Manhattan, KS -- The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team produced
a .424 hitting percentage, its second-highest mark of the season, to capture
a 30-8, 30-15, 30-23, victory over Oral Roberts Friday night in first-round
NCAA Tournament action at Ahearn Fieldhouse. Four Huskers swung for a
.350 hitting percentage or better, led by sophomore outside hitter Anna
Schrad and junior setter Greichaly Cepero. Schrad posted 10 kills and
zero errors on 14 attacks (.714) to go along with a career-best five service
aces, while Cepero recorded seven kills and no errors in 11 attacks (.636)
to go with 24 assists, eight digs and five blocks.
The Huskers, who
are appearing in their 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament, improved their
overall NCAA postseason record to 48-17. NU has won 26 straight matches
and will advance to Saturday's 7 p.m. second-round match to face the
winner of Friday's first-round match between No. 18 Kansas State (19-7)
and Arkansas (21-11). Nebraska has advanced past the second round of
the NCAA Tournament 17 times.
Oral Roberts, the
Mid-Con Conference champions, ended their 2001 season with 19-7 overall
record. The Huskers out-blocked ORU 14-3, while holding Mid-Con Player
of the Year Maja Kulijis to nine kills on a .121 hitting percentage.
"I thought
we gave a really good effort tonight," NU Coach John Cook said.
"We came out focused and ready to go. We're not messing around.
There is a sense of urgency for us right now."
Nebraska led 21-7
in game one after Cepero notched her second kills of the game to give
NU possession. Schrad stepped to the service line and reeled off seven
straight points, including two service aces, to widen the Huskers' lead
to 28-7. Schrad's next serve came up short, but ORU's Becky Brunelle's
serve on the following play sailed long. Jenny Kropp slammed an ORU
overpass to the floor for the 30-8 Nebraska victory.
NU swung for a scorching
.700 hitting percentage in game one, as Cepero, Amber Holmquist and
Schrad combined for nine kills and zero errors.
The Huskers again
jumped to a quick lead in game two, taking an 11-4 advantage behind
two kills from Schrad and one each from Laura Pilakowski and Nancy Metcalf.
After committing a service error, the Golden Eagles pulled within three
with a 5-0 run that included two ace serves by Becky Dreher. Schrad,
who tallied seven kills on a .636 hitting percentage in game two, halted
ORU's momentum with back-to-back kills. The Huskers opened their advantage
to 26-15 and closed the second game with a 4-0 run. Cepero and Holmquist
combined to block Kulijis for the 30-15 win.
In game three, Nebraska
opened a four-point advantage to a 28-20 lead after Jenae Dowling reeled
off four straight points from behind the service line. Oral Roberts
fought back, responding with a block of Pilakowski and a kill. But Pilakowski
answered with back-to-back-kills to secure the 30-23, third-game win
and the match.
"I thought
we let up defensively in game three," Cepero said, "but we
played well tonight."
Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.
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