Sept. 4, 2010
 
Huskers sweep Cal Poly.
 
Provo, Utah. — The No. 7 Nebraska volleyball team improved to 2-0 at the BYU Nike Invitational with a sweep of Cal Poly (25-15, 25-18, 25-17). The Huskers were on top of their game as they hit over .300 as a team for the first time in 2010 at .348, marking their best performance since they hit .386 against Colorado at home last season.

Hannah Werth lead all attackers with 12 kills on 27 swings (.333), while Kayla Banwarth and Tara Mueller combined for 25 digs and Brooke Delano added a match-high five blocks.

The Mustangs scored the first two points of the match before Nebraska quickly took control with three straight points, including an ace from Mueller. After the teams were tied at 3-3, Nebraska would never give up the lead and take set one, 25-15.

While Nebraska's longest run of the set came at the end when it reeled off four straight with Banwarth serving, the Huskers kept Cal Poly at bay, as the Mustangs were never able to string more than two consecutive points together.

After starting out with 14 attack errors in yesterday's first set against BYU, the Huskers were running on all cylinders at the net in set one with 11 kills on 26 swings and no errors (.423). With Lauren Cook (six) and Sydney Anderson (four) combining for 10 assists, Werth led the way with five kills, while five other Huskers added at least one kill. Morgan Broekhuis and Delano led the Huskers' defense that totaled five blocks, while the Mustangs failed to stop one Nebraska attack.

The battle between the two teams was much closer in set two. With the set tied at 5-5, Nebraska created some early separation following back-to-back-to-back kills from Lindsey Licht, Broekhuis and Allison McNeal to take an 8-5 lead. Cal Poly would take six of the next eight points to take the lead, 11-10, and would continue to hold the lead at 13-12.

Following a Cal Poly error to nod the set at 13 apiece, Delano and Licht put a stop to the Mustangs' attack with a pair of blocks, while each added a kill to fuel a 7-0 Husker run. The Mustangs would group together a 4-0 run of its own to get within three at 19-16, but it would not be enough as the Huskers would take six of the next eight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Nebraska started on fire in the final set with a quick 3-0 run behind the serving of Mueller. Jen Keddy would get the Mustangs on the board with a kill, but the Huskers would then go on a 7-0 run behind four kills from Broekhuis, two from Delano and one from Werth to take a commanding lead, 10-1.

The Husker lead would continue to grow, with Nebraska taking a 10-point lead at 16-6. Cal Poly would mount a few short spurts to try and get back in the set, but Nebraska quickly stopped each Mustang effort and eventually took the set 25-17 to finish off a 3-0 sweep.

After winning its first two matches of the BYU Nike Invitational, Nebraska will go for a perfect 3-0 weekend later today at 6 p.m. (CT) when it faces Idaho State. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Huskers and Bengals.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.