurt, but the Huskers maintained at least a two-point distance the rest of the way and Foecke finished the 25-21 win with consecutive kills. While the Huskers cooled off and hit .100 in set two, they held Iowa to .029 hitting and .048 for the match to that point. 

Hall, Kadie Rolfzen and Kelsey Fien opened set three with kills, and the Huskers pulled ahead 15-7. Iowa put together a mini run to get within 16-13, but kills by Hunter and Olivia Boender put NU up 20-15. Boender added another kill later in the set as the Huskers wrapped up the sweep, 25-18. 

The Huskers are on the road next weekend for a pair of top-15 matchups. Nebraska visits No. 1 Penn State on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) and No. 12 Ohio State on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CT).