Stats & coverage
Nov. 7, 2001
Huskers sweep Texas A&M
Lincoln -- Nancy Metcalf and Amber Holmquist combined for
29 kills to lead the No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-28, 30-24,
30-21, win over No. 15 Texas A&M Wednesday night before 4,088 fans
at the NU Coliseum. Metcalf tallied a match-best 17 kills on a .368 hitting
percentage, while Holmquist posted 12 kills on a .435 hitting percentage
in helping the Huskers improve to 21-1 overall and 14-0 in the Big 12
Conference.
Both Metcalf and
Holmquist played key defensive roles as well. Metcalf, a senior right
side hitter, posted 13 digs for her 11th double-double of the season,
and Holmquist, a junior middle blocker, produced eight blocks to lead
NU to a 15-3 advantage in that category.
NU setter Greichaly
Cepero recorded three kills, 43 assists, six digs and six blocks - including
three solo stops - in the winning effort. Texas A&M setter Jenna
Moscovic posted 3 kills, 38 assists and 13 digs as the Aggies fell to
18-4 overall and 11-3 in the league.
With the win, Nebraska
extended its streak of consecutive Big 12 victories to 44. The Huskers
have won 19 straight matches.
I was very
impressed with Texas A&M tonight, Nebraska Coach John Cook
said. They are a great passing and ball-handling team, and their
game plan was to come out and go very fast. We had 15 blocks tonight,
but we had a lot more that they covered. And I dont think we had
a block the first 10 minutes of game one, and that was hurting us. It
took us awhile to adjust.
The Huskers trailed
27-25 in game one and were in danger of losing their first game at home
since Dec. 2, 2000, when they dropped to games to South Carolina in
the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Pilakowski brought Nebraska
within one with a kill, but Melissa Munsch answered to give the Aggies
a two-point advantage. But NU would capitalize on the Huskers
mistakes. A&M was called for a net violation, and then committed
two hitting errors, as Nebraska took a 29-28 lead. Metcalf secured the
30-28 first-game win for NU with a kill on the next possession.
I was really
proud of the way that we prepared ourselves, Texas A&M Coach
Lori Corbelli said. Every coach in the country knows that when
you go up against Nebraska, you have to split their block. We have a
setter that can find ways to do that and hitters that know what to do,
we just couldnt execute it the entire match.
Nebraska struggled
early again in game two, trailing for the first half before taking a
15-14 lead on a kill by Schrad. The Huskers lead increased to
five after back-to-back kills by Pilakowski and Metcalf. The Aggies
pulled within four after a kill by Tara Pulaski, but never got closer
than that. Nebraska built a 27-22 lead behind three kills by Metcalf,
who had eight on a .533 hitting percentage in game two. Kills by Holmquist
and Pilakowski forced a game-point situation, and Nebraska took the
30-24 win with Amy Sibbernsen behind at the service line.
The Huskers raced
to a 21-10 lead in game three before Moscovic and A.D. Achilefu sparked
a 5-0 run with back-to-back kills. Holmquist halted Texas A&Ms
momentum with a kill, and then added another kill and a block as the
Huskers took a 27-16 lead. Cole came up with three kills to make it
28-20 Nebraska, but an A&M serving error forced a game-point situation.
Cole held NU off with a kill, but Nebraska took the 30-21 third-game
win and the match on the ensuing rally when Pam Krejci slammed a kill
crosscourt.
The Huskers return
to action Saturday, Nov. 10, when they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to
take on the Jayhawks. KU was 14-12 overall and 4-11 in the Big 12 entering
its match at Iowa State Wednesday night.
Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.
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