Huskers – Page 141 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Face Coyotes Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Posted on December 20, 2013

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena to take on South Dakota.

Tip-off between the No. 19 Huskers (8-2) and the Coyotes (7-5) is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT). Tickets are available now at Huskers.com or can be purchased during regular business hours Monday-Friday from the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Because of commencement exercises at Nebraska on Saturday (9 a.m.) doors to Pinnacle Bank Arena will not open until 1:30 p.m. (60 minutes prior to tip-off).

The game can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha. Free live audio is available on Huskers.com. Live premium video coverage will be provided to subscribers of BTN.com All-Access.

Nebraska has Finals Week (Dec. 16-20) off from competition after flying to a 63-38 win over Creighton on Dec. 14. Emily Cady led the Huskers with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a strong all-around effort. Fellow junior forward Hailie Sample added a season-high 13 points, while junior guard Brandi Jeffery contributed a season-high 11 points and a career-high-tying four assists.

Nebraska got contributions up and down its lineup, and played its cleanest game of the season with season bests of 10 turnovers, seven personal fouls and six blocked shots.

All-American Jordan Hooper, who had five points and a season-high 15 rebounds against Creighton, leads the Big Ten with 11.2 rebounds per game, while ranking third in the conference with 19.9 points per contest. Hooper, a 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., needs 16 points against South Dakota to reach 1,900 for her career. She enters the game with 1,884 points and 923 rebounds, which both rank among the top 10 totals for active NCAA Division I players.

South Dakota comes to Lincoln following a 76-48 Thursday night win over the College of Saint Mary in Vermillion. The Coyotes, under the direction of former Husker Amy (Gusso) Williams, carry a five-game winning streak to Lincoln, including impressive wins over Utah State, Wyoming and Northern Iowa. USD has averaged 81.4 points over its past five games after averaging 66.6 points in going 2-5 through its first seven contests, including losses to Creighton, Iowa State and Drake.

Huskers Working Through Finals Week

Posted on December 19, 2013

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska football team practiced for 90 minutes inside the Hawks Championship Center on Thursday in preparation for its New Year’s Day bowl game against Georgia. Head Coach Bo Pelini spoke to the media following practice, as the Huskers finished their third of five practices this week.

“We have had a good week of practice so far, we started on Saturday and we have worked on through during finals week,” Pelini said. “These guys will wrap up finals tomorrow and we will practice with workouts tomorrow and Saturday. We will let them go for the holidays, and we will get them back here on Christmas night.”

Pelini mentioned that the Huskers have had some pretty good practices since starting Georgia prep last Saturday, noting that the majority of the Husker football team is finally getting healthy.

“I think they have hit the ground running. We were a little bit rusty obviously when we started last Saturday. I think we have picked it up and we have had good tempo and some good practices,” Pelini said. “Our health is getting back together, right now pretty much everyone has been practicing with the exception of Taylor (Martinez).”

Pelini added this about Martinez, who has only played in four games in his senior season.

“He (Martinez) will be out for the game—I should say not 100 percent, but it looks like he will be out for the game,” Pelini said.

With Martinez sidelined with an injury, most likely keeping him out of the bowl game, Pelini added that the situation this season has been tough for Martinez. Pelini said he feels for Martinez, who will most likely have to sit his final game opportunity in a Husker uniform.

“I think it is hard, this whole season has been hard on him and obviously it is not ideal, and not the way you want to see him go out,” Pelini said. “I feel for him, it has been a difficult deal, but he is not 100 percent yet.”

Pelini also discussed Nebraska’s schedule for bowl practice, and how it has fit into the month of December.

“I think for all of our young guys these practices are important, I think I said it is a little bit different schedule than the way the bowls used to be,” Pelini said. “You play so much later—you used to be your season was over in the middle of November so you could almost have a spring practice (Before the bowl game) It isn’t quite like that, the season, you have an extra bye week and it starts later.”

The Huskers and Bulldogs face off Wednesday, Jan. 1 in the Gator Bowl at noon (CST). The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Nebraska-Michigan Set for ESPN2

Posted on December 19, 2013

Lincoln – ESPN and the Big Ten Conference announced that Nebraska’s Big Ten home opener against Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 9, will be televised on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. (CT).

The game time was previously announced as 8 p.m., but the television network was undetermined until today. The Huskers will host the NCAA runner-up Wolverines, as the only home game in a five-game stretch after Christmas.

The Jan. 9, game is the final holiday break game and a limited number of tickets are available in each level, with prices ranging from $10 to $30. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Huskers.com or calling 800-8-BIGRED. In addition, UNL students can still purchase a limited number of tickets available, but would need to call the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office during office hours to purchase.

The Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Thursday and Friday with limited office hours over the holidays (10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Dec. 23, 26, 27, 30 and 31). Regular office hours will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2

A reminder that a limited number of tickets for Saturday’s final non-conference game against the Citadel have become available because of winter break and can be purchased by visiting Huskers, calling 800-8-BIGRED during office hours or at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office beginning 90 minutes prior to Saturday’s tipoff.

The Huskers are 7-3 on the season following a 79-67 win over Arkansas State on Dec. 14, and have won eight straight home games dating back to last season.

Huskers Host the Citadel Saturday Night

Posted on December 19, 2013December 19, 2013

The Nebraska basketball team makes its final home appearance of 2013, as the Huskers play host to The Citadel this Saturday, Dec. 21.

Tipoff is set for 7:35 p.m. for the Huskers and Bulldogs and the game will also be carried across the state on the 27-station Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Matt Davison calling all of the action, including flagship stations KLIN (1400 AM/94.5 FM) in Lincoln and KFAB (1110 AM) in Omaha (complete list of affiliates is on page five of the game notes). The game can also be heard for free on Huskers.com and is available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as Sirius and XM Radio.

Live video of Saturday’s game will also be available online on the Big Ten Digital Network (subscription required). For Saturday’s game, the broadcast will use the Husker Sports Network audio simulcast. To access the live video feed, visit video.btn.com.

A limited number of tickets are available for Saturday’s game in the 100, 200 and 300 Levels with prices ranging from $7 to $25. Visit Huskers.com or call 800-8-BIGRED for more information. The additional 100 Level tickets are available since Saturday’s game is one of the two winter break games on the 2013-14 schedule.

Saturday’s men’s game caps a busy day at Pinnacle Bank Arena with fall commencement ceremonies in the morning before the Husker women take on South Dakota at 2:30 p.m.

The Huskers are 7-3 on the season and have won four of its last five games dating back to Nov. 24. Nebraska comes off one of its best offensive efforts of the season in a 79-67 win over Arkansas State last Saturday. In that game, the Huskers delivered the knockout punch early, as a 15-0 run highlighted a 50-point first half to help the Huskers build a 23-point halftime lead. Nebraska led by as many as 28 points in the second half before coasting to the 12-point win. Sophomore Shavon Shields led four Huskers in double figures with 15 points, while Nebraska dished out a season-high 19 assists – the most in Tim Miles’ two seasons at Nebraska. Nebraska also received a strong performance from sophomore Walter Pitchford, who had 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Citadel is 4-8 on the season following a 79-68 win over Brevard College on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs are not afraid to push the tempo, averaging 72.7 points per game and have scored 80 or more points three times during non-conference action.

Following Saturday night’s game, the Huskers will have a few days off before reconvening on Christmas night to begin preparations for the Dec. 28 game at Cincinnati. The game with the Bearcats begins a three-game road trip for the Big Red.

Four Huskers Earn All-America Honors

Posted on December 18, 2013

Lincoln, Neb. – Four Nebraska volleyball players were honored Wednesday, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2013 All-America teams. Senior outside hitter Kelsey Robinson led the charge as a first-team selection, while freshman outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen was named a third-team All-American. Junior setter Mary Pollmiller and sophomore middle blocker Meghan Haggerty were chosen as honorable-mention selections.

Nebraska continues to lead the nation with 76 AVCA All-America certificates (first, second and third team) by 39 athletes with at least one Husker earning All-America honors in 32 consecutive seasons. In his 14 season at Nebraska, head coach John Cook has coached his players to 41 All-America honors.

Robinson proved that she was one of the best players in the nation in 2013, helping the Huskers to a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference and a berth in the NCAA Regional Final. The 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year, Robinson totaled 530 kills on the season and averaged 4.45 kills per set, while also chipping in 396 digs and an average of 3.33 digs per set. She produced the fifth-most kills by a Husker in a single season and her 1,206 attacks on the year were good for seventh on Nebraska’s all-time chart. She posted 19 double-doubles on the season and tallied 10 or more kills 28 times and hit .300 or better 19 times as a senior. Robinson notched a career-high-tying 29 kills against Wisconsin on Oct. 5 and a season-high digs 23 against Texas on Sept. 22. She led Nebraska in kills and aces in 2013.

Rolfzen produced a stellar freshman campaign for NU, earning third-team honors. She is the first Nebraska true freshman to earn All-America honors since Sarah Pavan in 2004. The AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten pick, she notched 377 kills on the season for an average of 3.46 kills per set, while also posting 385 digs on the season. She finished her freshman year second on the NU freshman kills list. Rolfzen notched 13 double-doubles on the season and recorded a career-high 20 kills twice in 2013. She posted 10 or more kills 23 times as a freshman and 10 or more digs 18 times.

Haggerty earned the second AVCA All-America distinction of her career with an honorable-mention selection. She posted 178 kills on the season and a hitting percentage of .279. Haggerty notched 108 total blocks on the year and averaged 1.05 blocks per set. Haggerty hit .300 or better 19 times during the 2013 season. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 7 and notched at least five blocks nine times as a sophomore. Haggerty posted a career-high 11 blocks against Michigan on Nov. 16.

Pollmiller earned her second honorable-mention All-America honors as she guided the Husker offense in 2013, tallying 1,279 assists on the season and an average of 10.75 assists per set. She helped Nebraska to a .270 hitting percentage on the season and was named honorable-mention All-Big Ten. She helped Nebraska hit .300 or better in 14 matches as a junior, including a season-high .418 hitting clip against Indiana on Nov. 23. Pollmiller totaled 50 or more assists seven times in 2013 and a season-high 62 assists against Texas on Sept. 22. She was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week four times as a junior.

Abdullah Earns AP All-America Honors

Posted on December 18, 2013

The list of honors for Nebraska junior I-back Ameer Abdullah continued to grow on Tuesday, as he was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

Abdullah was one of six running backs to earn All-America honors and he was joined on the third team by Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde. Boston College’s Andre Williams and Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey were the first-team running backs, while Bishop Sankey of Washington and Auburn’s Tre’ Mason were on the second team.

The 5-9, 190-pound Abdullah has rushed for 1,568 yards this season, while rushing for 100 yards or more in 10 of 12 games. His rushing total is the fifth-best in school history and the most rushing yards by a Nebraska player since the 1997 season when Ahman Green rank for 1,877 yards.

Abdullah’s rushing yardage total lead the Big Ten while his average of 130.7 yards per game ranks second in the conference and seventh in the country. Abdullah has also posted 1,859 all-purpose yards this season, to rank No. 7 on the single-season list in the catgory. He is in position to post just the third 2,000-yard all-purpose yardage season in school history.

Abdullah’s selection marks the fifth straight season Nebraska has had at least one player named to the Associated Press All-America team. Overall, the Huskers have had nine AP All-Americans in the past five seasons.

Abdullah was one of 15 players from the Big Ten Conference named to one of the three AP All-America teams.

Miles to Hold Twitter Fan Chat on Wednesday

Posted on December 17, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska Men’s Basketball Coach Tim Miles will hold his second twitter fan chat of the season Wednesday morning at 11:30 a.m.

Fans can submit questions in advance for the chat by using the hashtag #AskCoachMiles or submit questions on the Husker basketball Facebook page (Facebook.com/NebraskaBasketball).Coach Miles will answer questions and post on his twitter account (Twitter.com/CoachMiles).

The Huskers are 7-3 on the season heading into Saturday’s game with The Citadel. Nebraska comes into Saturday’s game winners of four of its last five games, including a 79-67 win over Arkansas State last Saturday.

A limited number of tickets are available for the 7:30 p.m. tipoff with The Citidel with prices ranging from $7 to $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Huskers.com or call 1-800-8-BIGRED.

Huskers Collide with Coyotes Saturday

Posted on December 17, 2013December 17, 2013

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena to take on South Dakota.

Tip-off between the No. 19 Huskers (8-2) and the Coyotes (6-5) is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT). Tickets are available now at Huskers.com or can be purchased during regular business hours Monday-Friday from the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Because of commencement exercises at Nebraska on Saturday (9 a.m.) doors to Pinnacle Bank Arena will not open until 1:30 p.m. (60 minutes prior to tip-off).

Nebraska got contributions up and down its lineup, and played its cleanest game of the season with season bests of 10 turnovers, seven personal fouls and six blocked shots.

South Dakota comes to Lincoln following a Thursday night contest in Vermillion against the College of Saint Mary. The Coyotes, under the direction of former Husker Amy (Gusso) Williams, enter Thursday night’s game on a four-game winning streak, including impressive wins over Utah State, Wyoming and Northern Iowa. USD has scored at least 80 points in each of its past four games after averaging 66.6 points in going 2-5 through its first seven contests, including losses to Creighton, Iowa State and Drake.

Huskers Honored at Annual Football Banquet

Posted on December 16, 2013

Junior I-back Ameer Abdullah led the list of honorees, as the Nebraska football team gathered for its 2013 banquet on Sunday afternoon at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln.

Abdullah was named the overall Team Most Valuable Player and earned the prestigious Lifter of the Year Award for the second straight year. The 5-9, 190-pound Abdullah is the second player in the past three years to win the Lifter of the Year Award in back-to-back seasons, after Rex Burkhead won the award in 2010 and 2011.

Abdullah was also named a 2013 team captain. The Huskers elected four captains before the start of the season, and Abdullah and senior defensive end Jason Ankrah were announced as additional captains on Sunday. Abdullah and Ankrah joined season-long captainsQuincy Enunwa, Spencer Long, Taylor Martinez and Ciante Evans.

In addition to his role as captain, Enunwa was also named the team’s Offensive MVP, after catching 10 touchdown passes and moving into the top 10 on Nebraska’s career receiving charts. Sophomore defensive end Randy Gregory was voted as the Defensive MVP. The first-year Husker leads the Big Ten with 9.5 sacks, with nine of his sacks in conference play. Senior place-kicker Pat Smith was awarded the Special Teams MVP Award. Smith connected on 11-of-12 field goals in his lone season in Lincoln.

Senior offensive tackle Jeremiah Sirles was announced as the winner of the Chamberlin Trophy. The award dates back to 1967 and is voted on by members of the media, and honors a senior player who has the qualities and dedication of the great Cornhusker tradition.

Senior center Cole Pensick, a Lincoln native and second-generation Husker, was presented the Cletus Fischer Native Son Award, given annually to a senior who is a Nebraska native. The award is named in honor of long-time Nebraska offensive line coach Cletus Fischer.

Senior quarterback Ron Kellogg III was presented the Tom Novak Trophy. The oldest of Nebraska’s senior awards, the Novak Trophy dates back to 1950. The Chamberlin, Native Son and Novak awards will also be honored at the Outland Trophy Award ceremony in Omaha on Jan. 9.

Sophomore receiver Sam Burtch was awarded the Huskers’ 2013 Walk-on MVP Award, while linebacker Courtney Love was named the Scout Team Defensive MVP and I-back Adam Taylor was the Scout Team Offensive MVP.

Award Winners
Team MVP – IB Ameer Abdullah

Offensive MVP – WR Quincy Enunwa

Defensive MVP-DE Randy Gregory

Special Teams MVP-PK Pat Smith

Captains – Offense: WR Quincy Enunwa, OL Spencer Long, QB Taylor Martinez, IB Ameer Abdullah
Defense: DE Jason Anrkah, DB Ciante Evans

Chamberlin Trophy-OT Jeremiah Sirles

Novak Trophy-QB Ron Kellogg III

Fischer Native Son Award –C Cole Pensick

Bobby Reynolds Award-TE Jake Long

Lifter of the Year Award-IB Ameer Abdullah

Walk-on of the Year-WR Sam Burtch

Offensive Scout Team MVP-IB Adam Taylor

Defensive Scout Team MVP-LB Courtney Love

Character Award-WR Taariq Allen, OG Mike Moudy, OL Scott Criss

Pat Clare Award-WR Taariq Allen

Husker Heart Award-OT Brandon Chapek

Burnell Student Manager Scholarship-Kara Leachman

Huskers Fall to No. 1 Texas in Regional Final

Posted on December 16, 2013

Lincoln – Top-ranked Texas proved worthy of its No. 1 seed on Saturday, as the Longhorns continued defense of their 2012 national title with a 3-0 sweep of No. 8 Nebraska in the NCAA Lincoln Regional final in front of 8,343 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

In winning its school-record 10th consecutive postseason match, Texas handed the Huskers a home sweep (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Nebraska was swept in Lincoln for the first time in 24 years, dating back to a loss to No. 1 Hawaii on Oct. 2, 1989. Texas also became the first No. 1 team to win in Lincoln since Penn State in 1999.

With the win, Texas advanced to the NCAA Semifinals next weekend in Seattle. The Longhorns (27-2) will take a nation-leading 23-match winning streak into Thursday’s semifinal against 12th-seeded Wisconsin. Texas is appearing in the NCAA Semifinals for the ninth time in school history and for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

Leading the way in the Longhorns’ second regional final victory over Nebraska in five seasons was a strong block and an efficient night from All-Americans Haley Eckerman and Bailey Webster. Eckerman had 14 kills, while Webster produced 12 kills and hit .500. Together, the duo combined for 26 kills and only three errors on 73 swings, while Eckerman added a double-double with a team-high 15 digs. Khat Bell and Chiaka Ogbogu added seven kills eac and Hannah Allison recorded 37 assists to help Texas hit .266 in the match.

Molly McCage led a big blocking effort for the Longhorns with eight stuffs, helping Texas out-block Nebraska 14-3. The block helped Texas to the sweep despite being out-killed and out-dug by the Huskers.

Nebraska finished its season with a 26-7 record. The Huskers were led by an outstanding performance from Big Ten Player of the Year Kelsey Robinson. In her final match, Robinson delivered a match-high 21 kills, while adding 12 digs to produce her 19th double-double of the season. Kadie Rolfzen added her 13th double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. Justine Wong-Orantes produced a match-high 17 digs to lead NU to a 63-58 advantage in digs. Mary Pollmiller added a match-high 41 assists for the Huskers.

In set one, Texas jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never trailed. The Longhorns put down kills on three of their first five swings and blocked Nebraska twice to force an early Husker timeout. Texas stretched the lead to six with the first point out of the timeout, and the Huskers closed to within three on numerous occasions but Texas would let Nebraska get no closer. Consecutive Longhorn blocks fueled a 4-0 Texas run that pushed the lead to 21-14. Nebraska answered with three straight points to trim the lead to four but Texas called a timeout and quickly pushed the lead back to six before closing out a 25-19 victory on Ogbogu’s fifth kill of the set. Eckerman had six kills on 17 error-free swings, as Texas hit .293 in the opening set. Nebraska was blocked five times and committed nine hitting errors in the set while hitting just .106.

Serving played a key role in the start of set two, as a pair of Texas serving errors and a Husker ace helped Nebraska to an early 5-2 advantage. The teams then traded sideouts until Texas used a pair of stuffs to win five straight rallies and take a 14-12 lead, forcing a Husker timeout. Nebraska quickly tied the set with the first two points out of the timeout before regaining the lead at 16-15 on Robinson’s 10th kill of the match. The Huskers pushed the lead to 18-16 after winning a joust at the net to end a long rally, forcing Texas to spend a timeout. The Longhorns came out of the timeout on fire, winning four of the next five rallies to go back on top 20-19 and forcing a Husker timeout following back-to-back Texas blocks. UT pushed the lead to two at 22-20 and earned a 25-22 win on the Longhorns’ 10th block of the match. Nebraska produced two more kills than Texas in the second set, but the Longhorns out-blocked the Huskers 5-1.

At the break, Texas had three players with at least five kills, including Eckerman and Weber, who combined for 20 kills with only one error. Nebraska was forced to rely on Robinson and Kadie Rolfzen in the opening two sets, as that duo combined for 25 of the Huskers’ 30 kills on 65 of Nebraska’s 98 swings. The rest of the NU roster combined for only five kills and six errors in 33 attacks.

The teams traded early leads in set three before Nebraska built a 10-7 advantage fueled by four kills on six swings from Melanie Keil off the bench. Nebraska coult not hold the lead however, as three Husker hitting errors in a span of five rallies helped Texas pull even at 11-11. Another Nebraska error out of a timeout gave the Longhorns a one-point advantage before a Texas error put Nebraska back on top, 13-12. The Huskers stretched the lead to two at 16-14, before consecutive Amy Neal aces put Texas back in front, 18-17. The Longhorns would never relinquish the lead and capitalized on a free ball to take a 24-22 lead on Webster’s 12th kill of the match. Nebraska fought off one match point before NU’s fifth service error of the match sealed the sweep. Nebraska out-hit Texas for the only time in the match in the third set, but the Huskers still committed seven attack errors, while the Longhorns never had more than four errors in any set.