Off-the-field distractions haven’t kept the Nebraska football team from getting to work on preparations for their bowl game. The Huskers will aim for a third straight ten-win season as they take on South Carolina on Monday, January 2, at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando. Since the end of the season, the Huskers have lost their defensive coordinator, and had two players cited by Lincoln police last weekend. But offensive coordinator Tim Beck says on the field, it’s business as usual. “I like the energy and the effort. It’s just keeping them sharp,” Beck said. “That’s the biggest thing right now. I know offensively it’s all about timing and execution for us. I like the attitude and the effort. It’s been good. The guys have been able to run around. I think our workouts have been very spirited and good.” The Huskers are off today and will practice again Friday.

Four Nebraska volleyball players were honored as All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association yesterday. Junior Gina Mancuso was named a first-team All-America selection, while junior Hannah Werth, sophomore Morgan Broekhuis, and junior Lauren Cook were chosen as honorable mention selections. Mancuso adds more hardware to a season that saw her take home unanimous first-team All-Big Ten honors. She tallied 407 kills to lead the Huskers, reaching double figures in the category in 27 matches. Mancuso’s selection means it’s been 30 consecutive years that the Huskers have had an AVCA All-America selection. The Huskers have had 71 selections to the first, second, or third team All-America teams, which is more than any other program in the country.

Another Husker football player got himself in some off-field trouble last weekend. Junior linebacker Eric Martin was cited on suspicion of leaving the scene of an automobile accident late Saturday night. Martin was driving when his vehicle backed into another parked vehicle at a Lincoln Wal-Mart. A witness saw Martin leave the scene without stopping. Leaving the scene of an accident and failing to furnish information is a Class II misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Martin played in 11 out of Nebraska’s 12 games this season, recording 22 tackles and two sacks. Martin’s teammate, senior Mike Caputo, was arrested and cited for driving under the influence early Sunday morning. No decision has been made on their status for the upcoming Capital One Bowl.

The Tri-City Storm scored six unanswered goals in blowing out the Sioux City Musketeers 7-1 at the Viaero Events Center in Kearney last night. Seven Storm players had multi-point nights as the team picked up its second straight win, and second in three games under new head coach Josh Hauge. Trevor Moore’s power play goal with 34 seconds left in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and opened the floodgates, as the Storm would score twice in the first two minutes of the third period and add three more goals for their largest margin of victory of the season. Kenny Brooks and Tim Lappin each scored two goals, and goaltender Phoenix Copley recorded a season-high 42 saves. The Storm play their final game before the Christmas break on Saturday, when they visit the same Sioux City team.

Redshirt freshman Robert Kokesh became the first Nebraska wrestler to earn Big Ten Wrestler-of-the-Week honors this season, when the conference announced the award on Tuesday. Kokesh was rewarded for efforts in Nebraska’s 19-15 upset of No. 14 Wyoming at the NU Coliseum last Saturday night. With the Huskers leading by only four points over the Cowboys with three matches remaining, Kokesh extended NU’s lead with a dominant 5-0 victory over No.3 Shane Onufer at 165 pounds. Kokesh owns a 13-2 overall record this season and is 5-0 in dual competition. Nine of Kokesh’s 13 victories have been in bonus-point fashion with six pins, two major decisions and one technical fall, while defeating three ranked opponents. The win vaulted Kokesh to No. 5 at the 165 pound weight class.

Nebraska football player Mike Caputo was arrested and cited on suspicion of driving under the influence in Lincoln early Sunday morning. The senior starting center was found asleep at the wheel of a running vehicle just after 1 AM on Sunday. A preliminary test showed that Caputo’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. Caputo was one of seventeen people cited in a four hour span in Lincoln over the weekend. The two-year starter at center earned second-team All-Big Ten honors this season, starting all 12 games for the Big Red. Last season, Husker players Ricky Thenarse and Baker Steinkuhler were arrested for DUI prior to the team’s bowl game. Both were suspended. If Caputo is similarly punished, Cole Pensick would likely start in his place in the Capital One Bowl January 2^nd.

The Nebraska women’s basketball team is into the AP Top 25 poll for the first time this season after getting off to a 9-1 start. After outlasting Northern Arizona 97-88 in double overtime on Saturday, the Huskers enter the poll ranked 25^th. It’s the first time the Huskers have been ranked since November 29, 2010, when they were in the poll ranked 24^th for one week. The 9-1 start for the Husker ladies is tied for the second best start to a season in program history. All three Husker teams who have started 9-1 or better have been coached by Connie Yori. Sophomore forward Jordan Hooper received an indiviudal honor yesterday, as she was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week after averaging 27 points per game in two wins last week. The Huskers host Vermont on Sunday afternoon.