Huskers – Page 164 – North Platte Post Archive

NU VB: Huskers Open 2013 with Sweep of Louisiana-Monroe

Posted on August 30, 2013August 30, 2013

St. Louis, Mo. – The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team opened the 2013 season with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-4) sweep of Louisiana-Monroe at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, hosted by Saint Louis University on Friday.

Amber Rolfzen led the Huskers with eight kills, while Cecilia Hall and Kelsey Robinson both chipped in seven kills. Justine Wong-Orantes guided NU defensively with 15 digs. Robinson also tallied 11 digs and five aces for the match. Mary Pollmiller and Kelly Hunter paced the Husker offense at setter, as each had 14 assists. Nebraska hit .222 for the match, while Louisiana-Monroe was held to a -.132 hitting clip.

The Huskers opened the first set with a 6-1 lead on a block, followed by a kill by Meghan Haggerty. Nebraska then took a 13-5 lead as the Warhawks committed a hitting error and were forced to call a timeout. Hall came through for the Huskers in the first set, using a kill to make it 19-7, NU. The Huskers would hold on to take the first set 25-11 over the ULM.

Amber Rolfzen led NU in the first set with four kills, while Hall had three of her own. The Huskers hit .333 as a team, while Wong-Orantes led the team defensively with six digs. Nebraska held Louisiana-Monroe to a -.143 hitting percentage.

Hall came out strong in the second set, with a huge shot to give NU an early lead. The Warhawks then came alive in the second set, taking an 11-8 lead before Nebraska called a timeout. The Huskers came back to take a 21-18 lead on an ace by Hunter. Hunter and Broekhuis then connected up to give NU a 23-20 advantage. Nebraska went on to win the second set 25-21.

Hall and Broekhuis each had three kills in the second set. Both teams struggled offensively as the Huskers hit .000 and ULM hit -.029. NU out-dug the Warhawks 18-12 for the set.

Nebraska opened the third set on an 8-0 run, aided by three aces from Robinson. Amber Rolfzen and Haggerty teamed up for a double-block to give NU an 11-2 lead that catapulted Nebraska on 10-0 run to close out the third set at 25-4.

Kelsey Robinson had five kills in the third set, while Amber Rolfzen tallied four. The Huskers hit .407 for the set, holding ULM to a -.250 clip. Nebraska out-dug the Warhawks 20-11.

The Huskers return to action tomorrow as they face Auburn at 10 a.m., and will take on Saint Louis at 7 p.m. to close out the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic.

Bob Devaney Immortalized in East Stadium Statue

Posted on August 30, 2013August 30, 2013

LINCOLN – Two days before Nebraska hosts Wyoming in the season opener for both football teams, Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst announced Thursday that he has commissioned a statue of Hall-of-Fame Football Coach and former Husker Athletic Director Bob Devaney. The statue will be installed in the new East Stadium Plaza which serves as the doorstep to a 52,000 square-foot research facility, 38 new suites, 6,000 new seats and a graphic-rich tribute to Nebraska football tradition inside the historic gate 20 entrance.

The life-sized bronze statue of Devaney, sculpted by Omaha artist Joe Putjenter, will be unveiled Friday at 4 p.m. in a brief ceremony open to the public. Mike Devaney and Rob Devaney, Bob’s respective son and grandson, will attend Friday’s dedication and share their thoughts, along with Eichorst, Tom Osborne, Nebraska’s former head coach and athletic director, and UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman.

“This is Memorial Stadium’s 90th anniversary season, and we wanted to recognize the man who’s widely considered the one who really built this stadium from the 36,000-seat facility it was when he arrived in Lincoln in 1962,” Eichorst said. “With the stadium’s anniversary, the dedication of the expanded East Stadium and the fact that Wyoming and Nebraska were the only two schools that Bob Devaney ever served as head football coach, we thought this was the perfect time to honor his tremendous legacy.”

Having Devaney’s statue in front of what is believed to be the only joint on-campus academic and athletic research facility in intercollegiate athletics is appropriate in another meaningful way. The North entrance to Memorial Stadium’s Athletic Complex features a Tom Osborne/Brook Berringer statue and the stadium’s actual playing surface was recently reintroduced as “Tom Osborne Field” on both the East and the West sidelines.

“Coach Devaney added Coach Osborne to his staff as a graduate assistant the first year he was here and later hand-picked him to be his successor as head coach,” Eichorst said. “Our Athletic Department has gone to great lengths to make the Devaney Center, named in Bob’s honor, a world-class, modern-day facility. But we also wanted something visible to honor Coach Devaney at Memorial Stadium, which has been sold out since the first year he arrived in Lincoln.”

Nebraska had only three winning teams in the 21 seasons before Devaney arrived. His first team went 9-2 and won Nebraska’s first-ever bowl game, 36-34 over Miami. Devaney’s teams won back-to-back national championships in 1970 and ’71 and captured eight conference championships in his 11 years as head coach. His overall 101-20-2 record in 11 years at Nebraska included a 32-game unbeaten streak. Devaney’s 1971 team that beat Alabama, 38-6, in the Orange Bowl, was recently voted by The Sporting News the No. 1 college football team of all time. Devaney coached 14 years at four Michigan high schools before becoming an assistant coach under Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State from 1953 to 1956. He served five years as head coach at Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 with a record of 35-10-5. His career head coaching record at both schools was 136-30-7 for winning percentage of .806. While he was head coach at Nebraska, Memorial Stadium attendance more than doubled to 72,700.

Devaney and Osborne became the third coaching duo to post back-to-back 100-win careers at the same institutions, but the first pair to accomplish that feat in just 22 years. Devaney served as Nebraska’s Athletic Director for 26 years from 1967 to 1993.

Bob Devaney at a Glance

Position: Head Football Coach

Schools: Wyoming, Nebraska

Years: 1957-1972

Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame: 1981

Born: April 13, 1915, Saginaw, Michigan

Died: May 8, 1997, Lincoln, Nebraska

Bob Devaney Through the Years

Year	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct.	Bowl	Highlights
At Wyoming
1957	4	3	3	.550
1958	8	3	0	.727	Sun	Skyline Conf. Champs
1959	9	1	0	.900		Skyline Conf. Champs
1960	8	2	0	.800		Skyline Conf. Champs
1961	6	1	2	.778		Skyline Conf. Champs
Totals	35	10	5	.750		Four league titles
At Nebraska
1962	9	2	0	.818	Gotham
1963	10	1	0	.909	Orange	Big Eight Champions
1964	9	2	0	.818	Cotton	Big Eight Champions
1965	10	1	0	.909	Orange	Big Eight Champions
1966	9	2	0	.818	Sugar	Big Eight Champions
1967	6	4	0	.600
1968	6	4	0	.600
1969	9	2	0	.818	Sun	Big Eight co-Champions
1970	11	0	1	.958	Orange	National Champions
1971	13	0	0	1.000	Orange	National Champions
1972	9	2	1	.792	Orange	Big Eight Champions
Totals	101	20	2	.829		Eight league titles
Overall Total	136	30	7	.806		12 league titles
Bowl Record	7	3	0	.700		Two national titles

Bob Devaney’s Honors and Accomplishments

University of Nebraska Head Football Coach (1962-72)

University of Nebraska Athletic Director (1967-93)

National Championship Teams (1970, 1971)

College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1981)

Huskers Two Days Away From Opener

Posted on August 29, 2013August 30, 2013

Lincoln – The Nebraska football team practiced for two hours on Thursday inside the Hawks Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields as the Huskers approach Saturday’s season opener against Wyoming.

Head Coach Bo Pelini addressed the media following the team’s workout and summed up his thoughts on the week’s preparation.

“I thought we had good tempo today and I thought we had a pretty good week of practice,” Pelini said. “We had some things we needed to clean up today and I thought we were sharp today. We’re looking forward to the game.”

Pelini also talked about why he chose the seven players that received Blackshirts on Wednesday.

“I liked where certain guys were,” Pelini said. “I thought it was the right thing for this football team and for that group of guys. I thought there were certain guys that earned it and solidified starting jobs.”

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis will be starting his second season in that position and Pelini said he was happy with where the defense has come in that time.

“J.P. has been with me for eight years now so he knows me very well and I think we communicate really well,” Pelini said. “He’s a detail-oriented guy, he’s very organized and I think he’s really gone in and done a heck of a job. I’m really happy with what he’s doing with this defense.”

Pelini added that he thinks the team will be ready no matter how hot it gets on Saturday night.

“It’s going to be pretty warm, even at night,” Pelini said. “It’s been humid the last few nights. We’ve been preparing for it and guys are fresh right now going into the game. There’s going to be some heat issues I’m sure but we’re going to use a lot of our depth and play a lot of guys and try to wear the other football team out.”

Additionally, the Nebraska Athletic Department announced on Thursday that a statue of former NU Head Coach and Athletic Director Bob Devaney will be unveiled on Friday. The statue of Devaney, who also coached for Wyoming in his career, will be located in the new East Stadium Plaza. Saturday’s game between the Huskers and Cowboys is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network.

Jack Hoffman and “Team Jack” to be Awarded 2013 Tom Osborne Leadership Award

Posted on August 29, 2013

Leadership Hastings will award its Fourth Annual Tom Osborne Leadership Award to 7-year-old Jack Hoffman of Atkinson, Neb. and the “Team Jack” organization formed in his honor to raise awareness of pediatric brain cancer. Jack will be presented with the award at a banquet at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings on Friday, October 25. Tickets for the event are available now by contacting Leadership Hastings at the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Tom Osborne Leadership Award is presented annually to a top leader in Nebraska or a top national leader with ties to Nebraska. Jack Hoffman’s remarkable battle against brain cancer and his ensuing friendship with former Husker football player Rex Burkhead and the Husker football team has attracted national attention. Jack suited up for Nebraska’s spring football game this year, running for an inspirational 69-yard touchdown that earned him a national ESPY Award for “Best Moment.” Jack’s family and friends have now started the Team Jack Foundation dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pediatric brain cancer research.

The events on October 25 begin at 12:30 p.m. with a leadership seminar. A workshop featuring Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension educator, will begin the afternoon. Reimers-Hild is the author of the new book Go Wild With Confidence! and a Certified Professional Coach who has worked with businesses across the world. The keynote speaker for the seminar will be Omaha native, national leadership speaker and founder of the Leadership for Life organization Paul Bryant. Bryant is a versatile educator and author of The Purpose Living Leader which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. The Tom Osborne Leadership Award banquet begins that evening with a social at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program following at 7:15 p.m. Jack Hoffman and his family will be joined at the event by local and state dignitaries including legendary Hall of Fame football coach Tom Osborne.

The seminar and banquet are open to the public. Tickets for the leadership seminar and banquet are available at a price of $60 each. Tickets for the banquet only are $40 each. Tickets for the seminar only are also available for $25 each with a student discount price of $20 each. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds will go to support the Leadership Hastings program. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to the Team Jack Foundation. For information on tickets or sponsorships, call Leadership Hastings at (402) 461-8411.

Seven Huskers Awarded Blackshirts

Posted on August 28, 2013August 29, 2013

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its game one preparations for Wyoming during a two-hour practice held inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields in half pads Wednesday evening.

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis met with media after practice, announcing that seven Husker defenders were awarded the coveted Blackshirt jersey today before practice.

“We decided that some of the veteran guys–some of the leaders have done a tremendous job in helping some of our younger guys on our defense come along, and their effort on the field and their attitude and work in the meeting group.” Papuchis said, “Part of being a Blackshirt is being defined by your work ethic and your attention to detail and your leadership you bring to the team.”

As for the players selected to be a part of the Blackshirt tradition in 2013, the list goes as follows.

Upfront seniors Jason Ankrah and Thad Randle were selected as defensive lineman in the Blackshirt group. Ankrah has started 18 games over the past two seasons, including the final seven games of 2012 and will be a vital player on the defensive side of the ball.

Randle, a defensive tackle, will also be looked upon as a key player that could help solidify the Husker front four. Randle has fought through multiple injuries in his career, but was a bright spot for NU during 2012, playing in 13 games, including six starts. Randle recorded 21 total tackles, 10 of which were unassisted with two quarterback hurries.

Sophomore David Santos was the only linebacker selected to wear the prestigious Blackshirt jersey. Santos, the likely starter at Mike linebacker, recorded 24 total tackles last season as a freshman, 11 of which were unassisted, with two tackles for loss. It will be crucial for Santos to lead the young linebacker corps during the 2013 season.

Three cornerbacks were selected to be Blackshirts, seniors Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Ciante Evans, as well as junior Josh Mitchell. Much has been said about the stout secondary Nebraska returns in 2013, and these three are leaders of the group, all with potential to play at the next level.

After switching from wide receiver to cornerback in 2011, Jean-Baptiste has settled in well to his new position, recording 24 total tackles in 2012, with nine PBU and two interceptions, one for a touchdown (Minnesota).

Nickel back Ciante Evans will look to lead the Blackshirt group from the secondary in 2013, Evans a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2012 by CBS and ESPN should have another tremendous season in store, being a potential All-American selection. Evans returns after starting 12 games last year for NU, recording 56 total tackles, 38 of which were unassisted. Evans also recorded one interception in 2012.

Junior Josh Mitchell will look to continue to build on his already strong career at Nebraska during 2013. The undersized but vicious cornerback will be among the leaders of the secondary in 2013, after compiling 34 total tackles, 23 of which were unassisted.

Last but certainly not least, one safety was selected to wear the Blackshirt jersey as well, with junior Corey Cooper getting the nod. Cooper, a Maywood, Ill., product recorded 17 total tackles last season, but will likely see his production levels come up during 2013 as he is expected to start for NU.
The Blackshirts being handed out was not only noteworthy news to come out of practice today. Running back coach Ron Brown also announced today that true freshman running back Adam Taylor of Katy, Texas is expected to redshirt during the 2013 football season. The decision to redshirt Taylor allows him to get more acclimated to the challenges Division I football presents.

Nebraska will continue preparations Thursday as the team moves closer to its season opener. NU will face Wyoming on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.

NU Soccer: Huskers Ready for Pair of Road Tests in Utah

Posted on August 28, 2013August 29, 2013

Lincoln – The Nebraska soccer team looks to continue its impressive play against a pair of 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifiers in Utah over the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The Huskers will battle No. 6 Brigham Young on Saturday night, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. (Central) before traveling to Utah State for a 2 p.m. kickoff with the Aggies on Monday, Sept. 2.

Saturday’s matchup between the Huskers and Cougars, an Elite Eight finisher from a year ago, will be the first meeting since 2001 when NU knocked BYU out of the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers have won all three meetings against the Cougars and will be making their first-ever visit to Provo. BYU defeated Cal State Fullerton 3-1 to open the season on Aug. 23 after a pair of goals from Rachel Manning.

Nebraska will finish out the second week of the season with its first-ever meeting on the pitch against Utah State. The Aggies are off to a 2-0 start with shutout victories against Creighton and Utah Valley. Utah State went 13-3-6 last year en route to an NCAA Tournament bid, before bowing out to BYU in a first round matchup.

Saturday’s contest will be shown live on BYUtv and byutvsports.com, with live stats on BYUCougars.com. Live stats for Monday’s game will available via UtahStateAggies.com.

High-Powered Husker Offense
The Huskers featured a high-octane offense over its season-opening homestand with a pair of victories that had many statistical similarities. Nebraska recorded 30 shots, 14 shots on goal and four goals in each of its first two matches of 2013.

The Huskers have already matched their season-high (30) from a year ago, which happened twice in 2012. The NU offense, aided by a strong defensive unit, outshot their opponents by a 60-14 margin through two matches, including a 28-4 shots on goal advantage. Seven of the Big Red’s eight goals have occurred in the second half.

Climbing the Husker Ranks
Senior Emma Stevens will be moving up the ranks in her fourth season as the Nebraska goalkeeper in a number of categories. Stevens ranks second in career games played in net (50) and third in starts in goal (47), minutes (4,210) and saves (185) amongst all-time Husker keepers. Stevens has also tallied 20 wins in her career, fifth most in NU history.

Huskers Open 2013 Season on the Road

Posted on August 28, 2013August 29, 2013

The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team begins the 2013 season this weekend at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic hosted by Saint Louis University. The Huskers will open the weekend with a match against Louisiana-Monroe on Friday, Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m., at Chaifetz (SHAY-fetz) Arena. Nebraska will then take on Auburn on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., before facing Saint Louis at 7 p.m.

Friday’s meeting will be the first between the Huskers and Louisiana-Monroe.

The Huskers hold a 2-0 record over Saint Louis, last meeting in 2012. The last time the Huskers faced the Billikens, Nebraska won in three sets (25-13, 25-17, 25-18).

Nebraska and Auburn have met just once, with the Huskers leading the all-time series at 1-0. The Huskers faced the Tigers in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, winning in three sets (25-10, 25-17, 25-15).

Fans can listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Lindsay Peterson on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha. Fans outside the state will also be able to catch the live audio feed for free on Huskers.com. Saturday’s match will only be available on Huskers.com.

Live stats for all matches will be available on SLUBillikens.com.

Scouting the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

• Louisiana-Monroe is coming off a 5-18 season in 2012, where they finished 1-13 in the Sun Belt Conference.

• The Warhawks return six letter winners from a year ago, included four starters.

• LMU finished sixth in the west division of the Sun Belt Conference in 2012.

• Returning for LMU in 2013 is senior Blanca Ocana. She tallied 171 total kills as a junior, with an average of 2.09 kills per set.

• Marcela Araya also returns for the Warhawks at libero. She posted a total of 361 digs in 2012, with an average of 4.46 digs per set.

• Patrick Hiltz is in his first season at the helm of the Warhawks. He was previously the head coach at Nicholls State for one season.

Scouting the Auburn Tigers

• Auburn is coming off a 17-13 record and an 8-12 finish in the SEC Conference in 2012.

• The Tigers return senior Camila Jersonsky at middle blocker, leading the way for the Tigers up front. She was a second-team All-SEC pick as a junior and was also named to the Preseason All-SEC team this season. Jersonsky is Auburn’s all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.356) and had 118 blocks (1.09/set) in 2012.

• At outside hitter, Auburn returns Katherine Culwell, a fifth-year senior who ranks seventh among active SEC players in career kills (680) and was the team’s second-leading attacker last season with 330 kills (3.03/set).

• The Tigers will run a 6-2 offense in 2013, using the same duo of Chelsea Wintzinger and Ciara Richards as was used in 2012. Wintzinger averaged 6.24 assists per set last season and a total of 680 on the year. Richards recorded 541 assists (4.96/set) and also led the team with 26 aces as a freshman.

• Auburn returns one of the SEC’s most experienced liberos in senior Sarah Wroblicky. She recorded a team-high 431 digs (3.99/set), the third-most single-season digs in program history in 2012.

• Rick Nold is in this third season as head coach at Auburn, he has a 28-32 record at the helm of the Tigers.

Scouting the Saint Louis Billikens

• Saint Louis is coming off a 10-20 season in 2012, where the Billikens went 4-10 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and finished 10th overall.

• The Billikens return three starters and seven letterwinners from the 2012 squad.

• Sophomore Megan Gilbert returns for SLU after earning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors in 2012. She was second on the team in kills as a freshman with 245 and a hitting clip of .221. She also notched 63 total blocks.

• The Billikens also return defensive specialist Anna Church. She led the team with 24 aces in 2012. She also tallied 262 digs and 143 kills as a freshman.

• Kent Miller returns for his third season in 2013. He has a 25-33 record in three years with the Billikens.

Noting the Nebraska Cornhuskers

The information below provides a quick glimpse of a few statistics and brief notes heading into this weekend.

•The Huskers return AVCA Honorable-Mention All-Americans Morgan Broekhuis and Meghan Haggerty in 2013. They also welcomed 2011 AVCA Second-Team All-American Kelsey Robinson and 2011 AVCA Honorable-Mention All-American Mary Pollmiller to the 2013 roster after both transferred from Tennessee.

• Nebraska begins the 2013 season as the second-winningest program in Division I history with 1,166 wins and trails only UCLA (1,181) on the all-time list.

• NU was ranked No. 10 in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 962 points

• The Huskers finished tied for second in the Big Ten in 2012. They were picked to finish fourth in the league in the Big Ten Coaches’ preseason poll.

• Nebraska carries a streak of 181 consecutive sellouts into the 2013 season, the longest sellout streak across all NCAA women’s athletics. The Huskers averaged 4,287 fans per home contest last season at the NU Coliseum.

• Nebraska has seven players on its 2013 roster who were Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selections, representing the top-50 players in that year’s recruiting class. Six of the Huskers’ last nine recruiting classes have ranked in the top five nationally, including the 2009 class that was ranked second and the 2013 class that was ranked first by Prepvlleyball.com

• Nebraska continued its string of All-America success in 2012, as Lauren Cook was named an AVCA All-American. Cook upped Nebraska’s NCAA-leading totals to 36 players and 74 certificates. Nebraska has had at least one All-American every season since 1983, a total of 31 straight seasons, including 39 All-America awards in Cook’s 13 years at Nebraska.

AVCA All-America Certificates

No. School Awards

1. Nebraska 74

2. Stanford 66

3. Penn State 58

4. Hawaii 53

5. UCLA 45

• Head Coach John Cook welcomes a young team, including 10 newcomers, to the 2013 squad. The 2012 team finished 26-7 last season, while Cook has won over 90 percent (387-91) of his matches in 13 years as the Huskers’ leader.

The Last Time Nebraska…

• Won a match 3-0: vs. Washington, Dec. 7, 2012

• Won a match 3-1: vs. Northwestern, Nov. 24, 2012

• Won a match 3-2: vs. Purdue, Nov. 10, 2012

• Lost a match 0-3: at Purdue, Nov. 12, 2011

• Lost a match 1-3: vs. Oregon, Dec. 8, 2012

• Lost a match 2-3: at Minnesota, Nov. 16, 2012

• Had 100 kills in a match: vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 26, 1996

• Had 200 attacks in a match: vs. Iowa State (200), Oct. 21, 2009

• Had .500-or-more hitting pct.: vs. Kansas (.523), Oct. 10, 2001

• Had 10-or-more service aces: at Texas A&M (11), Nov. 5, 2008

• Had 40-or-more total blocks: vs. UCLA (41), Sept. 14, 1991

• Had 100-or-more digs: vs. USC (109), Dec. 11, 2004

The Last Time a Husker…

• Had 30-or-more kills: Sarah Pavan (31) at Kansas State, Nov. 3, 2007

• Had 10-or-more blocks: Brooke Delano (10) at Oklahoma, Sept. 29, 2010

• Had 25-or-more digs: Lara Dykstra (28) vs. New Mexico State, Aug. 26, 2011

• Had two players with 20-or-more kills: Tara Mueller (24) and Jordan Larson (21) at Washington, Dec. 13, 2008

• Had a triple-double: Greichaly Cepero (10 kills, 38 assists, 12 digs) vs. Texas Tech, Sept. 25, 2002

Nebraska…

• Is 357-71 (.834) when winning a first set under John Cook and 45-29 (.608) when it loses the opening set

• Has spent 409 weeks in the top 10 and were ranked in the top 10 for 115 consecutive weeks (2004-Sept. 5, 2011)

• Nebraska has currently been ranked in the top 10 for 26 consecutive weeks (Sept. 12, 2011-present)

• Is 214-0 under John Cook when hitting .300 or better

Huskers Call the Devaney Center Home

The Nebraska volleyball program opened a new era in its storied tradition by moving into a new permanent home court for the first time in almost 40 years. When Nebraska played its preseason Red-White Match on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, the Bob Devaney Sports Center became the official home of Husker volleyball. The Devaney Center, which received $20 million in renovations designed to create the nation’s premier home court advantage for volleyball, will allow nearly 4,000 more Nebraska fans per game to watch their beloved Huskers.

Nebraska volleyball, which carried the nation’s longest home sellout streak in the history of any NCAA women’s sport with 181 consecutive sellouts (2001-12) at the historic NU Coliseum, has guaranteed another season of sellouts in its first year at the Devaney Center. Not only did the Huskers quickly sell out the new 7,907-seat capacity at the Devaney Center long before the season began, they also have room for nearly 400 standing-room seats at each game and a season-ticket waiting list of well over 1,000.

During the last two decades, Nebraska has ranked among the nation’s top three volleyball programs in average home attendance every season. In 2012, the Huskers finished second nationally by averaging 4,287 fans per match. Hawaii, the NCAA’s annual attendance leader for many years, drew 6,675 per home match in 2012. As the Huskers’ new home in 2013, the Devaney Center will put Nebraska in position to lead the nation in volleyball attendance on an annual basis.

The renovations to the Devaney Center have done much more than change the capacity. Massive red ceiling trusses helped create a similar environment in the arena to the Huskers’ former home in the Coliseum. A great wall, which replicates the old Coliseum entry, adds to an atmosphere steeped in tradition. While the new Devaney Center pays homage to the history of the Coliseum, which served as the home to Husker NCAA Championship teams in 1995, 2000 and 2006, the innovative design and technological advances inside also symbolize the visionary contributions of AVCA All-Time Great Coaches Terry Pettit and John Cook.

Huskers Find Even More Talent for 2013

Head Coach John Cook’s 2013 Huskers include 10 talented additions. NU welcomed true freshmen Alexa Ethridge, Kelly Hunter, Melanie Keil, Kira Larson, Brenna Lyles, Amber Rolfzen, Kadie Rolfzen and Justine Wong-Orantes and transfers Mary Pollmiller and Kelsey Robinson.

The 2013 recruiting class was regarded as one of the best in the nation, with four players ranked as the top-25 prospects in the nation. Kadie Rolfzen came in at No. 5, while Amber Rolfzen was ranked eighth, Kelly Hunter was ranked 13th and Kira Larson was ranked 23rd.

Broekhuis Looks to Excel in Final Season

Nebraska senior Morgan Broekhuis embarks on her final season with the Huskers in 2013. She has produced a solid Husker career, including being named a 2011 AVCA Honorable-Mention All-American and Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten honoree. She closed out the 2012 season by earning NCAA Omaha Regional All-Tournament Team honors. She helped the Huskers to a second-place finish in the Big Ten in 2012 and was named to the CoSIDA Academic Second-Team District Seven squad. Broekhuis averaged 2.73 kills, 0.19 aces, 1.34 digs and 0.64 blocks per set on the season, posted 75 total assists in 2012 and notched at least five assists on five occasions. She was key for the Huskers in their win over defending NCAA Champion UCLA, notching 15 kills against the Bruins and the final two kills of the fifth set to seal the victory. She closed the season with 16 kills and six digs in a four-set loss to Oregon in the NCAA Regional Final.

Haggerty to Follow Up Successful Freshman Campaign

Meghan Haggerty became just the eighth true freshman to start a season opener during Coach John Cook’s career at Nebraska in 2012. She was named an AVCA Honorable-Mention All-American and All-Mideast selection and also earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Haggerty was honored with Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades four times in 2012. She led the Huskers in hitting efficiency (.333) as a freshman and recorded a hitting percentage of .300 or better 18 times in 2012. Haggerty averaged 1.98 kills and 0.97 blocks per set and finished eighth in the conference in hitting percentage with an average of .333. She posted a team-high 17 kills against UCLA, notching a .600 hitting percentage (17-2-25).Her 17 kills were the most by a Nebraska middle blocker since Tracy Stalls tallied 17 (17-2-26) against UCLA during the 2006 National Semifinal match.

Thramer to Lead the Huskers in 2013

Senior Hayley Thramer suffered a knee injury in the spring of 2013 that will sideline her from competing during her senior season. She will fill the role as student coach and will help lead the Huskers in 2013. Thramer averaged 1.64 kills and 1.17 blocks as a junior, she totaled at least five blocks 16 times in 2012 and notched a career-high 10 blocks against Purdue in 2012.

Huskers Battle in Red/White Scrimmage

The 10th-ranked Nebraska volleyball team held its annual Red/White Match on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in front of a sellout crowd of 8,243 fans. The Nebraska alumni team, led by Olympians Jordan Larson and Nancy Metcalf, took the match 2-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-22) on the historic night at the Devaney.

Kelsey Fien and Morgan Broekhuis led the Huskers on the night with 12 kills each. Broekhuis tallied a .357 hitting percentage, while Fien notched a clip of .280. Husker setters Kelly Hunter and Mary Pollmiller both saw playing time during the match, with Pollmiller notching 24 assists and Hunter with seven assists. Justine Wong-Orantes had 12 digs.

Cook Selects Team Captains

Coach Cook selected team captains for the 2013 season prior to the Red/White Match. He selected Morgan Broekhuis, Kelsey Robinson and Hayley Thramer.

Expanded Memorial Stadium to Greet Fans for Aug. 31 Opener

Posted on August 28, 2013August 29, 2013

Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 26, 2013 — The East Stadium expansion will be the most obvious change for Cornhusker football fans when they arrive at Memorial Stadium to set a stadium attendance record in Nebraska’s season opener vs. Wyoming on Aug. 31. The expansion elevates the height of the stadium’s east side, adds 6,000 new seats, 38 suites and a new club level and increases the stadium’s average attendance to more than 91,000. In addition, for the first time in two years, all stadium gates will be open.

There are also some new policies and procedures in Memorial Stadium:

> Mobile tickets will be accepted; tickets can be stored on mobile devices and scanned at the gates.

> Bags larger than 13 inches by 10 inches will not be allowed in the stadium (security will use containers at the entrances to measure bags).

> Escalator and elevator access will be restricted to those fans holding tickets to their respective areas in the premium level and the 600 East Stadium level.

> No entry or re-entry will be allowed after the start of the fourth quarter.

> A free bike valet service will be provided at Cook Pavilion by UNL Campus Recreation. For details, go tohttps://bike.unl.edu/bikevalet.

Other stadium policies remain unchanged from previous years.

Tickets at all gates will be scanned with an optical reader for entrance and for re-entry if someone leaves the stadium. No re-entry is allowed beginning at the start of the fourth quarter.

Fans will again have the ability to report safety concerns to UNL Police via SMS (Short Message Service) text messaging. Anyone with a cellular phone and SMS capabilities can initiate a text message to 69050, keyword, “UNLPD,” and type in their complaint and location. Standard SMS rates will apply. The text number is the same as the one used in 2012.

UNL students will be seated in Sections 9 through 14 in the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium, and all student seating is general admission. Students with tickets for East Stadium seating (Sections 9, 10 and 11) must pick up a required wristband at the tent east of Gate 23 beginning four hours prior to kickoff each game; when stadium gates open, they will enter Memorial Stadium through Gate 23. Wristbands are not required for students with tickets for South Stadium seating (Sections 12, 13 and 14, entering through Gate 24). UNL student tickets are sent to the students’ valid NCard which will be scanned at the gate for admission. They must be scanned in and out just like a regular ticket. All transfers of student tickets will be done electronically via https://www.huskers.com. If the transfer is made to a non-UNL student, the validation fee will be charged and a print-at-home ticket is issued. If transferred to another full-time student, then the ticket will be sent to the recipient’s NCard. Validated student tickets for East Stadium seating require a wristband.

Fans are asked to help the “Big Red Go Green” in a stepped-up recycling program this fall by depositing their plastic bottles and cups in marked recycling bins located near every trash receptacle.

Memorial Stadium gates will open 1 hour and 30 minutes before kickoff of each game and ticket holders are encouraged to enter the gate number printed on their ticket. Express lanes will be in effect at stadium gates again and fans are encouraged to “travel light.” Ticket-holders who are not carrying items that are subject to inspection (purses, fanny packs, camera bags and water bottles) can use the express lanes. Fans carrying such items must use the other lanes. Backpacks are not permitted in Memorial Stadium.

The Husker Nation Pavilion will be back for its 10th year, with most activities taking place on the Gass practice field, where the Huskers practice daily northeast of Memorial Stadium. It will be open 3 hours prior to kickoff and will provide free and fun activities for the whole family, games, music, autograph signings and appearances by current and former athletes across many sports.

Stadium Drive on the west side of the stadium will also have food vendors and some game-related activities.

Memorial Stadium policies:

> Stadium gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

> Outside chairbacks are not allowed in Memorial Stadium. Some 20,000 chairback seats will be available for rental at $5 each.

> Backpacks are not allowed in Memorial Stadium.

> The Athletic Ticket Office and Huskers Authentic open 4 hours prior to kickoff.

> Memorial Stadium, like all university buildings, is a non-smoking area. Those who want to smoke must leave the stadium to do so. Tickets will be scanned for exiting and re-entry. Re-entry is available at each gate. Persons re-entering the stadium are subject to rescreening. No re-entry beginning at the start of the fourth quarter.

> The following items are prohibited in Memorial Stadium: Guns, knives, backpacks, glass, cans, coolers, beverage containers, video cameras, umbrellas and pets. People will be asked to return such items to their vehicles or home. Purses, fanny packs, and small camera bags are allowed but are subject to search. Plastic water bottles are permitted but may be inspected.

> Alcoholic beverages of any type are not allowed in the stadium. In addition, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in city and university parking lots and property.

> Throwing of any object in the stadium is prohibited. Any person throwing any object is subject to immediate removal from the stadium. Rules allow game officials to penalize the home team if objects are thrown onto the playing field.

> The Stadium Assistance Team, wearing orange jackets bearing the word “Security,” can help with any problems fans may encounter. If fans become separated from their friends, they should report to any First Aid station for assistance.

> Lost and found areas are located at the Guest Relations Desks in both the East and West Stadiums..

Parking and traffic policies and procedures:

> Most parking lots on the UNL City Campus are reserved for those who have paid reservations on game days. Most lots surrounding the stadium have been converted to reserved stalls, with patrons assigned to specific numbered stalls. Paid public parking on City Campus is available at $15 per stall at the Parking Garage at 17th and R streets.

> Parking for people with disabilities is available for $15 per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis in Booster Lots 5 and 9 on the south side of Salt Creek Roadway between Stadium Drive and 14th Street northeast of Memorial Stadium. Lots 5 and 9 have free cart shuttle service to the stadium. This shuttle is radio equipped and will be stationed during the game at the northeast corner of the stadium and on the east side for those patrons needing to return to their vehicles. Contact the Athletics Ticket Office at 402-472-3111 for pre-purchase opportunities. Charter and shuttle bus parking is available on W Street between 14th and 16th streets.

> Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. for games with kickoff scheduled before 6 p.m.; for games that start at 6 p.m. or later, lots will open at 11 a.m.

> UNL Red/White shuttles, with parking at the 17th and R Parking Garage, will drop off patrons on the east side or at the northwest corner of Memorial Stadium. This is a convenionent ADA drop-off point for those patrons who cannot walk long distances. There is a $15 charge for parking in the 17th and R Parking Garage.

> Stadium Drive, the street on the west side of the stadium, will be closed on game days.

> Star Tran will offer the Big Red Express shuttle service to and from the stadium from sites around Lincoln. The cost is $5 each way or $10 round-trip. Season passes are available for $60. For additional information, go tohttps://startran.lincoln.ne.gov or telephone 402-476-1234.

> The taxi cab drop off/pick up location will be at the corner of 14th and Vine streets east of the stadium, and north of Memorial Stadium on Salt Creek Roadway. Other passenger drop-off and pick-up will not be allowed in front of the stadium before or after games. The recommended drop-off location is 12th and R streets.

> Up-to-date statewide road information can be found online at www.nebraskatransportation.org. Highway conditions and a brief weather report can be obtained by calling 511 on a land line or cell phone.

Nebraska Men’s Hoops 2013-14 Big Ten Schedule Announced

Posted on August 28, 2013August 29, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska will make five appearances on the ESPN family of networks during the Big Ten season, as the Big Ten Conference announced its 2013-14 Big Ten schedule Wednesday afternoon.

Nebraska’s Big Ten slate is highlighted by the Big Ten home opener against NCAA runner-up Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 9, in a game which will be carried on either ESPN or ESPN2. Nebraska will also make four appearances on ESPNU during Big Ten action, taking on Penn State (Jan. 23 in State College; Feb. 20 in Lincoln) and Northwestern (Feb. 8 in Evanston; March 1 in Lincoln). In addition, Nebraska’s Feb. 23 game against Purdue is one of three games under consideration for a CBS national telecast that afternoon, but a final determination on that will not be made until early February.

College basketball fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena will be treated to six games against NCAA Tournament qualifiers, as the Huskers will take on Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin during the Big Ten slate in their first season in the $179 dollar building.

The Huskers will be tested early during Big Ten action, with three of the first four games coming on the road. Nebraska opens conference action on New Year’s Eve with a familiar opponent, as the Huskers will face Iowa in the only regular-season contest between the schools. Dating back to last season, it is the third time in Nebraska’s last six conference games the teams have faced off, as the teams played twice in the final five Big Ten games, including last year’s regular-season finale in Iowa City. Nebraska’s two-game road trip continues onSaturday, Jan. 4, as the Huskers will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on defending Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State.

Nebraska then returns home for its Big Ten opener, as the Huskers will host the Wolverines in the first Big Ten men’s basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 9, before traveling to Purdue on Sunday. Jan. 12. The Huskers will close the month of January with three of their next four games at home, highlighted by a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup with Ohio State on Monday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m., and a visit from defending Big Ten regular-season champion Indiana on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Nebraska will hit the road for the first half of February with three of its first four contests away from Lincoln, including a rematch with Michigan on Feb. 5 and road tilts with Northwestern (Feb. 8) and Michigan State (Feb. 16). The only home game in that stretch is a matchup with Illinois on Feb. 12, the fifth straight Big Ten home matchup against an NCAA tournament qualifier. Nebraska returns home for matchups with Penn State (Feb. 20) and Purdue (Feb. 23), as the Huskers will play four of their final six games at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska will close the regular season by taking on Wisconsin on Sunday, March 9.

Nebraska’s four single-play opponents for the 2013-14 season are Iowa (away), Michigan State (away), Minnesota (home) and Wisconsin (home).

Other television information for Big Ten games will be announced by the conference office and its television partners at a later date. Nebraska’s non-conference schedule was announced earlier in August, while start times and television information will be announced in September.

The Huskers, under second-year Coach Tim Miles, return three starters from a team that went 15-18 in his first season, including guard Ray Gallegos and forwards David Rivers and Shavon Shields. Gallegos, who averaged 12.5 ppg in 2012-13, led the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game and ranked second in school history with 83 3-pointers, while Shields averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a true freshman. Rivers started NU’s final 17 games at forward and averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. In all, nine letterwinners return for the Huskers in 2013-14, while eight newcomers, including three redshirts, will suit up for the Scarlet and Cream this season.

Nebraska 2013-14 Men’s Basketball Schedule

Day Date Opponent Location TV Time

Monday Nov. 4 Nebraska-Kearney (Exh.) Pinnacle Bank Arena 7 p.m.

Friday Nov. 8 Florida Gulf Coast Pinnacle Bank Arena BTN TBA

Tuesday Nov. 12 Western Illinois Pinnacle Bank Arena 7 p.m.

Sunday Nov. 17 South Carolina State Pinnacle Bank Arena 2 p.m.

Thurs.-Sun. Nov. 21-24 at Charleston Classic Charleston, S.C.

Thursday Nov. 21 vs. UMass Charleston, S.C. ESPN3 11:30 a.m.

Friday Nov. 22 vs. New Mexico or UAB Charleston, S.C. ESPNU/3 11 a.m. /1:30 p.m.

Sunday Nov. 24 vs. TBA (Clemson, Davidson, Georgia, Temple) Charleston, S.C. ESPN2/U/U TBA

Saturday Nov. 30 Northern Illinois Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA

Wednesday Dec. 4 Miami Pinnacle Bank Arena ESPNU 8:30 p.m.

Sunday Dec. 8 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. TBA

Saturday Dec. 14 Arkansas State Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA

Saturday Dec. 21 The Citadel Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA

Saturday Dec. 28 at Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio ESPN2 3 p.m.

Tuesday Dec. 31 at Iowa # Iowa City, Iowa 6 p.m.

Saturday Jan. 4 at Ohio State # Columbus, Ohio 11 a.m.

Thursday Jan. 9 Michigan # Pinnacle Bank Arena ESPN/2 8 p.m.

Sunday Jan. 12 at Purdue # West Lafayette, Ind. 11 a.m./3:30 p.m.%

Monday Jan. 20 Ohio State # Pinnacle Bank Arena 6 p.m.

Thursday Jan. 23 at Penn State # University Park, Pa. ESPNU 7 p.m.

Sunday Jan. 26 Minnesota # Pinnacle Bank Arena 5 p.m.

Thursday Jan. 30 Indiana # Pinnacle Bank Arena 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday Feb. 5 at Michigan # Ann Arbor, Mich. 5:30 p.m.

Saturday Feb. 8 at Northwestern # Evanston, Ill. ESPNU Noon

Wednesday Feb. 12 Illinois # Pinnacle Bank Arena 8 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 16 at Michigan State # East Lansing, Mich. 2 p.m.

Thursday Feb. 20 Penn State # Pinnacle Bank Arena ESPNU 6 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 23 Purdue # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA 11 a.m./3 p.m.!

Wednesday Feb. 26 at Illinois # Champaign, Ill. 8 p.m.

Saturday March 1 Northwestern # Pinnacle Bank Arena ESPNU 4 p.m.

Wednesday March 5 at Indiana # Bloomington, Ind. 6 p.m.

Sunday March 9 Wisconsin # Pinnacle Bank Arena 4:15/6:30 p.m.^

All times listed are Central; dates and times subject to change. # – Big Ten Conference games; %-Game time determined no later than Dec. 30; !-Big Ten Wildcard Weekend – Game times determined no later than Feb. 3; ^-Big Ten Wildcard Weekend – Game times determined no later than March 3.

Television and Tip Time Announced for Nebraska-Cincinnati

Posted on August 28, 2013

Lincoln – The University of Cincinnati and ESPN announced Wednesday that the Huskers’ game at Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28 will be carried nationally. The Nebraska-Cincinnati contest will be televised on ESPN2 with a 3 p.m. (central) tipoff from Fifth Third Arena.

Cincinnati leads the all-time series, 3-0, but the matchup this December is the first between the schools since the 1996-97 season and the first on-campus game between the programs since 1960. The Huskers’ game with Cincinnati is the first of a home-and-home series with the Bearcats. UC will make its first trip to Lincoln for basketball during the 2014-15 campaign.

With today’s announcement, a minimum of six non-conference games will be available for broadcast. The Charleston Classic will be carried on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3), Nebraska’s game with Miami during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be shown on ESPNU, while Nebraska’s season opener against Florida Gulf Coast will be televised nationally on BTN. Other non-conference games are expected to be televised as television networks announce their non-conference schedules in the coming weeks.