The North Platte Community College Lady Knights spoiled Opening Night at the McCook Community College Events Center. The Lady Knights topped McCook in a hard-fought five sets, 25-16, 21-25, 25-12, 21-25, 15-2. Whitney Smith’s 12 kills led the Lady Knights to the win, their fourth in their last five matches. Three of those four wins have come in five sets. The Lady Knights are back in action next Tuesday at Northeastern Junior College.

This lengthy rally ended in a kill for Lady Knights sophomore Mersedes Klein and put the Lady Knights one point from wrapping up the third set. It’s our Play of the Game – click on the link below to listen.

Klein kill after long rally 9-5

Nebraska’s offensive line debuted two new starters in their season opening victory. Center Justin Jackson and left tackle Brent Qvale performed admirably, and the unit as a whole permitted just one sack on the afternoon. But this Saturday the Husker line will be tested by UCLA’s 3-4 defensive front that racked up seven sacks in their win last week against Rice. Nebraska assistant offensive line coach John Garrison says he’s preparing his players for a stiff challenge on Saturday. “They’re big and they’re physical up front,” Garrison said. “They provide multiple fronts and they’ll bring in guys that will provide pass rush issues on third down. Those guys are physical, they play fast and they do a nice job not allowing you to get to the second level.” UCLA had a big day in their opener, but had just 14 sacks as a team all of last season.

Click the link below to listen to John Garrison’s full post-practice remarks.

John Garrison full 9-5

One night after the Colorado Rockies earned a shutout victory, the Atlanta Braves returned the favor. Mike Minor took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Braves scratched out a lone unearned run in a 1-0 victory over the Rockies at Turner Field. Atlanta’s run came via a Josh Rutledge miscue in the fourth inning. It was all the Braves needed as Minor and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, striking out 12. Four Rockies pitchers allowed just four hits. The unearned run was charged to starter Alex White, who gave up just two hits in four innings but walked four. Rutledge and Jordan Pacheco had the Rockies’ hits, with Pacheco’s single breaking up Minor’s no-hitter leading off the seventh. The Rockies and Braves wrap up their four game series today. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action, with pregame coverage at 10:30 AM and the first pitch at 11:10.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The 2012 NFL season starts tonight when the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants kick off the first game of the campaign. Tonight’s contest is being played in East Rutherford, N.J., and features a pair of long-time NFC East rivals. The Giants won the division last year with a mark of 9-7 while the Cowboys finished 8-8.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Fans of the Cleveland Browns take good news whenever they can get it. Today it came in the form of an update on rookie running back Trent Richardson. The club says the third-overall pick in this year’s NFL draft has practiced for the first time since having knee injury in early August and that he will play in Sunday’s home opener against Philadelphia.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has pledged $30 million for medical research into the brain, specifically concussion management and treatment, and the understanding of the relationship between traumatic brain injury and late-life neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease. The pledge was made to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sara Errani has advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open. She eliminated good friend and doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-4 today. Third-seed Maria Sharapova was also a winner today, defeating 11th-seed Marion Bartoli, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals is looking for his 18th win of the season tonight as the Nats entertain the Cubs. The Nationals lead the NL East by 7 ½ games over the Braves.

Scores as of 4 PM Wednesday:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chi White Sox 6 Minnesota 1 (Top 9th)
L.A. Angels 3 Oakland 1 (Top 4th)
Cleveland at Detroit 6:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at Tampa Bay 6:10 p.m.
Texas at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Boston at Seattle 9:10 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 6 Cincinnati 2
N-Y Mets 6 St. Louis 2
Chi Cubs at Washington 6:05 p.m.
Houston at Pittsburgh 6:05 p.m.
Colorado at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Miami 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at L.A. Dodgers 9:10 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Dallas at N-Y Giants 7:30 p.m.