Volleyball – Page 25 – North Platte Post Archive

Red/White Match Tickets Available, Alumni Team Announced

Posted on August 15, 2013

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska volleyball team would like to remind fans that tickets are still available for the Red/White match on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The match will give Husker fans their first opportunity to see the new home of Nebraska volleyball.

Fans at the Red/White match will see the 2013 Huskers take on Nebraska volleyball alumni, including Olympians Jordan Larson and Nancy Metcalf, All-Americans Gina Mancuso, Lauren Cook and Brooke Delano and 2011 team captain Jordan Wilberger Sauer. In addition, there will be an opportunity for fans to get autographs from their favorite current and former Huskers after the match.

Tickets for the match are $10 for reserved and $8 for standing room only. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets on Huskers.com, while tickets are also available by visiting the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office or calling 1-800-8-BIGRED. UNL students will receive free admission to the match, but ticket quantities are limited and students must secure a ticket in advance on Huskers.com.

NPCC Volleyball Arrives on Campus, Starts Practice

Posted on August 13, 2013

The North Platte Community College Volleyball Team moved onto campus Sundaynight and started practice on Monday in preparation for the 2013 Season. The Lady Knights open the season on August 23 at home in the Subway Invitational at 5 p.m. against Williston State College. The 2013 Lady Knights received votes in the preseason NJCAA Top 20 National Poll.

“The start of practice has gone really well,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “We are really excited to see how this team comes together over the next several practices and then watch them compete.”

The Lady Knights return five sophomores from a team that finished 2012 with a 20-18 records after falling in the Region IX Division II Tournament Championship to Central Community College in five sets. The sophomores include Laura Beckman of Julesburg, Colo., Sabrina Hallahan of Brush, Colo., Sandrina Hallahan of Brush, Colo., Jacee Kershaw of Culbertson, and Shannon Liewer of Imperial.

“The sophomores have come out and really set the tone for practice with their hard work,” said Coach Thalken. “They have had the pedal to the metal. They have also provided great leadership for the underclassmen.”

The Lady Knights had seven freshman to the team including Samantha Byrn of North Platte, Lisa Dodge of Strasburg, Colo., Joli Hopping of Sutherland, Samantha Kennedy of Sutherland, Taylor King of Fleming, Colo., Abby Kurtzer of Haxton, Colo. and Kylie Wroot of North Platte.

“We were able to bring in a great freshman class,” said Coach Thalken. “They are all practicing well and are adjusting to the college game.”

The sophomores all said that the start of practice has been going well and they are excited to get the season underway. “Our team is really jelling for how short of a time we have been here,” said Kershaw. “It feels like we have been here for several months already,” said Beckman.

The Lady Knights have been working on fundamentals at this early point of the season. “We have focused on passing the most so far,” said Liewer.

Nebraska 10th, Creighton 25th in Volleyball Poll

Posted on August 12, 2013

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two of the state of Nebraska’s three Division I volleyball teams are in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason rankings. Nebraska is No. 10 and Creighton is No. 25.

The Cornhuskers are one of seven Big Ten teams in the ratings released Monday. Nebraska is coming off a 26-7 season that ended in the NCAA regional finals. Morgan Broekhuis and Meghan Haggerty are top returning players.

Creighton is in the preseason poll for the first time and is the only ranked Big East team. The Bluejays were 29-4 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Top returning players are Melanie Jereb, Leah McNary and Kelli Browning.

Texas is No. 1, followed by Penn State, Stanford, Southern California and Washington.

NU VB: Huskers Ranked 10th in AVCA Preseason Poll

Posted on August 12, 2013

Lincoln- The Nebraska volleyball team will enter the 2013 season ranked 10^th in the AVCA Coaches Poll, which was released Monday afternoon. The Huskers (962 points) were one of seven Big Ten teams to earn a spot in the top 25, joining No. 2 Penn State, No. 6 Minnesota, No. 7 Michigan, No. 14 Michigan State, No. 16 Purdue and No. 23 Ohio State.

The Huskers return AVCA honorable-mention All-Americans Morgan Broekhuis and Meghan Haggerty in 2013, as well as adding All-Americans Kelsey Robinson and Mary Pollmiller to the roster. During the 2012 season, Nebraska finished with a 26-7 record and made a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 31^st time, ending its season in the NCAA Regional final.

The rest of the preseason top 10 was rounded out by No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Stanford, No. 4 Southern California, No. 5 Washington, No. 6 Minnesota, No. 7 Michigan, No. 8 Oregon and No. 9 Florida.

Nebraska and Stanford have been the two most consistent teams in the AVCA’s 447 all-time polls, as each has been ranked in every poll dating back to 1982. Nebraska’s 85 weeks at the No. 1 spot still tops the list, while Penn State sits second at 73 weeks. When it comes to being ranked in the top 10, the Huskers lead Stanford 410-397.

During the non-conference season, the Huskers are set to meet three top-25 teams, as Nebraska will take on No. 22 Dayton on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Devaney Center. The Huskers will also face No. 15 Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Devaney Center. Nebraska will close the non-conference schedule against top-ranked and defending national champion Texas, in Austin, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Fans will have their first opportunity to see the Huskers at the Red/White Scrimmage at the newly-renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available online at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8BIGRED.