Sports – Page 364 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Travel to Rhode Island Saturday Night

Posted on November 20, 2014

Lincoln — The Nebraska basketball team hits the road for the first time this season, as the No. 21 Huskers travel to Kingston, R.I., to take on the Rhode Island Rams this Saturday.

Tipoff for this intersectional matchup is set for 6:05 p.m. (central) and is being produced by Ocean State Networks in Rhode Island. For fans in Nebraska, it will be televised on DirecTV (Ch. 639) and on Cox Cable in Omaha (Ch. 126). In addition, it is also available to watch online by visiting coxhub.com for $5.

The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska by the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Jake Muhleisen adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio.

The Huskers, who are 21st in both the AP and Coaches polls this week, took care of Central Arkansas on Tuesday with an 82-56 win. Nebraska got a game-high 23 points from Terran Petteway and a double-double from junior Shavon Shields (16 points and 11 rebounds), while Nebraska held UCA to just 33 percent shooting from the field. Shields scored all 16 of his points in the first half, including seven in an 11-2 spurt to give Nebraska breathing room entering the second half.

While Petteway leads the Big Ten in scoring at 24 points per game, the junior guard is one of four Huskers averaging double figures heading into Saturday’s tilt. Junior forward Shavon Shields is 12th in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.5 points per game on 72 pecent shooting and 10th in rebounding at 7.5 caroms per outing.

For the Huskers, the continued defensive intensity will be key for success on the road, as one of the biggest lessons NU learned last season was that defense can win on the road. The Huskers closed the 2013-14 season by winning three of its final four road games, holding opponents to just 36 percent shooting and 55 points per game. That included wins at Michigan State and Indiana. Prior to that, NU went winless in its first seven road contests of 2013-14, as foes shot 46 percent and averaged 73 points per game.

Rhode Island, which was picked sixth in the Atlantic-10 preseason poll, is also 2-0 on the year coming off a 72-56 win over UMass-Lowell on Sunday. The Rams are averaging 83 points per game and have four players averaging at least 11.5 points per game. Hassan Martin leads the Rams with 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while E.C. Matthews, who played with Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields at adidas Nations camp this summer, is one of three Rams players averaging 11.5 points per game.

Numbers 2 Know
2000-01- Prior to this season, the last time that Nebraska scored 80 or more points in its first two games of the season. The last time NU opened with three games of 80+ points came in 1992-93.

9 – Consecutive shots that David Rivers has made dating back to last year’s NCAA Tournament. Rivers made his last two shots against Baylor and is 7-of-7 from the field in 2014-15. NU’s record for consecutive baskets is 15 by Ade Dagunduro in 2008-09.

21.0 – Nebraska is averaging 21.0 points per game off opponent’s turnovers during the first two contests.

Scouting Rhode Island
Rhode Island comes into Saturday’s game with a 2-0 record following wins over Pace and UMass-Lowell last weekend. The Rams are coached by Dan Hurley, who is in his third year at URI after turning around the Wagner program in two seasons. The son of legendary coach Bob Hurley Sr., Dan helped Wagner win 25 games in his final season at the school. URI, which was picked to finished sixth in the Atlantic-10 preseason poll, returns seven of their top eight scorers from a team that went 14-18. The returnees are led by sophomore guard E.C. Matthews, who averaged 14.6 points per game en route to being named Atlantic-10 Co-Rookie of the Year and senior Gilvydas Biruta, who averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Matthews was a second-team preseason All-Atlantic 10 pick, while Biruta was a third-team pick. Sophomore Hassan Martin anchors the inside, as he has averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in their two wins so far.

Series History: Saturday’s meeting is just the second between the two teams and the first since the 2011-12 season. In that game, Bo Spencer scored 23 points to pace the Huskers, while Caleb Walker added 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The Huskers shot 47 percent, including 10-of-23 from 3-point range while URI shot 38 percent. David Rivers, who played eight minutes off the bench, is the only Nebraska player who played in that matchup.

Last Time Out
Terran Petteway’s 23 points led three Huskers in double figures, while No. 21 Nebraska clamped down defensively in the second half in posting an 82-56 win over Central Arkansas.

The Huskers held Central Arkansas to just 30 percent shooting in the second half to pull away over the final 20 minutes. In all, NU held UCA to 33 percent shooting and turned 18 turnovers into 20 Husker points.

Petteway hit 8-of-17 shots from the field for his second 20-point effort of the year, and was backed up by Shavon Shields and Tai Webster, who combined for 29 points in the win. Shields posted his fourth career double-double with 16 points – all in the first half – and 11 rebounds, while Webster finished with 13 points and matched his personal best with four steals.

Shields keyed the Huskers’ decisive first-half run, scoring seven points in an 11-2 spurt that turned a 32-30 lead into an 11-point cushion. The 6-foot-7 junior scored five straight points, as his steal and dunk made it 37-30 before he capped the run with a layup off a Central Arkansas turnover, putting NU ahead 43-32 which was the Huskers’ largest lead to that point.

The Huskers, who saw a nine-point halftime lead cut to 47-42 after a Jake Zuilhof basket with 16:45 left, then took over. NU ran off 13 unanswered points over the next five minutes to make it an 18-point lead, at 60-42. David Rivers and Petteway combined for eight points before a 3-pointer from Benny Parker and a long jumper by Walter Pitchford put the Huskers firmly in control.

Notes from Tuesday’s win

Nebraska’s 82 points was NU’s highest total since also scoring 82 against Minnesota on Jan. 26, 2014.
Huskers scored 80 or more points for the second straight game, marking only the sixth time NU has reached the 80-point mark. Nebraska is 5-1 in those contests. It is also the second time in Miles’ three seasons where NU scored 80 points in consecutive games.
Nebraska held Central Arkansas to 56 points after averaging 76 points per game in the first two contests. Nebraska held UCA to just 0.77 points per possession. The Huskers have held both opponents to under 38 percent shooting.
Nebraska has now won its last 10 home non-conference games dating back to the 2012-13 season and is 16-2 in home non-conference games under Tim Miles.
Nebraska has now won its last 10 home games dating back to Jan. 20, 2014.
Terran Petteway finished with 23 points, his second 20-point effort of the year and 14th of his career. Petteway has now been in double figures for 13 straight games dating back to last season.
Shavon Shields posted his fourth career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Shields’ 11 rebounds is his highest total since grabbing 13 againat Michigan State as a freshman.
Benny Parker’s 3-pointer in the second half was his first since Dec. 3, 2012.

Petteway Named to Wooden award Preseason Top 50
Nebraska basketball standout Terran Petteway was tabbed for the Wooden Award Men’s Preseason Top 50 Monday afternoon. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.

Petteway earned a spot on the list after an outstanding sophomore season where he averaged 18.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The 6-foot-6 wing led the Big Ten in scoring – becoming the first Husker in more than six decades to lead the conference in scoring for a season – and had a pair of 30-point games on the season, including a career-high 35 points against Minnesota. He was his best against the Huskers’ toughest foes, averaging 20.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 12 games against top-50 competition to help the Huskers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

Huskers Among the Ranked
The Huskers opened the 2014-15 season in the national rankings for the first time since the 1994-95 season, as the Huskers are 21st in both the AP and coaches polls. It marks the first time since Jan. 2, 1995, that Nebraska is nationally ranked and just the second time in AP poll history and first since 1992 that the Huskers opened the season as a ranked team. Nebraska is now 36-18 (.667) when ranked all-time in program history following Tuesday’s win over Central Arkansas. In addition to the AP and Coaches polls, other publications have taken notice of the Huskers as well.

While the Big Ten only releases the top three teams in its preseason poll (Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State), the league’s beat writers do an informal poll where the Huskers were picked fourth. The Huskers were picked 12th (among 12 teams at the time) in the preseason in both 2012-13 and 2013-14, and finished 10th and fourth, respectively. In other preseason publications, Nebraska was picked as high as second (Athlon) to as low as sixth (ESPN).

Petteway Leads Husker Returnees
Junior wing Terran Petteway comes into 2014-15 as one of the nation’s premier players. The 6-foot-6 junior wing has been featured on several lists of top players in college basketball and was chosen second-team preseason All-American by The Sporting News and CBSSports.com. As a sophomore, he led the Big Ten in scoring at 18.1 points per game while adding 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest, while starting all 32 contests. Not only did he lead the Huskers in scoring, but also was second on the team in rebounding and third in assists.

Early on, Petteway has been a force for the Huskers, averaging a Big Ten-leading 24.0 points per game, along with 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He leads the Big Ten with an average of 4.5 3-pointers per game during the early season. Petteway has been in double figures in NU’s last 13 games dating back to last season and has
Petteway opened the season with the best long-distance shooting of his career, hitting 6-of-9 from 3-point range on his way to scoring a game-high 25 points against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 15. He followed up with a 23-point effort in Tuesday’s win over Central Arkansas.

This season, Petteway looks to become the first player since Ohio State’s Evan Turner (2009-10) to lead the Big Ten in scoring in consecutive seasons. Over the last 30 years, only three players – Turner, Purdue’s Glenn Robinson (1993-94) and Michigan’s Glen Rice (1988-89) – have accomplished the feat.

Nebraska has had eight All-Americans in program history, most recently Carl McPipe during the 1977-78 season.

Last season, Petteway became the first player to earn unanimous first-team all-conference honors since Venson Hamilton in 1999, and also earned first-team all-district honors by the NABC (coaches) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (writers).

Petteway finished Big Ten play as the conference scoring leader, averaging 18.6 points per game. He became the fifth Husker in the last century to lead a conference in scoring in conference games and first since former Big Eight Player of the Year Andre Smith in 1980-81. He also led the conference at 18.1 points per game in all games and became the first Husker since 1950 (first year the Big Seven Conference kept records) to ever lead the league in scoring for all games.

Petteway finished seventh on Nebraska’s single-season scoring list with 579 points, as only Dave Hoppen, Tyronn Lue, Eric Piatkowski, and Andre Smith have scored more points in a season. He also finished second on the Huskers’ single-season free throw list with 167.

Shields Keys Husker Attack
While Petteway has become one of the best players in the Big Ten, the emergence of junior Shavon Shields is equally vital to the Huskers attack. The 6-foot-7 wing started all 32 games and averaged 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game to earn honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media. As a sophomore, Shields was second on the team in scoring and led Nebraska in rebounding. Shields is one of four returnees to rank in the top 15 in both scoring and rebounding in Big Ten play last year, joining Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin), Rayvonte Rice (Illinois) and Aaron White (Iowa).

Shields has started the last 53 games dating back to the middle of his freshman season, the longest streak on the team. This season, he is averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Shields has been exceptionally efficient, shooting 73 percent from the floor and 86 percent from the foul line. In the opener, he scored 18 points on just four field goals, as he went a perfect 10-of-10 from the line. Shields collected his first double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing out four assists.

Last season, Shields played some of his best basketball since moving to his natural wing position in February, averaging 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field over NU’s last 12 contests. The Huskers went 8-4 over that stretch.
Shields earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for his efforts during the last week of the season, averaging 21.5 points per game in wins over Indiana and Wisconsin, as he had 26 points against the ninth-ranked Badgers and 17 points and eight rebounds in the win at Indiana.

His best offensive effort came against Illinois on Feb. 12, when he scored a career-high 33 points, hitting 8-of-12 shots from the field and all 15 of his free throws. Shields tied Nebraska’s single-game record for free throws without a miss and became only the 11th Big Ten player to hit at least 15 free throws without a miss and the first since 1997.

Pitchford Poses Problems for Opponents
Junior forward Walter Pitchford became one of the focal points to the Huskers’ attack in Big Ten play last season. The 6-foot-10, 237-pounder is one of the toughest matchups in college basketball, as he is a skilled shooter who hit 41 percent from 3-point range. Last season, Pitchford averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while starting 31 games.

An outstanding athlete with a 42-inch vertical leap, Pitchford played some of his best basketball of the season over the Huskers’ second-half surge, averaging 11.0 points per game on 53 percent shooting over the last 14 games. Pitchford reached double figures 11 times in that stretch including a career-high 18-point effort along with five rebounds and a pair of steals in a win at No. 9 Michigan State on Feb. 16. Pitchford sparked NU’s win at Indiana with 17 points and nine rebounds, as he scored the Huskers’ first nine points and then delivered a 3-pointer with 1:55 left to give Nebraska a four-point cushion.

Pitchford has had a slow start offensively, averaging just 3.5 points per game, but has found other ways to make an impact. Against Northern Kentucky, he had four rebounds and matched his career high with three blocked shots in 26 minutes of work and had four rebounds in 20 minutes vs. Central Arkansas.

Defense Keyed Second-Half Improvement
In 2013-14, the Huskers’ biggest in-season improvements came on the defensive end. The Huskers entered Big Ten play last in field goal defense and eighth in scoring defense, but dramatically improved during conference action.

Over the final 16 games of the 2013-14, NU held 10 opponents below 40 percent shooting from the field, including eight straight foes in one stretch. The eight consecutive foes under 40 percent was the longest streak by a Husker defense in at least four decades. The Huskers finished Big Ten play second in conference games in field goal percentage (.415) and third in scoring defense (63.4).

The Huskers improved from 102nd to 29th in defensive efficiency by KenPom in 2013-14.
Nebraska has been stout at home over the last two seasons, as only three teams have shot over 45 percent against the Huskers, while 11 of 18 opponents have been held to under 40 percent shooting. Northern Kentucky shot just 36 percent while Central Arkansas was held to 33 percent.

Abdullah a Finalist for Two National Awards

Posted on November 20, 2014

Nebraska senior I-back Ameer Abdullah was named a finalist for two national awards on Thursday morning. The record-setting running back was named as one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award and is one of four finalists for the Pop Warner College Football Award.

The Hornung Award is presented to the most versatile player in college football. Abdullah is joined on the list of finalists by TCU running back/returner B.J. Catalon, Missouri running back/returner Marcus Murphy, Stanford wide receiver/returner Ty Montgomery and Washington linebacker/running back Shaq Thompson.

Abduallah ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yards per game, and is the only player in the FBS ranks to produce two games with more than 300 all-purpose yards in 2014. Abdullah is Nebraska’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage and ranks second in Big Ten history in that category. Abdullah has also had four 200-yard rushing games this season.

The winner of the Hornung Award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 12, and the winner will be honored at a banquet in Louisville on Jan. 27, 2015.

The Pop Warner College Football Award honors a player who has contributed at a high level on the field, in the classroom and in his community, emulating the ideals of the Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s oldest youth football organization.

In addition to Abdullah, other finalists include Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Stanford safety Jordan Richards and Florida center Max Garcia. The inaugural award was presented in 2010 to Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara. The Pop Warner College Football Award will be presented on Dec. 10 at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports during the Pop Warner Super Bowl.

Storm Captain Gamez Commits To Providence

Posted on November 20, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm captain Garrett Gamez has signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I College Hockey with the Providence College Friars next season.

Gamez, who has appeared in a total of 116 games with the Storm over the past three seasons, currently ranks 18th all-time among Storm skaters with 42 assists. Through 13 games this season, the Chino Hills, Calif. native has four goals and four assists.

The forward will become the second player to go from Tri-City to Providence in the last three years, joining forward Trevor Mingoia, who played for the Storm during the 2012-13 season.

The two will be reunited for one more season next fall, as Mingoia, currently a junior, will have only his senior season remaining.

The 19-year-old was previously committed to Denver University and was recruited by then assistant coach Steve Miller. Although things didn’t work out with the Pioneers, Gamez will end up getting a chance to play for Miller after all, as he is currently an assistant with the Friars under head coach Nate Leaman.

“The coaching staff there was a huge hit for me,” Gamez said. “Coach [Miller] was with Denver when I was committed there so I already had a really good relationship with him.”

Since taking the reins in 2011-12, Leaman has changed the culture at the school, guiding the team to its first winning seasons since the 2005-06 campaign. The Friars qualified for the NCAA Tournament last spring for the first time since 2001 and fell one game short of reaching the Frozen Four, losing to Union College in the quarterfinals after defeating Quinnipiac in the opening round.

“I liked that he was very honest with me,” Gamez said of his now future head coach. “He’s not really a player pleaser; he’s just very honest and very straight with you. He tells you how you need to improve and what you’re doing well. I like being able to go to a coach that’s very honest and not scared to hurt my feelings.”

Gamez also said he felt more mature with the way he went through the college selection process a second time.

“I had a better understanding of what I needed to look for and the opportunity I was getting at each college that offered me a scholarship,” Gamez said. “I felt that Providence was the best offer for me and I’m really excited to attend. I liked the atmosphere there.”

With his future now firmly in place, Gamez is looking forward to concentrating on his time left with Tri-City and achieving his goal of winning a championship in the USHL.

“The last couple weeks were pretty stressful getting everything situated and figured out,” Gamez said. “It’s definitely a blessing for myself to be committed there and it’s a bit of a sigh of relief knowing that I’m going to college next year.”

The Storm will take on Des Moines at the Viaero Event Center Friday night at 7:30 p.m., before hitting the road to face Sioux City on Saturday at 7:05.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.

Huskers Hit the Road for Pair of Matches

Posted on November 20, 2014

No. 7 Nebraska heads to North Carolina for two matches on Saturday. The Huskers face Duke at noon (CT) at Card Gymnasium in Durham, N.C., before squaring off against NC State at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C., at 6 p.m.

The matchup between the Huskers and Blue Devils will mark the first meeting in series history. The dual will be streamed on the Blue Devil Network and live scoring will be on TrackWrestling.com.

NU’s dual against the Wolfpack marks the fourth in series history, with the Huskers holding a 3-0-0 advantage all time. ESPN3.com will stream the showdown and TrackWrestling.com will have live stats.

Last Time Out: Green Earns 100th Career Win as NU Routs Terps
Senior James Green (157) picked up his 100th career victory as No. 7 Nebraska cruised to a 42-3 triumph over Big Ten newcomer Maryland at the NU Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Four Huskers won by fall against the Terrapins, including No. 14 Tim Lambert (125), No. 16 Austin Wilson (165), No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174) and No. 18 Collin Jensen (HWT). Justin Arthur (149) and Aaron Studebaker (184) each notched major decisions, while No. 15 Anthony Abidin (141) and Micah Barnes (197) each won by decision.

Scouting the Duke Blue Devils
Duke starts its dual season on Saturday against the Huskers after competing at the Hokie Open (Nov. 9) and Wolfpack Open (Nov. 16). Returning NCAA qualifier Immanuel Kerr-Brown is ranked 19th at 157 pounds after winning his weight class at the Wolfpack Open. Marcus Cain is also ranked by InterMat, coming in at No. 20 at 149 pounds after finishing fifth at the Wolfpack Open.

The Blue Devils are coached by Glen Lanham, who is in his third season as the head coach, and holds a record of 15-25-0. Lanham is assisted by Will Rowe and Ben Wissel.

Scouting the NC State Wolfpack
NC State begins its dual season on Saturday against Gardner-Webb before facing Nebraska at Reynolds Coliseum. The team hosted the Wolfpack Open on Nov. 16, as Nick Gwiazdowski (HWT), Peter Renda (174) and Tommy Gantt (165) took home weight class titles. Gwiazdowski is ranked second by InterMat and won the 2014 national title.
Renda (No. 18 at 174) and Sam Speno (No. 13 at 141) are also ranked by InterMat. Each of them qualified for last year’s NCAA Championships.

NC State is coached by Pat Popolizio, who is in his third season at the helm of the Wolfpack wrestling program. He holds a record of 19-13 at NC State, and a 100-66-2 career record in his ninth year overall. Popolizio is assisted by Frank Beasley and Obe Blanc.

Nebraska in the Rankings
As a team, Nebraska is ranked seventh in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll, ninth by InterMat and 11th by WIN Magazine. The Huskers are 2-0 on the season, with a 1-0 record in Big Ten duals. NU is 1-0 against ranked opponents, 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road.

Back Points – Notes on Nebraska’s Starters
Tim Lambert, 125 pounds, Sophomore, Forest Hills, Mich.
• Tim Lambert is 3-2 this season, and holds a 1-1 record in dual competition. He is 0-2 against ranked opponents and 1-0 in Big Ten competition. Lambert has one pin, one technical fall and one major decision this season.
• Lambert is ranked 14th by InterMat, 10th by WIN Magazine and 18th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Lambert finished second at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Lambert went 24-13 last season on his way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships. He went 2-2 at the national tournament after finishing fifth at the Big Ten Championships.

Eric Montoya, 133 pounds, Sophomore, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Eric Montoya is 4-1 this season, with a 1-1 mark in duals. He is 0-1 against ranked opponents and 0-1 against Big Ten foes. Montoya has one technical fall and one major decision in 2014-15.
• Montoya is ranked 18th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Montoya took home the 133-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Montoya went 11-2 last season en route to winning Nebraska Redshirt-of-the-Year honors. In 2013, he qualified for the NCAA Championships while wrestling at Campbell University.

Anthony Abidin, 141 pounds, Junior, Dix Hills, N.Y.
• Anthony Abidin is 6-0 this season, and holds a 2-0 record in duals. He is 2-0 against Big Ten opponents. Abidin has five major decisions this season.
• Abidin is ranked 15th by InterMat, 15th by WIN Magazine and 12th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Abidin won the 141-pound crown at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Abidin went 18-3 last season in his first year with the Huskers, which included a 5-0 mark in dual competition. In 2012, while wrestling at Nassau Community College, Abidin won the NJCAA national title at 133 pounds.

Justin Arthur, 149 pounds, Sophomore, Huntington, W.Va.
• Justin Arthur is 6-1 this season, with a 1-1 record in duals. He is 1-0 against Big Ten foes. Arthur has one pin and one major decision in 2014-15.
• Arthur captured the 149-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Arthur competed at Clarion last season, where he qualified for the NCAA Championships and fell one win short of All-America honors. He went 29-16 at 149 pounds for the Golden Eagles.

James Green, 157 pounds, Senior, Willingboro, N.J.
• James Green is 6-0 this season, and holds a 2-0 record in dual competition. He is 1-0 against Big Ten opponents. Green has one pin, four technical falls and one major decision this season.
• Green is ranked second in the InterMat, WIN Magazine and TheOpenMat.com polls.
• Green is on a 10-match winning streak that dates back to last season’s NCAA Championships. He has won every bout in bonus-point fashion.
• Green became the 23rd member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club with his 16-3 major decision over Maryland’s Lou Mascola on Nov. 16.
• Green won the 157-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Green opened his season at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., where he defeated No. 3 Ian Miller by a 6-4 decision. After the competition, he was named MVP of the Red Team. The win does not count toward his record.
• Green looks to become the second Husker all-time to earn All-America status on four occasions. The title is currently owned by Associate Head Coach Bryan Snyder, who wrestled for the Huskers from 1999 to 2002. Green finished third at the 2014 NCAA Championships after taking seventh during both his sophomore and freshman seasons.
• Green won the 2014 Big Ten title at 157 pounds after finishing second in 2013 and fifth in 2012.

Austin Wilson, 165 pounds, Junior, Hastings, Neb.
• Austin Wilson is 3-1 this season, with a 2-0 record in dual competition. He is 1-0 against ranked opponents and 1-0 against Big Ten foes. Wilson has one pin and one technical fall this season
• Wilson is ranked 17th by InterMat, 18th by WIN Magazine and 16th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Wilson is a two-time NCAA qualifier, and holds a career record of 53-31. He finished sixth at the 2014 Big Ten Championships.

Robert Kokesh, 174 pounds, Senior, Wagner, S.D.
• Robert Kokesh is 7-0 on the season, and holds a 2-0 dual record. He is 2-0 against Big Ten opponents. Kokesh has three pins and two technical falls in 2014-15.
• Kokesh is ranked second in the InterMat, WIN Magazine and TheOpenMat.com polls.
• Kokesh joined Nebraska’s Top 10 Career Victories List (112) with his pin of Maryland’s Josh Snook on Nov. 16.
• Kokesh won the 174-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Kokesh opened his season at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., where he defeated NAIA No. 1 and three-time national champion Brock Gutches of Southern Oregon by an 8-2 decision. The win does not count toward his record.
• Kokesh is a two-time All-American and member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club. He finished fourth at the 2014 NCAA Championships after taking third place in 2013.
• Kokesh won the 2014 Big Ten title at 174 pounds after finishing third in both 2013 and 2012.

TJ Dudley, 184 pounds, Sophomore, Irmo, S.C.
• TJ Dudley is 4-1 this season, with an 0-1 dual record. He is 0-1 against ranked opponents. Dudley has one pin and one major decision this season.
• Dudley is ranked 16th by InterMat, 16th by WIN Magazine and 19th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Dudley is on a four-match winning streak since dropping his first bout of the season.
• Dudley captured the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) crown at 184 pounds on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Dudley went 26-8 last season on his way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Aaron Studebaker, 184 pounds, Sophomore, Raymond, Neb.
• Aaron Studebaker is 9-3 this season, and holds a 1-0 dual record. He is 1-2 against ranked opponents and is 4-0 against Big Ten foes. Studebaker has two pins, two technical falls and one major decision in 2014-15.
• Studebaker has won five of his last six matches since starting the season 4-2.
• Studebaker took runner-up honors at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) at 184 pounds on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Studebaker went 24-5 last season, capturing three open tournament titles in the process.

Micah Barnes, 197 pounds, Sophomore Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
• Micah Barnes is 7-4 this season, with a 1-1 mark in dual competition. He is 0-2 against ranked opponents and 2-1 against Big Ten foes. Barnes has two major decisions this season.
• Barnes has won four of his last five matches since starting the season 3-3.
• Barnes finished second at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Barnes won two open tournament titles last season, posting a 9-1 record in the process.

Collin Jensen, Heavyweight, Sophomore, Mobridge, S.D.
• Collin Jensen is 4-1 this season, and holds a 2-0 dual record. He is 1-0 against Big Ten opponents. Jensen has three pins this season.
• Jensenis ranked 15th by InterMat and 19th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Jensen tied for third at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Jensen went 20-15 last season on his way to a berth in the NCAA Championships.

Four Wrestlers Sign with Huskers
Nebraska Wrestling Head Coach Mark Manning announced the signing of four wrestlers on Tuesday, Nov. 18, who will join the team next season.

“We are extremely excited to have Patrick, Jordan, Jacob and Kris join our program,” Manning said. “These guys all come with outstanding high school careers and have aspirations to achieve at the highest level at the University of Nebraska. These four guys will be tremendous influences on the mat as well as in the classroom. We look forward to helping them reach their goals.”

Patrick Grayson – Stafford, Virginia (Colonial Forge) – HWT
Grayson is ranked seventh by InterMat at 220 pounds, and won the 2014 Super 32 crown after defeating Mamaroneck’s Youssif Hemida in the finals. Grayson also claimed the 2014 Virginia 6A state title with his win over Alveno Matthews of Franklin County in the finals. Grayson went 47-4 last season, and holds a career record of 87-28. In 2013, he took seventh place at the state tournament.

Jordan Shearer – West Fargo, N.D. (West Fargo) – 141/149
Shearer is a five-time North Dakota state champion at West Fargo High School. He is ranked 16th at 138 pounds by InterMat, and is also a Fargo All-American. Shearer has competed in four Junior and Cadet Nationals, and won a Greco-Roman title, while placing sixth in freestyle.

Jacob Armstrong – Salem, Utah (Salem Hills) – 174
Armstrong, a two-time state champion, is ranked No. 8 at 182 pounds in InterMat’s poll. The Fargo All-American completed the Utah Triple Crown when he won the Greco and Freestyle titles, with all of his victories by either technical fall or pin. Armstrong finished third at the 2014 USA Wrestling Junior Greco Nationals, fourth at the 2014 USA Wrestling Junior Men’s Freestyle Nationals and second at the 2013 Reno Tournament of Champions.

Kris Williams – South Holland, Ill. (Thornwood) – 125/133
Williams holds a career record of 69-3 at Thornwood High School after going 30-0 during his junior season en route to the state title. His state crown, which came at 120 pounds, marked his third consecutive title in Illinois. Williams is ranked eighth at 120 pounds by InterMat.

Keeping an Eye on Nebraska’s Career Records Lists
• Head Coach Mark Manning is 11 wins away from becoming the winningest coach in Nebraska wrestling history. The win would also mark the 200th in his time with the Huskers. Manning holds a 189-73-3 record in his 15th season at Nebraska. Former Head Coach Tim Neumann (1985-2000) went 199-77-6 while coaching the Huskers.

• Senior James Green (157) became the 23rd member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club with his 16-3 major decision over Maryland’s Lou Mascola on Nov. 16. Green holds a career record of 100-17-0 and is a three-time All-American. He is 12 wins away from joining Nebraska’s Top 10 Career Victories List. Gary Albright (1981-86) is currently 10th in school history with 112 wins.

• Senior Robert Kokesh (174) joined Nebraska’s Top 10 Career Victories List with his pin of Maryland’s Josh Snook on Nov. 16. Kokesh, who holds a career record of 112-14-0, is 12 wins away from a spot in the top five. Brad Vering (1997-01) is currently fifth in school history with 124 wins.

Sueflohn Out for the Season
Senior Jake Sueflohn (149) will miss the 2014-15 campaign with a torn ACL. Sueflohn is redshirting this season and will have one more year of eligibility. The three-time NCAA qualifier has a career record of 80-24, and holds a dual mark of 37-8.

Tumble N’ Rumble Set for Jan. 9
The second annual Tumble N’ Rumble is scheduled for Nebraska’s Jan. 9 dual against Purdue at the Devaney Center at 7 p.m. The event features wrestling and women’s gymnastics at the same time on the same floor. The gymnastics team faces Lindenwood in its season opener for Tumble N’ Rumble.

Dual Recaps
Wyoming (Nov. 7): Huskers Top Cowboys in Season Opener
No. 7 Nebraska opened its dual season with a 22-13 victory over No. 25 Wyoming at the Wyoming Indoor Practice Facility on Friday, Nov. 7. No. 15 Collin Jensen (HWT), Eric Montoya (133), No. 17 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 2 James Green (157), No. 14 Austin Wilson (165) and No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174) claimed wins for the Huskers. Green pinned Archie Colgan, while Abidin earned a major decision over Cole Mendenhall for bonus points.

Tracking the Redshirts
Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open (Nov. 2)
Seven Huskers earned spots on the podium at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D., on Sunday, Nov. 2. Tyler Berger (149) and Dustin Williams (165), each wrestling unattached, turned in second-place finishes to lead the way. Derek White (3rd at 197 – unattached), Aaron Studebaker (5th at 184), Micah Barnes (5th at 197), Nyle Bartling (5th at HWT) and Colton McCrystal (6th at 141 – unattached) also placed for the Big Red.

Harold Nichols Cyclone Open; Ames, Iowa (Nov. 8)
Freshman Derek White led five Huskers at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on Saturday, Nov. 8 with his runner-up finish at 197 pounds. At 149 pounds, junior Tyrell Galloway turned in a sixth-place finish. Sean Murphy (133), Gage Anderson (165) and Eric Engler (184) also competed for the Huskers at the Harold Nichols Open.

Huskers Win Eight Weight Classes at Cowboy Open
No. 7 Nebraska won eight weight class titles at the Cowboy Open at War Memorial Field House in Laramie, Wyo., on Saturday, Nov. 8.

No. 2 James Green (157), No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 13 TJ Dudley (184), Eric Montoya (133), No. 17 Anthony Abidin (141) and Justin Arthur (149) each captured Elite Division titles. No. 14 Tim Lambert (125) and Micah Barnes (197) each garnered runner-up honors, while No. 15 Collin Jensen and Nyle Bartling tied for third at heavyweight.
In the Amateur Division, Tyler Berger took home the 149-pound crown, while Colton Adams and Hayden Tuma tied for first at 141 pounds. Mitchell Maginnis (125) finished third.

John Svoboda (157), No. 14 Austin Wilson (165) and Spencer Johnson (197) also wrestled for the Huskers at the Cowboy Open.

Green, Kokesh Win at NWCA All-Star Classic
All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174) each opened their senior campaign with a victory at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday, Nov. 1 at The Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa.

Kokesh defeated NAIA No. 1 and three-time national champion Brock Gutches of Southern Oregon by an 8-2 decision at 174 pounds, and Green won by a 6-4 decision over No. 3 Ian Miller of Kent State. After the competition, Green was named Most Valuable Wrestler for the Red Team.

Huskers Impress at Intrasquad
Nebraska held its annual Coaches Clinic/Intrasquad event on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Devaney Center, which gave fans their first chance to see the 2014-15 Huskers.
Head Coach Mark Manning introduced the team before the exhibition and shared facts about each wrestler during the competition. Assistant Coach and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs also spoke to the crowd about the upcoming season. The 90-minute workout included matches from all 10 weight classes.

Huskers Working Through 2014-15 Slate
Following this weekend’s action, the Huskers will grapple at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 5-6, in Las Vegas, Nev., before hosting Wisconsin in their final competition of 2014. The Huskers and Badgers square off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.
Nebraska heads to Chattanooga, Tenn., to open 2015 at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2. Following the tournament, the Huskers return home to face Purdue on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. The matchup between the Huskers and Boilermakers marks the first of 10 duals for Nebraska during January and February.

On Friday, Jan. 23, NU journeys to Champaign, Ill., to face Illinois, before returning home to host new Big Ten foe Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Devaney Center. The following weekend, the Huskers make a return to trip to Illinois on Friday, Jan. 30 to face Northwestern in Evanston, before returning home for a Sunday match against Indiana on Feb. 1.

The Huskers head to the Great Lakes State for a pair of duals on the subsequent weekend, as NU faces Michigan on Friday, Feb. 6, before visiting East Lansing, Mich., to wrestle against Michigan State.

Senior Night at the Devaney Center is slated for Friday, Feb. 13, as Nebraska hosts Stanford at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 21, NU will compete against Drexel and Princeton in Philadelphia, Pa., starting at noon.

The Big Ten Championships are scheduled for March 7-8 in Columbus, Ohio, while the NCAA Championships will be March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo.

Burroughs Takes Bronze at World Championships
Olympic Gold Medalist and Nebraska Assistant Coach Jordan Burroughs earned the freestyle bronze medal at 74 kg/163 pounds at the 2014 FILA World Championships after going 4-1 at the Gymnastics Palace in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sept. 9.

After his performance, Burroughs holds a 92-2 record internationally, earning gold medals at the 2012 Olympics, as well as the 2011 and 2013 FILA World Championships. At Nebraska, he won national titles in 2009 and 2011, capturing the Hodge Trophy in his final year with the Huskers.

Green Falls in World Team Trials Finals
James Green (70 kg/154 pounds) advanced to the finals of the Phase II World Team Trials before dropping two matches to Nick Marable on July 24 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

Green, representing Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, won the challenge tournament to earn a spot in the best-of-three championship series for a spot on the U.S. World Team. In the first match against 2014 U.S. Open champion Marable, Green fell by a 2-1 margin. Marable also came out on top in the second match, 8-2.

Gold Medalist Burroughs Hired As Assistant Coach
Head Coach Mark Manning announced the hiring of Husker legend and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs as an assistant coach for the team on July 11.

“We are pleased to announce Jordan as one of my top assistants,” Manning said. “Jordan is one of the best wrestlers in the world and his accomplishments speak for themselves. We want him to continue to win World and Olympic titles until he completes his career. Jordan and his wife Lauren have made a commitment to be a part of Nebraska Athletics for a very long time. I along with the wrestlers and staff are glad to have the influence, mentorship and knowledge that Jordan brings to Nebraska wrestling. He has been a part of Nebraska wrestling for the last eight years and will continue to be a tremendous ambassador for the University of Nebraska.”

Burroughs previously served on the Nebraska wrestling staff as an administrative assistant for the 2012-13 season. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in sociology in May 2011.

“This is a huge stepping stone for my career and for Nebraska wrestling,” Burroughs said. “These are great facilities, people and tradition, and I’m extremely happy to continue to be a part of it. Now I get to look at things from the inside-out, whereas before it was from the outside-in. I want us to win team championships.”

Green Takes Silver at University Worlds
James Green earned the silver medal at 70 kg/154 pounds in the men’s freestyle division of the University World Championships in Pecs, Hungary on July 9.

Green (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) opened the day with an 11-1 victory over Finland’s Jere Kunnas in the quarterfinals before taking down Russia’s Shamil Magomedov, 8-4, in the semifinals. In the finals, Evgheni Nedealco of Moldova pinned Green.

This year’s competition marked the second consecutive year that Green competed in the University World Championships. Last summer Green posted a 1-1 record in Kazan, Russia.

Ex-Husker Raschke Inducted into Hall of Fame
Former Husker wrestler Jim Raschke was one of four men inducted into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on Oct. 18 at the Kennedy Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

In addition to Raschke, the fifth induction class included Jim Burke (posthumous), Brad Rheingans and Jim Martinez. The Martinez Family received the Legacy Award and Dave Curby was given the Alan Rice Leadership Award.

Raschke lettered for Nebraska from 1960 to 1962, and captured the 1962 Big Eight title at heavyweight. After his collegiate career, Raschke became the second American to win a medal at the Greco-Roman World Championships when he finished third at heavyweight in 1963. In 1965, he became a worldwide interservice wrestling champion for the U.S. Army. While in high school, Raschke won the 1958 Nebraska Class A state crown at heavyweight while wrestling at Omaha North.

Raschke joined former Huskers Rulon Gardner and Matt Lindland in the prestigious Greco-Roman Hall of Fame. The four inductees for 2014 increased the Hall of Fame total to 14 wrestlers.

Ex-Husker Scherr Collects USA Wrestling Honor
Former Husker wrestler Bill Scherr earned USA Wrestling’s Myron Roderick Man-of-the-Year Award on June 19, an accolade that recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.

Scherr served a pivotal role in keeping wrestling as an Olympic sport, as he chaired the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW). In the position, Scherr developed the working structure of CPOW, ran weekly conference calls to help with CPOW’s strategy, oversaw the international relations area of CPOW and served as a spokesman for the organization.

Scherr has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and coached numerous teams, including the Women’s World Team. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998 as a distinguished member after achieving success on the international level.

Scherr made one Olympic appearance, capturing the bronze medal at 220 pounds in 1988. At the FILA World Championships, Scherr earned four medals from 1985 to 1989. He took first place at 198 pounds in 1985, while earning runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1989, and a third-place result at the 1987 World Championships.

While at Nebraska, Scherr capped his impressive career with the NCAA title at 190 pounds in 1984. The three-time All-American earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 1983 and finished fourth in 1982. Scherr completed his career at Nebraska (1981-84) with a record of 133-18.

Scherr’s brother Jim, also a former wrestler at Nebraska, took home USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year Award in 1994. In addition, former Huskers Jordan Burroughs (2012) and Rulon Gardner (2000) have earned the accolade.

Husker Wrestling on Social Media
Nebraska wrestling can be followed on a variety of social media platforms for up-to-date team information as well as features on wrestlers:

• Twitter: @HuskerWrestling (www.twitter.com/HuskerWrestling)
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/NebraskaWrestling
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/HuskerWrestling
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/HuskerWrestling
• Flowrestling: www.flowrestling.org/user/NEwrestle

Next Up: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
The Huskers open December at the Cliff Keen Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The tournament, which is scheduled for Dec. 5-6, will start at 11 a.m. (CT) each day. Last year, Nebraska finished second with 130.5 points, as James Green captured the 157-pound title.

NPCC Knights Basketball Prepare for Busy Weekend

Posted on November 20, 2014

The North Platte Community College Knights look to remain unbeaten as they play three games this weekend. They will host the Otero Junior College Rattlers and the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans and go on the road to play Hastings College Junior Varsity.

Otero Junior College will come to town on Friday, November 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM. The Rattlers come into the contest with a 6-2 record and currently on a four game winning streak. They are led in scoring by Tre O’Neal with 15 points per game (ppg). Brandon Wilson follows in scoring with 11.4 ppg. Wilson also leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 rebounds per game.

Trinidad State Junior College then visits on Saturday, November 22 with tip-off being at 2:00 PM. The Trojans are currently 5-3. Scoring leaders for the Trojans are Joe Smith with 13 ppg, Preston Bunger with 12.6 ppg, and Elijah Valdez with 10.8 ppg. Treyvon Andres and Bunger lead the team in rebounding with both averaging a little over seven boards a piece

On Sunday, November 23, the Knights travel to play the Hastings College Junior Varsity Broncos. The Knights defeated the Broncos on November 6, 85-79 at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. In that game the Knights were led in scoring by Cameron Williams with 24 points, Matt Thomas with 13 points, and Marco Pascolo with 11 points. The Broncos were led by Jake Hansen with 15 points.

Both of the Otero and Trinidad State games are Region IX South games and may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at www.northplattepost.com. They may also be seen on www.coachesaid.com.

NPCC Lady Knights Travel to Hastings College JV

Posted on November 20, 2014

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team takes to the road to face Hastings College Junior Varsity on Friday, November 21. This is the second meeting of the two colleges this season.

In the first meeting, the Lady Knights defeated the Lady Broncos 76-70. Sophomore April Stull scored a career high 32 points to pace the Lady Knights.

Lady Knights head coach Richard Thurin said, “We need to have balanced scoring to be successful.”

Thurin added that when they play junior varsity teams at their place, it is hard to prepare for them because the players could vary from those that played here.

Tip-off is at 7:00 pm at the Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings.

No. 16 Nebraska Women Beat Washington State 82-61

Posted on November 20, 2014

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Tear’a Laudermill scored 20 points on Wednesday night, and No. 16 Nebraska used a big second-half run to pull away from Washington State 82-61.

A few minutes into the second half, Nebraska (3-0) started a 19-2 run, turning a two-point lead into a 59-40 advantage on Allie Havers’ layup with 10:35 left.

Washington State (2-1) was unable to recover and the Huskers avenged a 76-72 loss to the Cougars last year in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Hailie Sample had 16 points, Rachel Theriot scored 14, Emily Cady added 12 and Brandi Jeffery 11. Sample and Cady also had nine rebounds and Jeffery had eight.

Washington State rallied back to a 69-59 deficit on Lia Galdeira’s layup with 3:13 left. The Cougars also fell behind in the first half but pulled even at 34-all by the break.

Shalie Dheensaw had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Galdeira scored 14 and Tia Presley 13.

Chandler, Nuggets Hold off Thunder for 107-100 Win

Posted on November 20, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Wilson Chandler had 21 points, including a key 3-pointer late in the game, and Timofey Mozgov finished with a season-high 17 to lift the Denver Nuggets over the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-100 Wednesday night.

Ty Lawson added 15 points and 15 assists for the Nuggets, who returned home following a 2-1 trip that included a win over LeBron James the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma City, with reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant (broken right foot) and All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (broken right hand) on the bench in suits. The Thunder have dropped four straight, including Tuesday night in Utah.

Creighton Comes Back to Upset No. 18 Sooners 65-63

Posted on November 19, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Zach Hanson caught Devin Brooks’ air ball along the baseline and put it in the basket for the go-ahead points in the last minute, and Creighton came back from an 18-point deficit to upset No. 18 Oklahoma 65-63 on Wednesday night.

The Bluejays (3-0) used a 24-4 run to get back in the game after a dismal first-half shooting performance.

Chatman hit a couple of free throws to make it a four-point game with 24 seconds left, but Oklahoma still had a chance after Devin Brooks missed three free throws in the last 14 seconds. Jordan Woodard missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Austin Chatman had 17 points and Toby Hegner and Isaiah Zierden 11 apiece for Creighton.

Buddy Hield led the Sooners (1-1) with 21 points. TaShawn Thomas added 14 and Ryan Spangler had 11.

Huskers Sweep Indiana for Seventh Straight Win

Posted on November 19, 2014

BLOOMINGTON, IND. – The No. 11 Nebraska volleyball team took care of business in a 25-11, 25-20, 26-24 sweep at Indiana Wednesday night.

With their seventh straight win, the Huskers improved to 19-7 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten. NU swept both matches this season against the Hoosiers, who dropped to 15-14 overall and 6-11 in the Big Ten.

Kelsey Fien led a balanced attack with 12 kills and a .440 hitting percentage. Amber Rolfzen had 10 kills and hit .562, and Kadie Rolfzen had 10 kills and 10 digs for her second straight double-double. Annika Albrecht also had 10 digs. Cecilia Hall had five kills and three blocks, and Mary Pollmiller had 33 assists and four blocks with five digs.

Nebraska hit .305 and held Indiana to .114, marking the seventh straight opponent NU has held under .200 hitting. The Huskers outblocked the Hoosiers 10-5 and outdug them 41 to 39. NU has not been outdug in its seven-match win streak.

The Huskers came out of the gates on fire, taking the first set 25-11 for the largest margin of victory in a set since Sept. 13 against Colgate (25-9). Nebraska got four kills on five swings from Amber Rolfzen and three kills from Fien. The Huskers hit .444 and held Indiana to -.067. NU went up 5-0 and never looked back.

In set two, Nebraska opened up a 9-3 lead after a stuff from Melanie Keil and Amber Rolfzen. NU went up 15-8, but Indiana got within 20-15 on the tough serve of Taylor Lebo, who ranks second in the Big Ten in aces. A Kadie Rolfzen kill ended the run and put NU up 21-15.

NU fell behind 6-3 in the third set before kills by Haggerty and Fien, and then a stuff by Pollmiller and Haggerty to tie the set 6-6. Three straight kills by Fien put the Huskers up 10-7 before an Indiana attacking error made it 11-7. Indiana needed a timeout to halt the Huskers’ 8-1 run. Indiana pulled within 13-12 before committing a ball-handling error. NU went up 17-14 on a combo block by Fien and Haggerty, but the Hoosiers rallied to get within 17-17 with Lebo at the service line. The Huskers took a timeout and regained the 18-17 lead on a kill by Fien in NU’s first attack after the break. The teams went back and forth, and Indiana tied the set at 24-24 and looked to threaten with their best server Lebo on the line. But Fien got the immediate sideout with her 12th kill, and the Huskers won 26-24 after IU hit long.

Nebraska returns home to host Michigan on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers will honor their lone senior, Pollmiller, at the match.