Story by NU Athletic Communications

The Nebraska men's basketball team looks for its third straight win on Wednesday night, as the Huskers return home to face North Dakota at Pinnacle Bank Arena to begin a three-game homestand.

Tipoff between the Huskers and Fighting Hawks is set for 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available for the matchup by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets, calling 800-8-BIGRED during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or at PBA beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network and streamed on B1G+ with Jessica Coody and Erick Strickland on the call.&nbsp;

Nebraska (9-2) comes its best defensive effort of the season in a 62-46 win at Kansas State on Sunday. The Huskers held Kansas State to 26.7 percent shooting, the Wildcats' lowest shooting performance since 2017, while KSU's 46 points was nearly 35 points under their season average entering the game. The 46 points allowed marked NU's best defensive effort since the 2018-19 season and its best performance in a road game in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present).&nbsp;

The Huskers relied on the power game, as Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast both posted double-doubles in the win. Gary had 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, while Mast had a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Brice Williams nearly gave the Huskers three players with double doubles with 10 points and nine rebounds, as Nebraska enjoyed a 57-40 advantage on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds.&nbsp;

North Dakota (8-4) comes to Lincoln riding a two-game win streak following a 79-62 win over Utah Tech on Saturday. Treysen Eaglestaff had a game-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers, while B.J. Omot added 20 points as UND used an early 11-0 run to take control and led the final 38 minutes. UND hit 12 3-pointers and enjoyed a 48-29 advantage on the glass.

About North DakotaNorth Dakota comes to Lincoln with an 8-4 record following a 79-62 road win at Utah Tech on Saturday night. The 8-4 mark is the program's best start since moving to Division I level. Wednesday's game wraps up a two-game road trip before the Fighting Hawks begin Summit League play on Dec. 29. &nbsp;

Head Coach Paul Sather is no stranger to the region, as he is in his fifth season in charge of the North Dakota program. Last season, UND won 13 games after winning just 15 the previous two seasons. &nbsp;Prior to taking the North Dakota job, he spent nine seasons at Northern State, guiding that program to a trio of NCAA Division II Tournaments and a runner-up finish in 2018. His teams won the Northern Sun Conference title in each of the past two seasons.

The Fighting Hawks feature a trio of double-figure scorers in B.J. Omot, Treysen Eaglestaff and Tsotne Tsartsidze. Omot averages a team-high 16.2 points per game and has four 20-point games, including a 24-point effort at Iowa in the season opener. Eaglelstaff is at 15.5 ppg and also has four 20-point nights this season. He is shooting 8 percent from 3-point range and averaging nearly three 3-pointers per game. &nbsp;Tsartsidze chips in 10.3 ppg on nearly 48 percent shooting. In addition, Tyree Ihenacho was ruled eligible last week, and the James Madison transfer had nine points and three rebounds in his debut. Ihenacho began his career at UND, where he was the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2020-21.

Series History: Nebraska leads the all-time series, 3-2, in a series that dates back to 1933. North Dakota won 75-74 in the most recent meeting in 2019, as De’Sean Allen-Eikens' free throw with seven seconds left provided the winning margin. Marlon Stewart scored a game-high 23 points in the win, while Cam Mack had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to pace four Huskers in double figures. NU is 77-11 all-time against current members of the Summit League.&nbsp;

Numbers to Know11- Juwan Gary's 11 offensive rebounds against Kansas State on Sunday were the most by a power conference player in 2023-24. According to Sports Reference, only two power conference players - Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (vs. Duke in 2021) and Washington's Nate Roberts (vs. Northern Illinois in 2021) - have grabbed more offensive boards in a game over the last five seasons.

12- Nebraska allowed 12 second-half points at Kansas State on Sunday, its lowest total since holding Jackson State to nine first-half points on Dec. 19, 2009.&nbsp;

15 - Nebraska's win snapped Kansas State's 15-game home winning streak in non-conference games and was the Wildcats' second home loss in 23 home games dating back to the start of the 2022-23 season.

2- Number of power conference players averaging at least 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game this season as of Dec. 18 - Nebraska's Rienk Mast and Duke's Kyle Filipowski.&nbsp;

57 - Nebraska grabbed 57 rebounds in the win at Kansas State, its highest rebounding total since grabbing 60 rebounds against Oral Roberts on Dec. 22, 1999.

8.6 - NU ranks second in the Big Ten with 8.6 3-pointers per game as of Dec. 18. &nbsp;NU has averaged more than 8.0 3-pointers/game just twice in program history (2001-02 and 2020-21).

13.7 - Nebraska leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.7) entering this week's action. NU also ranked in the top 20 nationally in that category in 2022-23 (14.1, 16th).&nbsp;

2 - Nebraska matched a school record with two turnovers in the win over Duquesne on Nov. 22, matching a record originally set in 2013. As of Dec. 18, it ties for the lowest total by a power conference team in 2023-24.

1.43 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio this season, which is sixth in the Big Ten as of Dec. 19. NU's best assist-to-turnover ratio in the last decade is 1.32, set in the 2018-19 season. That season, NU had 9.96 turnovers per game, the lowest average since assists were tracked in 1978-79.

Last Time OutJuwan Gary and Rienk Mast combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds, as Nebraska posted an impressive 62-46 road win over Kansas State on Dec. 17.

Gary and Mast both posted double-doubles, as Nebraska overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit by holding the Wildcats to just 12 second-half points on 16 percent shooting.&nbsp;

Gary had 13 of his career-high 18 rebounds in the second half, including eight offensive caroms after halftime, as Nebraska doubled up the Wildcats, 34-17, on the glass in the second half.&nbsp;

Gary finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Mast tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds on his way to his fourth double-double of the season. Brice Williams also nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, as the Huskers were held to 35 percent shooting, but hit 11 3-pointers in the win.&nbsp;

The Huskers set the tone from the start in the final 20 minutes, as Gary had six points and five rebounds – all on the offensive glass - in an 11-4 spurt that put Nebraska up 42-38 after Sam Hoiberg’s 3-pointer with 15:49 remaining.&nbsp;

Kansas State, which saw its 15-game non-conference home win streak snapped, pulled to within 42-40 after Macaleab Rich’s basket with 14:45 left but would get no closer. &nbsp;The Huskers went on a 17-1 spurt over nearly a 10-minute span behind Mast, who scored six of his 19 points in the surge that gave NU a 59-41 lead after Keisei Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left.&nbsp;

Finding BalanceNebraska relied on its depth and balance early in the season. While the Huskers have four players averaging double figures, three others are between 5.5 and 6.4 ppg.

Tominaga Returns to All-Big Ten FormNebraska's lineup has been boosted by the return of fifth-year senior Keisei Tominaga, who missed NU's first two games with an ankle injury. He is third on the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range.&nbsp;

Tominaga was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, becoming just the third Husker to receive the honor since Nebraska joined the conference in the 2011-12 season. &nbsp;Last season, he averaged 13.1 points per game on 53 percent shooting, including 40 percent from 3-point range, while appearing in all 32 contests. &nbsp;Tominaga led the Huskers in 3-pointers with 66 and was one of only six players nationally to average double figures and shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the foul line.&nbsp;

Gary Returns Better than Ever&nbsp;After his 2022-23 season was cut short with a left shoulder injury that required surgery, Juwan Gary has come back playing some of the best basketball of his career. &nbsp;During his rehab, Gary spent extensive time working on his shooting mechanics and the work has paid off.

New Faces, New RolesNebraska made a big splash in the transfer portal, adding five players to the roster, and their impact is already being felt during the early portion of the season. The group of Josiah Allick (New Mexico), Jarron Coleman (Bradley), Rienk Mast (Bradley), Ahron Ulis (Iowa) and Brice Williams (Charlotte) combined for more than 4,300 points, 2,100 rebounds and 800 assists entering this year.

Mast's Massive NightRienk Mast put together a strong performance in Nebraska's win against Florida A&amp;M on Nov. 9. The 6-foot-10 forward had game highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds for his first double-double as a Husker.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsThe Nebraska men's basketball team looks for its third straight win on Wednesday night, as the Huskers return home to face North Dakota at Pinnacle Bank Arena to begin a three-game homestand.Tipoff between the Huskers and Fighting Hawks is set for 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available for the matchup by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets, calling 800-8-BIGRED during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or at PBA beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network and streamed on B1G+ with Jessica Coody and Erick Strickland on the call.&nbsp;Nebraska (9-2) comes its best defensive effort of the season in a 62-46 win at Kansas State on Sunday. The Huskers held Kansas State to 26.7 percent shooting, the Wildcats' lowest shooting performance since 2017, while KSU's 46 points was nearly 35 points under their season average entering the game. The 46 points allowed marked NU's best defensive effort since the 2018-19 season and its best performance in a road game in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present).&nbsp;The Huskers relied on the power game, as Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast both posted double-doubles in the win. Gary had 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, while Mast had a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Brice Williams nearly gave the Huskers three players with double doubles with 10 points and nine rebounds, as Nebraska enjoyed a 57-40 advantage on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds.&nbsp;North Dakota (8-4) comes to Lincoln riding a two-game win streak following a 79-62 win over Utah Tech on Saturday. Treysen Eaglestaff had a game-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers, while B.J. Omot added 20 points as UND used an early 11-0 run to take control and led the final 38 minutes. UND hit 12 3-pointers and enjoyed a 48-29 advantage on the glass.About North DakotaNorth Dakota comes to Lincoln with an 8-4 record following a 79-62 road win at Utah Tech on Saturday night. The 8-4 mark is the program's best start since moving to Division I level. Wednesday's game wraps up a two-game road trip before the Fighting Hawks begin Summit League play on Dec. 29. &nbsp;Head Coach Paul Sather is no stranger to the region, as he is in his fifth season in charge of the North Dakota program. Last season, UND won 13 games after winning just 15 the previous two seasons. &nbsp;Prior to taking the North Dakota job, he spent nine seasons at Northern State, guiding that program to a trio of NCAA Division II Tournaments and a runner-up finish in 2018. His teams won the Northern Sun Conference title in each of the past two seasons.The Fighting Hawks feature a trio of double-figure scorers in B.J. Omot, Treysen Eaglestaff and Tsotne Tsartsidze. Omot averages a team-high 16.2 points per game and has four 20-point games, including a 24-point effort at Iowa in the season opener. Eaglelstaff is at 15.5 ppg and also has four 20-point nights this season. He is shooting 8 percent from 3-point range and averaging nearly three 3-pointers per game. &nbsp;Tsartsidze chips in 10.3 ppg on nearly 48 percent shooting. In addition, Tyree Ihenacho was ruled eligible last week, and the James Madison transfer had nine points and three rebounds in his debut. Ihenacho began his career at UND, where he was the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2020-21.Series History: Nebraska leads the all-time series, 3-2, in a series that dates back to 1933. North Dakota won 75-74 in the most recent meeting in 2019, as De’Sean Allen-Eikens' free throw with seven seconds left provided the winning margin. Marlon Stewart scored a game-high 23 points in the win, while Cam Mack had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to pace four Huskers in double figures. NU is 77-11 all-time against current members of the Summit League.&nbsp;Numbers to Know11- Juwan Gary's 11 offensive rebounds against Kansas State on Sunday were the most by a power conference player in 2023-24. According to Sports Reference, only two power conference players - Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (vs. Duke in 2021) and Washington's Nate Roberts (vs. Northern Illinois in 2021) - have grabbed more offensive boards in a game over the last five seasons.12- Nebraska allowed 12 second-half points at Kansas State on Sunday, its lowest total since holding Jackson State to nine first-half points on Dec. 19, 2009.&nbsp;15 - Nebraska's win snapped Kansas State's 15-game home winning streak in non-conference games and was the Wildcats' second home loss in 23 home games dating back to the start of the 2022-23 season.2- Number of power conference players averaging at least 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game this season as of Dec. 18 - Nebraska's Rienk Mast and Duke's Kyle Filipowski.&nbsp;57 - Nebraska grabbed 57 rebounds in the win at Kansas State, its highest rebounding total since grabbing 60 rebounds against Oral Roberts on Dec. 22, 1999.8.6 - NU ranks second in the Big Ten with 8.6 3-pointers per game as of Dec. 18. &nbsp;NU has averaged more than 8.0 3-pointers/game just twice in program history (2001-02 and 2020-21).13.7 - Nebraska leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.7) entering this week's action. NU also ranked in the top 20 nationally in that category in 2022-23 (14.1, 16th).&nbsp;2 - Nebraska matched a school record with two turnovers in the win over Duquesne on Nov. 22, matching a record originally set in 2013. As of Dec. 18, it ties for the lowest total by a power conference team in 2023-24.1.43 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio this season, which is sixth in the Big Ten as of Dec. 19. NU's best assist-to-turnover ratio in the last decade is 1.32, set in the 2018-19 season. That season, NU had 9.96 turnovers per game, the lowest average since assists were tracked in 1978-79.Worth Noting<ul>
 <li>Nebraska's 9-2 record matches NU's best 11-game mark since opening the 2003-04 season with a 10-1 mark in its first 11 contests. The Huskers were also 9-2 on five other occasions (2005-06, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2018-19) since 2003-04. &nbsp;Nebraska opened the season with seven straight wins, marking just the fifth time in program history that Nebraska opened the season with seven straight wins.</li><li>Nebraska held Kansas State to 46 points in holding the Wildcats to its fewest points since the 2020-01 and third-fewest total at home since Bramlage Coliseum opened in 1988. &nbsp;It marked the fewest points NU allowed on the road since joining the Big Ten and was only the second time NU had held an opponent under 50 points on the road since the 2011-12 season. Nebraska allowed just 0.68 points per possession, its lowest total in the Big Ten era.&nbsp;</li><li>C.J. Wilcher graduated over the weekend with a degree in child, youth &amp; family studies but will go through graduation ceremonies during the spring. Wilcher, who began his collegiate career at Xavier before transferring to Nebraska before the 2021-22 season, is a three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Roll member and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2023. He will be the fifth college graduate on the 2023-24 Husker roster, joining Josiah Allick, Jarron Coleman, Rienk Mast and Brice Williams.</li><li>One oddity in Sunday's win was that Nebraska got to the foul line a season-low four times compared to Kansas State's 18 attempts. It marked just the second time this year that an opponent got to the line more than Nebraska. Despite that difference on Sunday, the Huskers have been to the foul line 65 more times than its opponents, a total which ranks third in the Big Ten entering the week. &nbsp;</li><li>The Huskers are 15-5 over the last 20 games dating back to Feb. 1, 2023. A big reason for that is NU's offense, as NU has averaged 75.3 ppg on 46 percent shooting in that stretch. &nbsp;Sunday's win was only the fifth time in the last 20 games NU has been held under 70 points. NU is 2-3 in those contests.&nbsp;</li><li>Nebraska is 20-4 under Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 15-1 over the last three seasons. The only loss was a 104-100 quadruple overtime game at North Carolina State on Dec. 1, 2021. NU has won its last 13 games when reaching the 80-point plateau.&nbsp;</li><li>Nebraska enters Wednesday's game ranked fourth in the Big Ten in free throw shooting at 74.2 percent. &nbsp;While it is still early in the season, it is on pace to be one of NU's highest season percentages. NU has not shot over 74 percent from the foul line since the 2011-12 season where NU shot a school-record 76.6 percent. Over the last six games, Nebraska is shooting 83.8 percent (83-of-99) from the charity stripe, including the two best totals in Hoiberg's five seasons. &nbsp;NU's 19-of-20 effort against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 26 was its best percentage (min. 20 att.) since going 20-of-21 (.952) against Minnesota on Nov. 26, 1995.</li><li>Nebraska won its first seven games by 10 or more points. It was just the second time in over 100 years - the other was from Dec. 3-30, 1990 - that the Huskers won seven straight games by double figures.</li><li>Nebraska's bench has provided a spark, averaging 22.5 points per game in the first 11 contests. The Huskers' leading scorer has come from the bench three times (Hoiberg-Lindenwood; Wilcher-Rider; Gary-Stony Brook) and NU has had nine double-figure efforts from its bench in 2023-24.&nbsp; Juwan Gary's 20-point effort against Duquesne on Nov. 22 marked the seventh time under Fred Hoiberg that NU had a player score at least 20 points off the bench.</li>
 </ul>Last Time OutJuwan Gary and Rienk Mast combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds, as Nebraska posted an impressive 62-46 road win over Kansas State on Dec. 17.Gary and Mast both posted double-doubles, as Nebraska overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit by holding the Wildcats to just 12 second-half points on 16 percent shooting.&nbsp;Gary had 13 of his career-high 18 rebounds in the second half, including eight offensive caroms after halftime, as Nebraska doubled up the Wildcats, 34-17, on the glass in the second half.&nbsp;Gary finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Mast tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds on his way to his fourth double-double of the season. Brice Williams also nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, as the Huskers were held to 35 percent shooting, but hit 11 3-pointers in the win.&nbsp;The Huskers set the tone from the start in the final 20 minutes, as Gary had six points and five rebounds – all on the offensive glass - in an 11-4 spurt that put Nebraska up 42-38 after Sam Hoiberg’s 3-pointer with 15:49 remaining.&nbsp;Kansas State, which saw its 15-game non-conference home win streak snapped, pulled to within 42-40 after Macaleab Rich’s basket with 14:45 left but would get no closer. &nbsp;The Huskers went on a 17-1 spurt over nearly a 10-minute span behind Mast, who scored six of his 19 points in the surge that gave NU a 59-41 lead after Keisei Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left.&nbsp;Finding BalanceNebraska relied on its depth and balance early in the season. While the Huskers have four players averaging double figures, three others are between 5.5 and 6.4 ppg.<ul>
 <li>Nebraska has four players averaging double figures, which ties for the most in the Big Ten (also Michigan, Indiana and Purdue) entering this week's action.&nbsp;</li><li>Nebraska has had nine different players reach double figures and have six different leading scorers through the first 11 games. Rienk Mast is the only player to lead NU in scoring more than twice in 2023-24.</li><li>No Husker averages more than 29.3 minutes per game, while eight Huskers are averaging at least 15 minutes per game.&nbsp;</li><li>NU has gotten at least one double-figure effort from its bench in nine of 11 contests (all but the Creighton game).&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Tominaga Returns to All-Big Ten FormNebraska's lineup has been boosted by the return of fifth-year senior Keisei Tominaga, who missed NU's first two games with an ankle injury. He is third on the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Tominaga had nine points and set career highs in both assists (four) and steals (five) at Kansas State on Dec. 17. The five steals were the most by a Husker since Sam Griesel had five steals at Penn State last January.&nbsp;</li><li>He has been in double figures five times, most recently a 15-point effort against Michigan State on Dec. 10.&nbsp;</li><li>In a five-game stretch from Nov. 21-Dec. 3, he averaged 16.8 ppg on 58 percent shooting, including 44 percent from 3-point range over his previous five contests.&nbsp;</li><li>He posted his 12th career 20-point game against No. 15 Creighton on Dec. 3, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting.&nbsp;</li><li>Tominaga has a season-high 23 points versus Duquesne on Nov. 18, including 9-of-10 from the foul line.&nbsp;</li><li>He had a perfect shooting performance against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 26, as he went 5-of-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the foul line.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Prior to Tominaga, the last player to have at least 15 points on a perfect shooting night was David Rivers at Michigan State on Jan. 13, 2013 (8-8 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT). &nbsp;According to Sports Reference, only five power conference players have totaled at least 15 points on a perfect shooting night this season as of Dec. 18.</li>
 </ul>Tominaga was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, becoming just the third Husker to receive the honor since Nebraska joined the conference in the 2011-12 season. &nbsp;Last season, he averaged 13.1 points per game on 53 percent shooting, including 40 percent from 3-point range, while appearing in all 32 contests. &nbsp;Tominaga led the Huskers in 3-pointers with 66 and was one of only six players nationally to average double figures and shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the foul line.&nbsp;Gary Returns Better than Ever&nbsp;After his 2022-23 season was cut short with a left shoulder injury that required surgery, Juwan Gary has come back playing some of the best basketball of his career. &nbsp;During his rehab, Gary spent extensive time working on his shooting mechanics and the work has paid off.<ul>
 <li>He leads Nebraska in scoring (14.5 ppg) and field goal percentage (.544) since returning to action on Nov. 15. He also tops NU in steals (1.4 spg) and is second in rebounds (6.7 rpg).&nbsp;</li><li>Gary already has seven double-figure games in his first eight contests after having just nine last year and just 20 in 75 career games entering 2023-24.</li><li>Gary was dominant in NU's win at Kansas State on Dec. 17 with 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in 30 minutes of work. His 18 boards shattered his previous career high of 11 set three other times, while his 11 offensive boards were the second-highest total by a Division I player this season. &nbsp;</li><li>He recorded his second career 20-point game against Michigan State, hitting 8-of-11 shots from the field and adding three rebounds and three steals in NU's win over the Spartans. He moved into the starting lineup for the first time this year as Josiah Allick missed the game with an injury.&nbsp;</li><li>His performance against MSU marked the third time in seven games that he tied or eclipsed his career high in points.&nbsp;</li><li>Gary collected his first double-double off the bench against Oregon State with 12 points and 10 boards in just 21 minutes of work.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>New Faces, New RolesNebraska made a big splash in the transfer portal, adding five players to the roster, and their impact is already being felt during the early portion of the season. The group of Josiah Allick (New Mexico), Jarron Coleman (Bradley), Rienk Mast (Bradley), Ahron Ulis (Iowa) and Brice Williams (Charlotte) combined for more than 4,300 points, 2,100 rebounds and 800 assists entering this year.<ul>
 <li>Mast is averaging 13.0 points per game while leading the Huskers in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg). &nbsp;Mast currently ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding and 13th in assists. &nbsp;The 6-foot-10 forward has been in double figures eight times, highlighted by a 20-point, 16-rebound effort against Florida A&amp;M and 19 points and 12 rebounds against Kansas State. He leads NU with four double-doubles and has 24 for his career.</li><li>Williams has started all 11 contests and is second in scoring at 13.6 points per game to rank 22nd in the Big Ten. Williams, who is third on the team in assists per game (2.3 apg) is shooting 44 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and nearly 85 percent from the foul line. &nbsp;The 6-foot-7 guard has been in double figures eight times this season, highlighted by a 25-point effort in the win against Oregon State on Nov. 17 and had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists at Minnesota on Dec. 6. &nbsp;Williams is 49 points away from the 1,000-point plateau for his career.</li><li>Allick has been a presence inside, averaging 6.4 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. &nbsp;Allick has three double-figure efforts this season, including 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists vs. Duquesne. He missed the Michigan State game because of an injury, but returned to action in Sunday's win over Kansas State.</li><li>Coleman has come off the bench in nine contests and is fourth on the team in assists at 2.2 per game while posting a 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Mast's Massive NightRienk Mast put together a strong performance in Nebraska's win against Florida A&amp;M on Nov. 9. The 6-foot-10 forward had game highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds for his first double-double as a Husker.<ul>
 <li>He became the first Husker in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present) to have a game with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, and the first Husker to do so since All-Big 12 performer Aleks Maric in 2008.</li><li>Since 1990, only six Huskers have had games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. That list includes Aleks Maric, Kimani Ffriend, Venson Hamilton, Mikki Moore and Eric Piatkowski.</li><li>Mast’s 16 rebounds were the most by a Husker since Yvan Ouedraogo had 19 rebounds against Northwestern on March 1, 2020, and the second-highest rebound total in Hoiberg’s four-plus seasons at Nebraska.</li><li>Mast and Duke's Kyle Filipowski are the only two power conference players averaging 10.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as of Dec. 18.</li>
 </ul>

Huskers return to host North Dakota Wednesday night

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">GO BIG RED <a href="https://t.co/ApOPDipCcu">pic.twitter.com/ApOPDipCcu</a>&mdash; Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaiolaDylan/status/1736881334641918211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1A_JGbLOcA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1A_JGbLOcA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1A_JGbLOcA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Dylan Raiola (@dylan.raiola)</a></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>

Dylan Raiola top high school recruit flips to Nebraska 

&nbsp; GRAMBLING, La. |&nbsp;Grambling State University has named Mickey Joseph as the 15th&nbsp;head football coach, announced by Vice-President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott on Monday morning.

Jospeh brings a wealth of coaching experience spanning three decades to Grambling. His most recent stop was at the University of Nebraska, his alma mater, where he served as associate head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator during the 2022 season. He completed the 2022 campaign as interim head coach for the Cornhuskers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Prior to NU, he spent five seasons on staff at LSU. In 2017, he joined the Tigers as wide receivers coach. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020. Joseph was a key member of LSU's 2019 national championship staff. His receivers set an FBS record with 60 touchdown receptions and helping Joe Burrow claim a Heisman Trophy amassing 5,671 passing yards.

In 2019, LSU assembled the best group of receivers in SEC history. The Tigers' three starters—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall—combined for 241 receptions for 3,991 yards and 51 touchdowns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; His reputation and for recruiting and developing wide receivers were highlighted at LSU when he was recognized as a Rivals Top 25 recruiter.&nbsp;had four wide receivers selected in the first three rounds of the 2020 and 2021 NFL Drafts (2020 and 2021). That includes Chase, who was the 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after being selected with the No. 5 overall pick&nbsp;in the 2021 Draft and Jefferson, the 22nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Marrero, La. native was part of an offensive staff that helped LSU set several SEC records in 2019, including passing yards (6,024), passing TDs (61) and total offense per game (568.4) en route to a 15-0 season and national championship. Joseph also helped LSU post a 10-3 record in 2018 and a 9-4 mark in 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; In 2016, Joseph worked as running backs coach at neighboring Louisiana Tech. He helped the Bulldogs to a 9-5 record and win in the Armed Forces Bowl.&nbsp;The Bulldogs ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring in 2016, averaging 44.3 points per game. Tech averaged 514.9 total yards game, which included 363.4 passing and 151.6 on the ground.

Joseph is no stranger to Grambling State. From 2014 to 2015 he served as wide receivers coach and special teams coach for the G-Men. When he arrived at Grambling, the Tigers were coming off a 1-10 record in 2013. In the two years he spent with the G-Men, Grambling finished 7-5 (2014) and 9-3 with a SWAC West Championship in 2015.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp; In 2015, Joseph's receivers totaled 2,250 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns as Grambling's scoring offense ranked fourth and passing offense ranked 21st among all FCS programs nationally.

Prior to Grambling, he was the special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach at Alcorn State in 2013, helping the school to a 9-3 record, its most wins in 30 years.

He spent five seasons at Langston University from 2008 to 2012, elevating to head coach in 2011. He led the Lions to 13-7 record in two seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Joseph got his first collegiate coaching job at Wayne State College in Nebraska in 1997, which he followed with a season at his high school alma mater Archbishop Shaw High School in New Orleans in 1998. From there, Joseph served as a graduate assistant at Tulane in 1999 and then coached receivers at Alabama State in 2000.He coached quarterbacks at Nicholls State for three years (2001-03) and then spent two seasons as the running backs coach at Central Oklahoma (2004-05).

&nbsp; Before his tenure at Langston, Joseph served as the head football coach and Director of Athletics for Desire Street Academy, a private school in the New Orleans' Ninth Ward area. His main goal was to help get young kids out of the underprivileged area to improve their overall quality of life through sports. At the time of Hurricane Katrina, Joseph was responsible of moving the private school to Florida along with relocating the student- athletes. That year, the team had a record of 1-3, however, in 2008 Joseph turned the team around to a 10-3 record. Seven out of 25 players were able to sign with NCAA Division I programs.

During the summer of 2012 he also spent time with Houston Texans as part of an NFL minority internship. While in Houston, Joseph worked with the running backs and all aspects of the special teams units.

&nbsp; Joseph played quarterback at Nebraska from 1988-91. As a junior Joseph led the Cornhuskers to a 9-3 overall mark after accounting for 21 touchdowns (11 rushing, 10 passing). In his four years at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers posted a 39-9-1 overall mark and appeared in the Orange Bowl twice, the Citrus Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl

.In four years with the Cornhuskers, Joseph played in 34 regular season games and accounted for 30 touchdowns (16 rushing, 14 passing). His best season came as a junior in 1990 when he played in all 12 games, throwing for 624 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 554 rushing yards and 10 TDs.

Joseph was the top recruit coming out of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero when he was recruited to the University of Nebraska. In 1987, he was awarded Gatorade Player of the Year and First-Team Parade All-American. The standout football player was also a two-time All-State MVP and three-time All-District MVP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; GRAMBLING, La. |&nbsp;Grambling State University has named Mickey Joseph as the 15th&nbsp;head football coach, announced by Vice-President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott on Monday morning.Jospeh brings a wealth of coaching experience spanning three decades to Grambling. His most recent stop was at the University of Nebraska, his alma mater, where he served as associate head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator during the 2022 season. He completed the 2022 campaign as interim head coach for the Cornhuskers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prior to NU, he spent five seasons on staff at LSU. In 2017, he joined the Tigers as wide receivers coach. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020. Joseph was a key member of LSU's 2019 national championship staff. His receivers set an FBS record with 60 touchdown receptions and helping Joe Burrow claim a Heisman Trophy amassing 5,671 passing yards.In 2019, LSU assembled the best group of receivers in SEC history. The Tigers' three starters—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall—combined for 241 receptions for 3,991 yards and 51 touchdowns.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His reputation and for recruiting and developing wide receivers were highlighted at LSU when he was recognized as a Rivals Top 25 recruiter.&nbsp;had four wide receivers selected in the first three rounds of the 2020 and 2021 NFL Drafts (2020 and 2021). That includes Chase, who was the 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after being selected with the No. 5 overall pick&nbsp;in the 2021 Draft and Jefferson, the 22nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.The Marrero, La. native was part of an offensive staff that helped LSU set several SEC records in 2019, including passing yards (6,024), passing TDs (61) and total offense per game (568.4) en route to a 15-0 season and national championship. Joseph also helped LSU post a 10-3 record in 2018 and a 9-4 mark in 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In 2016, Joseph worked as running backs coach at neighboring Louisiana Tech. He helped the Bulldogs to a 9-5 record and win in the Armed Forces Bowl.&nbsp;The Bulldogs ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring in 2016, averaging 44.3 points per game. Tech averaged 514.9 total yards game, which included 363.4 passing and 151.6 on the ground.Joseph is no stranger to Grambling State. From 2014 to 2015 he served as wide receivers coach and special teams coach for the G-Men. When he arrived at Grambling, the Tigers were coming off a 1-10 record in 2013. In the two years he spent with the G-Men, Grambling finished 7-5 (2014) and 9-3 with a SWAC West Championship in 2015.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In 2015, Joseph's receivers totaled 2,250 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns as Grambling's scoring offense ranked fourth and passing offense ranked 21st among all FCS programs nationally.Prior to Grambling, he was the special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach at Alcorn State in 2013, helping the school to a 9-3 record, its most wins in 30 years.He spent five seasons at Langston University from 2008 to 2012, elevating to head coach in 2011. He led the Lions to 13-7 record in two seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joseph got his first collegiate coaching job at Wayne State College in Nebraska in 1997, which he followed with a season at his high school alma mater Archbishop Shaw High School in New Orleans in 1998. From there, Joseph served as a graduate assistant at Tulane in 1999 and then coached receivers at Alabama State in 2000.He coached quarterbacks at Nicholls State for three years (2001-03) and then spent two seasons as the running backs coach at Central Oklahoma (2004-05).&nbsp; Before his tenure at Langston, Joseph served as the head football coach and Director of Athletics for Desire Street Academy, a private school in the New Orleans' Ninth Ward area. His main goal was to help get young kids out of the underprivileged area to improve their overall quality of life through sports. At the time of Hurricane Katrina, Joseph was responsible of moving the private school to Florida along with relocating the student- athletes. That year, the team had a record of 1-3, however, in 2008 Joseph turned the team around to a 10-3 record. Seven out of 25 players were able to sign with NCAA Division I programs.During the summer of 2012 he also spent time with Houston Texans as part of an NFL minority internship. While in Houston, Joseph worked with the running backs and all aspects of the special teams units.&nbsp; Joseph played quarterback at Nebraska from 1988-91. As a junior Joseph led the Cornhuskers to a 9-3 overall mark after accounting for 21 touchdowns (11 rushing, 10 passing). In his four years at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers posted a 39-9-1 overall mark and appeared in the Orange Bowl twice, the Citrus Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.In four years with the Cornhuskers, Joseph played in 34 regular season games and accounted for 30 touchdowns (16 rushing, 14 passing). His best season came as a junior in 1990 when he played in all 12 games, throwing for 624 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 554 rushing yards and 10 TDs.Joseph was the top recruit coming out of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero when he was recruited to the University of Nebraska. In 1987, he was awarded Gatorade Player of the Year and First-Team Parade All-American. The standout football player was also a two-time All-State MVP and three-time All-District MVP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Grambling State Welcomes Mickey Joseph as Head Football Coach

Lincoln -&nbsp;No. 8 Nebraska wrestling used a pin and five wins by decision to defeat No. 14 South Dakota State, 21-17, at the Devaney Center in front of 2,401 fans on Saturday night.

In the first bout of the night, No. 8 Caleb Smith used a pair of reversals and two backpoints to secure a win at 125 over No. 18 Tanner Jordan. South Dakota State’s Jordan struck first with a takedown in the first period, but Smith answered with six straight points en route to the 6-4 victory.

At 133, Kyle Burwick fell to No. 13 Derrick Cardinal in a 6-1 decision. Cardinal managed a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second. In the third, Burwick scored a point off an escape, but Cardinal took the riding time point to put the Jackrabbits on the board.

No. 6 Brock Hardy (141) sparked the Huskers, defeating Caleb Gross with a dominant first-period pin in 2:06, and NU took the 9-3 overall lead with seven matches to go.&nbsp;

Top-ranked Ridge Lovett continued the momentum at 149 with a 5-1 decision over Alek Martin. Lovett went up 4-1 in the first period with a takedown and a stalling call on Martin. SDSU’s Martin notched an escape in the first for his only score of the bout before Lovett was awarded another point in the final period for Martin stalling.&nbsp;

At 157, No. 3 Peyton Robb struck first with a takedown over No. 16 Cael Swensen in the first period. Robb continued with an escape, a stall point and the riding time point while keeping Swensen scoreless, earning a 6-0 decision.

No. 24 Antrell Taylor (165) and No. 31 Tanner Cook went scoreless in the first period. Taylor jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the second with a takedown and escape. In the final two minutes, Cook managed an escape, but Taylor scored another takedown, good for the 7-1 decision.

With the 18-3 team advantage, Bubba Wilson fell in a hard-fought matchup with fourth-ranked Cade DeVos at 174. In the first period, DeVos tallied three points with an escape and Wilson escaped for a point. DeVos added an escape in the second period, while Wilson had one in the third, closing the bout with a 4-2 decision.

At 184, No. 4 Lenny Pinto brought the offense in an 8-2 decision over No. 23 Bennett Berge. An escape and takedown earned Pinto the early 4-0 lead, but Berge stayed in it, answering with a pair of escapes. Pinto scored four more points with a takedown and the riding-time point in the final two minutes.

Brandyn Van Tassell dropped the 197 bout to No. 6 Tanner Sloan in a technical fall at 4:14.

In the final bout of the night, Silas Allred fell to No. 15 Luke Rasmussen due to a medical forfeit.

Up next,&nbsp;the Huskers host Wyoming and Northern Iowa for a triangular on Saturday, Jan. 6. Action will be streamed on Big Ten Plus and will begin with a neutral dual between Wyoming and Northern Iowa at 12 p.m. (CT) before the Huskers wrestle the Cowboys and the Panthers after, with rolling starts.

#8 Nebraska 21, #14 South Dakota State 17

125: #8 Caleb Smith dec. #18 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) 6-4 (NEB 3, SDSU 0)

133:&nbsp; #13 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) dec. Kyle Burwick 6-1 (NEB 3, SDSU 3)

141: #6 Brock Hardy pinned Caleb Gross (SDSU) (2:06) (NEB 9, SDSU 3)

149: #1 Ridge Lovett dec. Alek Martin (SDSU) 5-1 (NEB 12, SDSU 3)

157: #3 Peyton Robb dec. #16 Cael Swensen (SDSU) 6-0 (NEB 15, SDSU 3)

165: #24 Antrell Taylor dec. #31 Tanner Cook (SDSU) 7-1 (NEB 18, SDSU 3)

174: #4 Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. Bubba Wilson 4-2 (NEB 18, SDSU 6)

184: #4 Lenny Pinto dec. #23 Bennett Berge (SDSU) 8-2 (NEB 21, SDSU 6)

197: #6 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) tech. fall Brandyn Van Tassell 17-0 (4:14) (NEB 21, SDSU 11)

HWT: #15 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) medical forfeit Silas Allred (NEB 21, SDSU 17)

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln -&nbsp;No. 8 Nebraska wrestling used a pin and five wins by decision to defeat No. 14 South Dakota State, 21-17, at the Devaney Center in front of 2,401 fans on Saturday night.In the first bout of the night, No. 8 Caleb Smith used a pair of reversals and two backpoints to secure a win at 125 over No. 18 Tanner Jordan. South Dakota State’s Jordan struck first with a takedown in the first period, but Smith answered with six straight points en route to the 6-4 victory.At 133, Kyle Burwick fell to No. 13 Derrick Cardinal in a 6-1 decision. Cardinal managed a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second. In the third, Burwick scored a point off an escape, but Cardinal took the riding time point to put the Jackrabbits on the board.No. 6 Brock Hardy (141) sparked the Huskers, defeating Caleb Gross with a dominant first-period pin in 2:06, and NU took the 9-3 overall lead with seven matches to go.&nbsp;Top-ranked Ridge Lovett continued the momentum at 149 with a 5-1 decision over Alek Martin. Lovett went up 4-1 in the first period with a takedown and a stalling call on Martin. SDSU’s Martin notched an escape in the first for his only score of the bout before Lovett was awarded another point in the final period for Martin stalling.&nbsp;At 157, No. 3 Peyton Robb struck first with a takedown over No. 16 Cael Swensen in the first period. Robb continued with an escape, a stall point and the riding time point while keeping Swensen scoreless, earning a 6-0 decision.No. 24 Antrell Taylor (165) and No. 31 Tanner Cook went scoreless in the first period. Taylor jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the second with a takedown and escape. In the final two minutes, Cook managed an escape, but Taylor scored another takedown, good for the 7-1 decision.With the 18-3 team advantage, Bubba Wilson fell in a hard-fought matchup with fourth-ranked Cade DeVos at 174. In the first period, DeVos tallied three points with an escape and Wilson escaped for a point. DeVos added an escape in the second period, while Wilson had one in the third, closing the bout with a 4-2 decision.At 184, No. 4 Lenny Pinto brought the offense in an 8-2 decision over No. 23 Bennett Berge. An escape and takedown earned Pinto the early 4-0 lead, but Berge stayed in it, answering with a pair of escapes. Pinto scored four more points with a takedown and the riding-time point in the final two minutes.Brandyn Van Tassell dropped the 197 bout to No. 6 Tanner Sloan in a technical fall at 4:14.In the final bout of the night, Silas Allred fell to No. 15 Luke Rasmussen due to a medical forfeit.Up next,&nbsp;the Huskers host Wyoming and Northern Iowa for a triangular on Saturday, Jan. 6. Action will be streamed on Big Ten Plus and will begin with a neutral dual between Wyoming and Northern Iowa at 12 p.m. (CT) before the Huskers wrestle the Cowboys and the Panthers after, with rolling starts.#8 Nebraska 21, #14 South Dakota State 17125: #8 Caleb Smith dec. #18 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) 6-4 (NEB 3, SDSU 0)133:&nbsp; #13 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) dec. Kyle Burwick 6-1 (NEB 3, SDSU 3)141: #6 Brock Hardy pinned Caleb Gross (SDSU) (2:06) (NEB 9, SDSU 3)149: #1 Ridge Lovett dec. Alek Martin (SDSU) 5-1 (NEB 12, SDSU 3)157: #3 Peyton Robb dec. #16 Cael Swensen (SDSU) 6-0 (NEB 15, SDSU 3)165: #24 Antrell Taylor dec. #31 Tanner Cook (SDSU) 7-1 (NEB 18, SDSU 3)174: #4 Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. Bubba Wilson 4-2 (NEB 18, SDSU 6)184: #4 Lenny Pinto dec. #23 Bennett Berge (SDSU) 8-2 (NEB 21, SDSU 6)197: #6 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) tech. fall Brandyn Van Tassell 17-0 (4:14) (NEB 21, SDSU 11)HWT: #15 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) medical forfeit Silas Allred (NEB 21, SDSU 17)

Huskers Top SDSU, 21-17 

Receiving Votes: Omaha Westview (4-2), NR; Lincoln Southwest (3-2), 9

Receiving Votes: Blair (4-2), 10; Hastings (3-2), 8

Receiving Votes: Summerland (6-0), 9; Grand Island Central Catholic (3-3), RV; Thayer Central (4-1), NR; Centennial (5-2), NR

8. Guardian Angles Central Catholic (3-3), 9

Receiving Votes: Elgin Public/Pope John (5-2), 10

Receiving Votes: Nebraska Lutheran (5-0), RV

Story by Nebpreps<h2>CLASS A (RECORD), PREVIOUS RANKING</h2>1. Millard North (5-0), 12. Bellevue West (4-1), 33. Omaha Westside (5-0), 24. Papillion-La Vista South (6-0), 45. Gretna (5-1), 56. Creighton Prep (5-1), 67. Kearney (4-2), 88. Omaha Central (5-1), NR9. Omaha Bryan (5-1), 710. Omaha North (5-1), RVReceiving Votes: Omaha Westview (4-2), NR; Lincoln Southwest (3-2), 9<h2>CLASS B</h2>1. Crete (6-0), 12. Elkhorn (5-0), 43. Skutt Catholic (4-1), 34. Norris (5-1), 45. Bennington (3-2), 76. Omaha Roncalli (3-2), 57. Scottsbluff (5-1), 68. Elkhorn North (3-2), NR9. Platteview (5-2), NR10. Elkhorn Mount Michael (3-3), 9Receiving Votes: Blair (4-2), 10; Hastings (3-2), 8<h2>CLASS C-1</h2>1. Ashland-Greenwood (5-0), 22. Wahoo (4-1), 33. Ogallala (7-0), 54. Omaha Concordia (4-1), 15. Auburn (4-0), 66. DC West (4-0), 77. Central City (6-1), RV8. Doniphan-Trumbull (4-1), 49. Wahoo Neumann (6-0), 910. Sidney (6-0), 8Receiving Votes: None<h2>CLASS C-2</h2>1. Amherst (5-0), 12. Lincoln Lutheran (6-0), 23. Lutheran High Northeast (7-0), 34. Sandy Creek (6-0), 55. Tri County (4-0), 46. Freeman (4-2), 67. Hartington Cedar Catholic (3-1), 88. Ponca (6-0), RV9. Elkhorn Valley (7-0), RV10. Cross County (4-2), 7Receiving Votes: Summerland (6-0), 9; Grand Island Central Catholic (3-3), RV; Thayer Central (4-1), NR; Centennial (5-2), NR<h2>CLASS D-1</h2>1. Johnson-Brock (5-0), 12. North Platte St. Patrick’s (5-2), 23. Dundy County Stratton (5-1), 34. Howells-Dodge (7-1), 45. Ainsworth (5-1), 56. McCool Junction (5-1), 77. Ansley-Litchfield (6-0), 68. Guardian Angles Central Catholic (3-3), 99. Bloomfield (6-1), NR10. Plainview (4-3), 8Receiving Votes: Elgin Public/Pope John (5-2), 10<h2>CLASS D-2</h2>1. Shelton (6-0), 12. Wynot (5-1), 23. Lincoln Parkview Christian (5-0), 44. Osceola (5-2), 35. Maywood/Hayes Center (6-1), 56. Falls City Sacred Heart (4-0), 67. Walthill (6-0), 78. St. Mary’s (6-0), 89. Sandhills/Thedford (6-0), 910. Hyannis (6-0), 10Receiving Votes: Nebraska Lutheran (5-0), RV

Boys Basketball Coaches poll 12-17

Lincoln&nbsp;- Junior Alexis Markowski scored a game-high 21 points and joined Nebraska's 1,000-point club as the Huskers cruised to a 76-51 victory over 2023 SWAC Champion Southern on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Graduate guard Jaz Shelley contributed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while freshman Logan Nissley put up 14 points, including a game-high four three-pointers, as Nebraska improved to 9-2 on the year. Markowski and Shelley each scored 11 points in the first half, while Nissley contributed eight off the bench in the first 20 minutes as Nebraska surged to a 43-17 halftime lead.&nbsp;

The Big Red knocked down 9-of-14 three-pointers in the opening half, including seven in the second quarter alone, on its way to 12 three-pointers for the game. It marked the fifth consecutive game that the Huskers had hit 10 or more threes and sixth time in 11 games this season. Southern, which slipped to 1-8 on the year, hit just 1-of-11 threes on the afternoon.

Nebraska also produced a decisive 44-26 edge on the glass, led by nine rebounds from freshman&nbsp;Natalie Potts. Graduate guard Darian White added eight points, five rebounds and five assists in a solid effort, while Callin Hake also contributed eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Huskers opened the game with back-to-back 6-0 runs to take an early 12-2 lead, then pushed the margin to 19-6 at the end of the first quarter. Markowski scored all 11 of her first-half points in the opening quarter, including both of Nebraska's three-pointers in the period.&nbsp;

Nissley got Nebraska got in the second quarter with a three-pointer to open the period before Shelley hit a pair of threes around a Kendall Coley three from the corner to push the Huskers to a 31-9 lead with 5:07 left in the half. Hake and Shelley then hit two more threes to extend the margin to 37-14 before Nissley got NU's only two-point field goal of the quarter. She then closed the half with NU's seventh three of the quarter to send the Big Red to halftime with a 43-17 edge.

Nebraska bolted out of the locker room on an 8-2 surge to extend the margin to 32 points at 51-19, before taking a 60-35 lead to the fourth. Markowski opened the final period with five straight points, including a reverse layup with 9:18 left to reach 1,000 career points. She was fouled and completed the three-point play to put the Huskers back up by 30 at 65-35.&nbsp;

For the game, Nebraska hit 44 percent (22-50) of its shots from the field, including 12-of-27 threes (.444), while connecting on 74.1 percent (20-27) of its free throws. The Huskers held Southern to just 33.3 percent (18-54) shooting, including 9.1 percent (1-11) from long range. The Jaguars did hit 14-of-21 (.667) free throws, and won the turnover battle 23-19.

Tionna Lidge, who scored six consecutive points in the final five minutes for Southern, led the Jaguars with 10 points. Taylor Williams and Chloe Fleming each added eight points. All-SWAC guard Genovea Johnson made her first appearance of the season for the Jaguars, adding four points, while Aniya Gourdine made her Southern debut. Gourdine was an All-AAC Freshman Team selection in 2021-22 at Temple before transferring to Southern mid-season in 2022-23. She managed five points and three rebounds.

The Huskers hit the road to take on Kansas on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) in Lawrence, Kan. with streaming available on ESPN+ and radio coverage provided by Huskers Radio Network.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln&nbsp;- Junior Alexis Markowski scored a game-high 21 points and joined Nebraska's 1,000-point club as the Huskers cruised to a 76-51 victory over 2023 SWAC Champion Southern on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Graduate guard Jaz Shelley contributed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while freshman Logan Nissley put up 14 points, including a game-high four three-pointers, as Nebraska improved to 9-2 on the year. Markowski and Shelley each scored 11 points in the first half, while Nissley contributed eight off the bench in the first 20 minutes as Nebraska surged to a 43-17 halftime lead.&nbsp;The Big Red knocked down 9-of-14 three-pointers in the opening half, including seven in the second quarter alone, on its way to 12 three-pointers for the game. It marked the fifth consecutive game that the Huskers had hit 10 or more threes and sixth time in 11 games this season. Southern, which slipped to 1-8 on the year, hit just 1-of-11 threes on the afternoon.Nebraska also produced a decisive 44-26 edge on the glass, led by nine rebounds from freshman&nbsp;Natalie Potts. Graduate guard Darian White added eight points, five rebounds and five assists in a solid effort, while Callin Hake also contributed eight points, three rebounds and three assists.The Huskers opened the game with back-to-back 6-0 runs to take an early 12-2 lead, then pushed the margin to 19-6 at the end of the first quarter. Markowski scored all 11 of her first-half points in the opening quarter, including both of Nebraska's three-pointers in the period.&nbsp;Nissley got Nebraska got in the second quarter with a three-pointer to open the period before Shelley hit a pair of threes around a Kendall Coley three from the corner to push the Huskers to a 31-9 lead with 5:07 left in the half. Hake and Shelley then hit two more threes to extend the margin to 37-14 before Nissley got NU's only two-point field goal of the quarter. She then closed the half with NU's seventh three of the quarter to send the Big Red to halftime with a 43-17 edge.Nebraska bolted out of the locker room on an 8-2 surge to extend the margin to 32 points at 51-19, before taking a 60-35 lead to the fourth. Markowski opened the final period with five straight points, including a reverse layup with 9:18 left to reach 1,000 career points. She was fouled and completed the three-point play to put the Huskers back up by 30 at 65-35.&nbsp;For the game, Nebraska hit 44 percent (22-50) of its shots from the field, including 12-of-27 threes (.444), while connecting on 74.1 percent (20-27) of its free throws. The Huskers held Southern to just 33.3 percent (18-54) shooting, including 9.1 percent (1-11) from long range. The Jaguars did hit 14-of-21 (.667) free throws, and won the turnover battle 23-19.Tionna Lidge, who scored six consecutive points in the final five minutes for Southern, led the Jaguars with 10 points. Taylor Williams and Chloe Fleming each added eight points. All-SWAC guard Genovea Johnson made her first appearance of the season for the Jaguars, adding four points, while Aniya Gourdine made her Southern debut. Gourdine was an All-AAC Freshman Team selection in 2021-22 at Temple before transferring to Southern mid-season in 2022-23. She managed five points and three rebounds.The Huskers hit the road to take on Kansas on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) in Lawrence, Kan. with streaming available on ESPN+ and radio coverage provided by Huskers Radio Network.

Markowski Joins 1,000-Point Club in Husker Victory

Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds, as Nebraska posted an impressive 62-46 road win over Kansas State Sunday afternoon.

Gary and Mast both posted double-doubles, as Nebraska (9-2) overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit by holding the Wildcats to just 12 second-half points on 16 percent shooting.

Gary had 13 of his career-high 18 rebounds in the second half, including eight offensive caroms after halftime, as Nebraska doubled up the Wildcats, 34-17, on the glass in the second half.

Gary finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Mast tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds on his way to his fourth double of the season. Brice Williams also nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, as the Huskers were held to 35 percent shooting, but hit 11 3-pointers in the win.

The Huskers set the tone from the start in the final 20 minutes, as Gary had six points and five rebounds – all on the offensive glass - in an 11-4 spurt that put Nebraska up 42-38 after Sam Hoiberg’s 3-pointer with 15:49 remaining.

Kansas State pulled to within 42-40 after Macaleab Rich’s basket with 14:45 left but would get no closer.

The Huskers went on a 17-1 spurt over nearly a 10-minute span behind Mast, who scored six of his 19 points in the surge that gave NU a 59-41 lead after Keisei Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left.

Nebraska’s defense was the story, as the Huskers held KSU to 46 points on just 27 percent shooting. The Wildcats (8-3) shot just 16 percent in the second half, including 0-of-12 from 3-point range, as the Huskers snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Wildcats and earned their first win in Manhattan since 2006

Cam Carter led Kansas State with 12 points, while Tylor Perry added 11 on just 3-of-11 shooting as the Wildcats were out-rebounded 57-40.

Nebraska battled in the first half as Kansas State took a 34-31 lead into the locker room. The Huskers shot just 35.3 percent but connected on seven 3-pointers and held Kansas State to 34.3 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

Nebraska relied on the hot hand of Mast, who keyed a 14-2 Husker spurt with a trio of 3-pointers, as Nebraska built an early 14-7 lead. Mast had a team-high 11 points in the first stanza.

The Wildcats clawed right back into the contest with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 15-14 on a basket from Darrin Ames Jr., but baskets from Mast and Williams gave the Huskers an 18-15 lead with 11:28 left in the half.

Nebraska eventually led 25-22 after a Tominaga 3-pointer with 5:56 left in the half, but the Wildcats would respond with in straight points to build a 31-25 lead after a Carter 3-pointer with 3:12 remaining. A Williams 3-pointer would snap the run and NU would keep it a 3-point game at the half after Tominaga’s second 3-pointer of the half made it a 34-31 game.

The Huskers return home to begin a three-game homestand against North Dakota this Wednesday evening. Tipoff time is 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available at Huskers.com/Tickets or calling 800-8-BIGRED.

Postgame Notes*-Nebraska improved to 9-2 on the season, matching the program’s best start since 2018-19

*-Nebraska snapped a seven-game losing streak to Kansas State and picked up its first win Manhattan since Jan. 11, 2006

*-The 46 points allowed by Nebraska was the lowest in Fred Hoiberg’s five season and the Huskers’ best defensive output since holding Southwest Minnesota State to 38 points on Dec. 29, 2018. It was NU’s lowest total allowed to a Division I program since holding Southeastern Louisiana to 36 points on Nov. 11, 2018. The Wildcats entered Sunday averaging 80.9 points per game.

*-Nebraska held Kansas State to 26.7 percent shooting, including 4-of-30 from 3-point range. &nbsp;In the second half, NU held Kansas State to 4-of-25 shooting, including 0-of-12 from 3-point range, while out-rebounding the Wildcats, 34-17 in the second half&nbsp;

*-Juwan Gary posted his second double-double of the season and fifth of his career with 13 points and a career-High 18 rebounds.&nbsp;

*-Gary finished with a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 offensive rebounds. His previous career high with 11 on three previous occasions, most recently against Kansas State last season in Kansas City.&nbsp;

*-Gary’s 11 offensive boards matches/were the most by a Husker in the Big Ten era. Tanner Borchardt had 11 at Illinois on Feb. 2, 2019. His 18 rebounds is the most by any Husker since the 2019-20 season.&nbsp;

*-Rienk Mast posted fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Mast tied a season high with three 3-pointers.&nbsp;

*-It was the second time this season that Nebraska has multiple players record double-doubles (also Oregon State).

*-Keisei Tominaga set career highs in both assist (four) and steals (five). His five steals are the most by any Husker this season.&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsJuwan Gary and Rienk Mast combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds, as Nebraska posted an impressive 62-46 road win over Kansas State Sunday afternoon.Gary and Mast both posted double-doubles, as Nebraska (9-2) overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit by holding the Wildcats to just 12 second-half points on 16 percent shooting.Gary had 13 of his career-high 18 rebounds in the second half, including eight offensive caroms after halftime, as Nebraska doubled up the Wildcats, 34-17, on the glass in the second half.Gary finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Mast tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds on his way to his fourth double of the season. Brice Williams also nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, as the Huskers were held to 35 percent shooting, but hit 11 3-pointers in the win.The Huskers set the tone from the start in the final 20 minutes, as Gary had six points and five rebounds – all on the offensive glass - in an 11-4 spurt that put Nebraska up 42-38 after Sam Hoiberg’s 3-pointer with 15:49 remaining.Kansas State pulled to within 42-40 after Macaleab Rich’s basket with 14:45 left but would get no closer.The Huskers went on a 17-1 spurt over nearly a 10-minute span behind Mast, who scored six of his 19 points in the surge that gave NU a 59-41 lead after Keisei Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left.Nebraska’s defense was the story, as the Huskers held KSU to 46 points on just 27 percent shooting. The Wildcats (8-3) shot just 16 percent in the second half, including 0-of-12 from 3-point range, as the Huskers snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Wildcats and earned their first win in Manhattan since 2006Cam Carter led Kansas State with 12 points, while Tylor Perry added 11 on just 3-of-11 shooting as the Wildcats were out-rebounded 57-40.Nebraska battled in the first half as Kansas State took a 34-31 lead into the locker room. The Huskers shot just 35.3 percent but connected on seven 3-pointers and held Kansas State to 34.3 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.Nebraska relied on the hot hand of Mast, who keyed a 14-2 Husker spurt with a trio of 3-pointers, as Nebraska built an early 14-7 lead. Mast had a team-high 11 points in the first stanza.The Wildcats clawed right back into the contest with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 15-14 on a basket from Darrin Ames Jr., but baskets from Mast and Williams gave the Huskers an 18-15 lead with 11:28 left in the half.Nebraska eventually led 25-22 after a Tominaga 3-pointer with 5:56 left in the half, but the Wildcats would respond with in straight points to build a 31-25 lead after a Carter 3-pointer with 3:12 remaining. A Williams 3-pointer would snap the run and NU would keep it a 3-point game at the half after Tominaga’s second 3-pointer of the half made it a 34-31 game.The Huskers return home to begin a three-game homestand against North Dakota this Wednesday evening. Tipoff time is 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available at Huskers.com/Tickets or calling 800-8-BIGRED.Postgame Notes*-Nebraska improved to 9-2 on the season, matching the program’s best start since 2018-19*-Nebraska snapped a seven-game losing streak to Kansas State and picked up its first win Manhattan since Jan. 11, 2006*-The 46 points allowed by Nebraska was the lowest in Fred Hoiberg’s five season and the Huskers’ best defensive output since holding Southwest Minnesota State to 38 points on Dec. 29, 2018. It was NU’s lowest total allowed to a Division I program since holding Southeastern Louisiana to 36 points on Nov. 11, 2018. The Wildcats entered Sunday averaging 80.9 points per game.*-Nebraska held Kansas State to 26.7 percent shooting, including 4-of-30 from 3-point range. &nbsp;In the second half, NU held Kansas State to 4-of-25 shooting, including 0-of-12 from 3-point range, while out-rebounding the Wildcats, 34-17 in the second half&nbsp;*-Juwan Gary posted his second double-double of the season and fifth of his career with 13 points and a career-High 18 rebounds.&nbsp;*-Gary finished with a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 offensive rebounds. His previous career high with 11 on three previous occasions, most recently against Kansas State last season in Kansas City.&nbsp;*-Gary’s 11 offensive boards matches/were the most by a Husker in the Big Ten era. Tanner Borchardt had 11 at Illinois on Feb. 2, 2019. His 18 rebounds is the most by any Husker since the 2019-20 season.&nbsp;*-Rienk Mast posted fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Mast tied a season high with three 3-pointers.&nbsp;*-It was the second time this season that Nebraska has multiple players record double-doubles (also Oregon State).*-Keisei Tominaga set career highs in both assist (four) and steals (five). His five steals are the most by any Husker this season.&nbsp;

Huskers bully Wildcats, 62-46

TAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;- The Nebraska volleyball team's quest for a sixth national championship came up short Sunday afternoon, as strong serving powered Texas to a 3-0 sweep in the NCAA Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

Texas had 12 aces in the match, the most by a Husker opponent in the rally-scoring era, which dates back to 2001. Nebraska struggled to pass against the Longhorns, which resulted in the Huskers recording season lows in kills (20) and hitting percentage (.013). Texas hit .264 in the match and had a 38-20 advantage in kills.&nbsp;

The Huskers (33-2) finished as the NCAA runner-up for the sixth time in program history, while Texas (28-4) won its second straight national championship and fourth overall.

Harper Murray led the Huskers with seven kills on 23 swings. Bekka Allick added three kills on seven attempts and led Nebraska with a .286 attack percentage and four blocks. Andi Jackson added four kills and three blocks. Lexi Rodriguez and Bergen Reilly had six digs apiece, while Reilly added 17 assists.

Madisen Skinner led Texas with 16 kills on 33 swings, while Asjia O'Neal had five service aces.

Set 1:&nbsp;The Longhorns jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but an ace by Murray and kill by Batenhorst helped the Huskers climb back to tie the score at 6-6. Jackson produced a pair of kills, and a tip by Murray gave the Huskers their first lead at 10-9. Allick set Murray for another kill to make it 11-9, but Texas answered with a 3-0 run to go back up 12-11. The Longhorns separated from a 14-14 tie with a 3-0 run to take a 17-14 lead. Texas pushed the lead to four, 20-16, but Reilly placed a kill to the back corner and Texas committed an attacking error to make it 20-18. The Longhorns led 22-19 before a block by Allick and Murray. A red card was then assessed to the Texas bench to give Nebraska a free point, and Murray served an ace to tie the score at 22-22. But the Longhorns scored the final three points with a block, a kill and an ace to win 25-22.&nbsp;

Set 2:&nbsp;Nebraska went ahead 10-7 after a 6-1 run. Jackson had a kill and two blocks in that stretch to spark the Big Red. But Texas took control of the set with an 11-0 run - including four straight aces by O'Neal - to grab an 18-10 lead. The Longhorns went on to win the set, 25-14.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Set 3:&nbsp;Texas bolted to a 7-3 lead, but a kill by Jackson and a block by Jackson and Reilly cut it to 7-5. But the Longhorns increased their lead to 15-10 at the media timeout. After the break, the Longhorns pulled away with three kills and a block to make it 19-10. Texas finished out the match, 25-11.&nbsp;

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM&nbsp;MB, Bekka Allick, NebraskaOH, Merritt Beason, NebraskaL, Emma Halter, TexasMB, Asjia O’Neal, TexasOH, Madison Skinner, TexasS, Ella Swindle, TexasMB, Anna Smrek, Wisconsin

Most Outstanding Player:OH, Madison Skinner, Texas

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsTAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;- The Nebraska volleyball team's quest for a sixth national championship came up short Sunday afternoon, as strong serving powered Texas to a 3-0 sweep in the NCAA Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa.Texas had 12 aces in the match, the most by a Husker opponent in the rally-scoring era, which dates back to 2001. Nebraska struggled to pass against the Longhorns, which resulted in the Huskers recording season lows in kills (20) and hitting percentage (.013). Texas hit .264 in the match and had a 38-20 advantage in kills.&nbsp;The Huskers (33-2) finished as the NCAA runner-up for the sixth time in program history, while Texas (28-4) won its second straight national championship and fourth overall.Harper Murray led the Huskers with seven kills on 23 swings. Bekka Allick added three kills on seven attempts and led Nebraska with a .286 attack percentage and four blocks. Andi Jackson added four kills and three blocks. Lexi Rodriguez and Bergen Reilly had six digs apiece, while Reilly added 17 assists.Madisen Skinner led Texas with 16 kills on 33 swings, while Asjia O'Neal had five service aces.Set 1:&nbsp;The Longhorns jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but an ace by Murray and kill by Batenhorst helped the Huskers climb back to tie the score at 6-6. Jackson produced a pair of kills, and a tip by Murray gave the Huskers their first lead at 10-9. Allick set Murray for another kill to make it 11-9, but Texas answered with a 3-0 run to go back up 12-11. The Longhorns separated from a 14-14 tie with a 3-0 run to take a 17-14 lead. Texas pushed the lead to four, 20-16, but Reilly placed a kill to the back corner and Texas committed an attacking error to make it 20-18. The Longhorns led 22-19 before a block by Allick and Murray. A red card was then assessed to the Texas bench to give Nebraska a free point, and Murray served an ace to tie the score at 22-22. But the Longhorns scored the final three points with a block, a kill and an ace to win 25-22.&nbsp;Set 2:&nbsp;Nebraska went ahead 10-7 after a 6-1 run. Jackson had a kill and two blocks in that stretch to spark the Big Red. But Texas took control of the set with an 11-0 run - including four straight aces by O'Neal - to grab an 18-10 lead. The Longhorns went on to win the set, 25-14.&nbsp;&nbsp;Set 3:&nbsp;Texas bolted to a 7-3 lead, but a kill by Jackson and a block by Jackson and Reilly cut it to 7-5. But the Longhorns increased their lead to 15-10 at the media timeout. After the break, the Longhorns pulled away with three kills and a block to make it 19-10. Texas finished out the match, 25-11.&nbsp;Nebraska Post-Match Notes<ul>
 <li>Nebraska finished as the NCAA runner-up for the sixth time in program history. The Huskers have a 5-6 record in the national championship match.</li><li>The Huskers lost to Texas in an NCAA Final for the first time. Nebraska had won the previous two national championship matches between the programs in 1995 and 2015.</li><li>NU ended its season with a 33-2 record. The Huskers’ .943 winning percentage ranked fourth in school history and was the highest since the 2006 season.</li><li>Nebraska fell to 130-37 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.778).</li><li>John Cook fell to 89-20 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach. He dropped to 97-25 in his NCAA Tournament career. Cook ranks second all-time in career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school.</li><li>Texas had 12 service aces in the match, the most by any Husker opponent in the rally-scoring era (since 2001) and the first time a Nebraska opponent has had more than 10 aces in the rally-scoring era.</li><li>UT had seven aces in set two, which one shy of the most aces Nebraska had allowed in an entire match.</li><li>Nebraska hit .013 in the match, the lowest mark of the season for the Huskers. The previous low was a .130 attack percentage in a win against No. 1 Wisconsin on Oct. 21.</li><li>The Huskers’ 20 kills were a season low, nine fewer than Nebraska had against Omaha in the outdoor match at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30.</li><li>Merritt Beason finished with 455 kills this season. That total ranked ninth at Nebraska in the rally-scoring era (since 2001). Beason is just the sixth Husker to have 450 kills in a season during the rally-scoring era.</li><li>Beason finished with 455 kills, 248 digs and 106 blocks. She is just the fourth Huskers in the rally-scoring era (since 2001) to have 400 kills, 200 digs and 100 blocks in a season and the first since Kadie Rolfzen in 2015.</li><li>Andi Jackson finished with a .399 attack percentage in her freshman season. That is the highest mark by a freshman in school history, eclipsing the previous record of .388 by Karen Dahlgren in 1983.</li><li>Jackson’s .399 attack percentage is the 10th-best all-time single-season mark at Nebraska and the seventh-best during the rally-scoring era (since 2001).</li>
 </ul>ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM&nbsp;MB, Bekka Allick, NebraskaOH, Merritt Beason, NebraskaL, Emma Halter, TexasMB, Asjia O’Neal, TexasOH, Madison Skinner, TexasS, Ella Swindle, TexasMB, Anna Smrek, WisconsinMost Outstanding Player:OH, Madison Skinner, Texas

Huskers finish as NCAA runner-up

<div><style type="text/css">
.tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;}
.tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;
 overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;}
.tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;
 font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;}
.tg .tg-mfjj{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#444;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle}
.tg .tg-8inr{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#0070BB;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}
.tg .tg-kg1d{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#444;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;
 vertical-align:middle}
.tg .tg-tz34{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#444;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle}
.tg .tg-5ikd{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#0070BB;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;text-decoration:underline;
 vertical-align:top}
.tg .tg-urwp{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#444;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;
 text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:middle}
.tg .tg-g8c2{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#0070BB;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;
 text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:top}
.tg .tg-z0vu{background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#000000;color:#0070BB;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}
</style>
<table class="tg">
<thead>
 <tr>
 <th class="tg-urwp">1</th>
 <th class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(155011147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">North Platte, NE</a> </th>
 <th class="tg-urwp">North Platte, NE (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(155011147, 'N', '28');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</th>
 <th class="tg-mfjj">NP</th>
 <th class="tg-mfjj">11</th>
 <th class="tg-z0vu">178.0</th>
 </tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-kg1d">2</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154789147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Windsor, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Windsor, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154789147, 'W', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">WIND</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">14</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">177.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">3</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154782147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pueblo East, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Pueblo East, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154782147, 'P', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">PUEA</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">14</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">159.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">4</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(467844146)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eaton, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Eaton, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(467844146, 'E', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">EATO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">155.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">5</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(155007147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cleveland, NM</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Cleveland, NM (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(155007147, 'C', '32');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">CLEV</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">12</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">153.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">6</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154779147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Poudre, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Poudre, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154779147, 'P', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">POUD</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">151.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">7</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154758147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brighton, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Brighton, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154758147, 'B', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">BRIG</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">14</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">139.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">8</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154768147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fort Collins, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Fort Collins, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154768147, 'F', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">FOCO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">14</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">134.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">9</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154774147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mead, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Mead, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154774147, 'M', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">MEAD</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">133.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">10</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154791147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Severance High School, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Severance High School, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154791147, 'S', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">SEVE</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">131.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">11</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(464143147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Legacy, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Legacy, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(464143147, 'L', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">LEGA</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">9</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">121.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">12</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154784147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roosevelt, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Roosevelt, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154784147, 'R', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">ROOS</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">9</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">118.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-urwp">13</td>
 <td class="tg-g8c2"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(346979147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pomona, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-urwp">Pomona, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(346979147, 'P', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">POMO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">12</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">116.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">14</td>
 <td class="tg-5ikd"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(464221147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pueblo County , CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Pueblo County , CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(464221147, 'P', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">PUCO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">110.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">15</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(346969147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mesa Ridge, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Mesa Ridge, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(346969147, 'M', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">MERI</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">12</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">109.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">16</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154763147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cherokee Trail, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Cherokee Trail, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154763147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">CHTR</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">107.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">17</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(157743147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canon City, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Canon City, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(157743147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">CACI</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">103.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">18</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(157744147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jefferson, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Jefferson, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(157744147, 'J', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">JEFF</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">14</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">97.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">19</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154759147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Broomfield, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Broomfield, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154759147, 'B', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">BROO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">12</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">90.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">20</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154783147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regis Jesuit, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Regis Jesuit, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154783147, 'R', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">REJE</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">10</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">89.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">21</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154761147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Centauri, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Centauri, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154761147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">CTRI</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">10</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">87.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">22</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154781147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pueblo Central, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Pueblo Central, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154781147, 'P', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">PUCR</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">10</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">87.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">23</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154751147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Riverdale Ridge, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Riverdale Ridge, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154751147, 'R', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">RIRI</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">13</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">82.5</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">24</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(272832147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cheyenne Mountain, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Cheyenne Mountain, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(272832147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">CHMO</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">8</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">79.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">24</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154767147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Erie, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Erie, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154767147, 'E', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">ERIE</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">8</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">79.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">26</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154775147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mountain View, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Mountain View, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154775147, 'M', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">MTVW</td>
 <td class="tg-mfjj">11</td>
 <td class="tg-z0vu">77.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">27</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154756147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berthoud, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Berthoud, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154756147, 'B', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">BERT</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">11</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr">76.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">27</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154764147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coronado, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Coronado, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154764147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">CORO</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">14</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr">76.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">29</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(339419147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cherry Creek, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Cherry Creek, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(339419147, 'C', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">CHCR</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">10</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr">71.0</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td class="tg-tz34">30</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr"><a href="javascript:viewTeamMembers(154788147)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Valley, CO</a> </td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">Valley, CO (<a href="javascript:getDMTeam(154788147, 'V', '9');" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GET</a>)</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">VALL</td>
 <td class="tg-tz34">9</td>
 <td class="tg-8inr">69.5</td>
 </tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>

Area Wrestling results

Story by Tri-City Storm Communications

LINCOLN, NE.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Tri-City Storm is set for a weekend series against the Lincoln Stars to wrap up the pre-holiday break portion of the 2023-2024 regular season. Tonight’s matchup will be played at the Ice Box in Lincoln, and Tri-City will return home to host the Stars tomorrow night at the Viaero Center. Puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT, and tomorrow’s battle in Kearney will begin at 6:05pm CT. Tickets to tomorrow’s game can be purchased online by skating to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stormhockey.com/" target="_blank">www.StormHockey.com</a>&nbsp;or by contacting a member of the Storm Sales Staff at the Viaero Center Box Office by calling 308-338-8144 during Box Office Hours today and tomorrow. &nbsp;

Tri-City (12-8-1-1) enters tonight’s road game against Lincoln as the 4th&nbsp;place team in the USHL’s Western Conference standings following a 4-3 home victory over the Omaha Lancers on Friday, December 8th, at the Viaero Center. Cam Briere, Blake Steenerson, Ryan Smith, and Vladislav Lukashevich each netted a goal for Tri-City in the victory. The Storm improved to 7-4-0-1 in games played at the Viaero Center this season, and 9-2-0-0 in head-to-head games against Western Conference competition in the win. Tri-City’s powerplay has scored on 18.8% of its opportunities this season, and has a conversion percentage of 13.7% on the road. The Storm’s penalty kill has a success rate of 77.1%, and is 78.4% in road games this year. Scoring leaders for Tri-City entering the weekend’s rivalry series against Lincoln include August Falloon (11), Ryan Smith (9), Trevor Connelly (8), Cam Briere (8), and Artemi Nizameyev (8). Connelly, along with teammate Philippe Blais-Savoie, will be out of the lineup this weekend due to their participation in the 2023 World Junior A Challenge for Team USA. More information about the event can be found online at&nbsp;<a href="https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023wjac" target="_blank">https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023wjac</a>. &nbsp;

Lincoln (7-15-0-2) collected one win in a three-game home series last weekend against the league-leading Fargo Force. The Stars opened the series by dropping a 2-1 decision on Friday, but bounced back with a 5-3 win over the Force on Saturday. Lincoln fell in Sunday’s series finale by a final score of 5-1. Keaton Peters scored the Stars’ lone goal during the matchup. Peters netted his first goal of the year during the Stars 5-3 home loss to the Storm on Wednesday, November 22nd. He has scored eight goals in the last eight games after beginning the regular season with sixteen consecutive games without scoring a goal. Lincoln’s powerplay enters tonight’s game with a conversion rate of 13.9% on home ice, and 13.4% overall this season. The Stars’ penalty kill is 83.8% on home ice, and 76.3% overall this year entering the weekend’s rivalry series. Scoring leaders for Lincoln through the opening twenty-four games of the season include Jared Mangan (9), Jack Pechar (9), Keaton Peters (8), and Blake Montgomery (7). &nbsp;

Last Saturday, the Storm hosted its annual Paint the Ice event ahead of tomorrow night’s Concrete Cares game. Members of the local community painted messages on the ice at the Viaero Center to support those affected by cancer. Tomorrow night’s rivalry matchup between the Storm and the Stars will be played on the painted ice, and proceeds raised during the postgame jersey auction will benefit Concrete Cares, on behalf of Kearney Concrete. &nbsp;

Concrete Cares is a volunteer group whose primary focus is fighting cancer on a local level. The mission of the organization is to make a difference in the local community by enabling friends, relatives, and families to join the fight to provide support for those stricken with cancer. More information on the group can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.concretecares.com/" target="_blank">www.ConcreteCares.com</a>.&nbsp;

Ticket specials for tomorrow’s home game include a Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack. The rivalry pack ticket package includes four tickets to the game, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for $44. For more information on tonight’s ticket specials, call 308-338-8144. &nbsp;

Tonight’s game is set to begin at&nbsp;7:05pm&nbsp;CT and will be streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://flosports.link/3pkG3Ge" target="_blank">FloHockey</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mixlr.com/tri-city-storm/" target="_blank">Storm Radio</a>. Tickets to home games at the Viaero Center may be purchased online by skating to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stormhockey.com/" target="_blank">www.StormHockey.com</a>, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office hours at 308-338-8144. The Tri-City Storm is presented by Viaero Wireless.

Story by Tri-City Storm CommunicationsLINCOLN, NE.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Tri-City Storm is set for a weekend series against the Lincoln Stars to wrap up the pre-holiday break portion of the 2023-2024 regular season. Tonight’s matchup will be played at the Ice Box in Lincoln, and Tri-City will return home to host the Stars tomorrow night at the Viaero Center. Puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT, and tomorrow’s battle in Kearney will begin at 6:05pm CT. Tickets to tomorrow’s game can be purchased online by skating to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stormhockey.com/" target="_blank">www.StormHockey.com</a>&nbsp;or by contacting a member of the Storm Sales Staff at the Viaero Center Box Office by calling 308-338-8144 during Box Office Hours today and tomorrow. &nbsp;Tri-City (12-8-1-1) enters tonight’s road game against Lincoln as the 4th&nbsp;place team in the USHL’s Western Conference standings following a 4-3 home victory over the Omaha Lancers on Friday, December 8th, at the Viaero Center. Cam Briere, Blake Steenerson, Ryan Smith, and Vladislav Lukashevich each netted a goal for Tri-City in the victory. The Storm improved to 7-4-0-1 in games played at the Viaero Center this season, and 9-2-0-0 in head-to-head games against Western Conference competition in the win. Tri-City’s powerplay has scored on 18.8% of its opportunities this season, and has a conversion percentage of 13.7% on the road. The Storm’s penalty kill has a success rate of 77.1%, and is 78.4% in road games this year. Scoring leaders for Tri-City entering the weekend’s rivalry series against Lincoln include August Falloon (11), Ryan Smith (9), Trevor Connelly (8), Cam Briere (8), and Artemi Nizameyev (8). Connelly, along with teammate Philippe Blais-Savoie, will be out of the lineup this weekend due to their participation in the 2023 World Junior A Challenge for Team USA. More information about the event can be found online at&nbsp;<a href="https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023wjac" target="_blank">https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023wjac</a>. &nbsp;Lincoln (7-15-0-2) collected one win in a three-game home series last weekend against the league-leading Fargo Force. The Stars opened the series by dropping a 2-1 decision on Friday, but bounced back with a 5-3 win over the Force on Saturday. Lincoln fell in Sunday’s series finale by a final score of 5-1. Keaton Peters scored the Stars’ lone goal during the matchup. Peters netted his first goal of the year during the Stars 5-3 home loss to the Storm on Wednesday, November 22nd. He has scored eight goals in the last eight games after beginning the regular season with sixteen consecutive games without scoring a goal. Lincoln’s powerplay enters tonight’s game with a conversion rate of 13.9% on home ice, and 13.4% overall this season. The Stars’ penalty kill is 83.8% on home ice, and 76.3% overall this year entering the weekend’s rivalry series. Scoring leaders for Lincoln through the opening twenty-four games of the season include Jared Mangan (9), Jack Pechar (9), Keaton Peters (8), and Blake Montgomery (7). &nbsp;Last Saturday, the Storm hosted its annual Paint the Ice event ahead of tomorrow night’s Concrete Cares game. Members of the local community painted messages on the ice at the Viaero Center to support those affected by cancer. Tomorrow night’s rivalry matchup between the Storm and the Stars will be played on the painted ice, and proceeds raised during the postgame jersey auction will benefit Concrete Cares, on behalf of Kearney Concrete. &nbsp;Concrete Cares is a volunteer group whose primary focus is fighting cancer on a local level. The mission of the organization is to make a difference in the local community by enabling friends, relatives, and families to join the fight to provide support for those stricken with cancer. More information on the group can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.concretecares.com/" target="_blank">www.ConcreteCares.com</a>.&nbsp;Ticket specials for tomorrow’s home game include a Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack. The rivalry pack ticket package includes four tickets to the game, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for $44. For more information on tonight’s ticket specials, call 308-338-8144. &nbsp;Tonight’s game is set to begin at&nbsp;7:05pm&nbsp;CT and will be streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://flosports.link/3pkG3Ge" target="_blank">FloHockey</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mixlr.com/tri-city-storm/" target="_blank">Storm Radio</a>. Tickets to home games at the Viaero Center may be purchased online by skating to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stormhockey.com/" target="_blank">www.StormHockey.com</a>, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office hours at 308-338-8144. The Tri-City Storm is presented by Viaero Wireless.

Storm set for weekend series against Stars 

Gothenburg 67, North Platte St. Patrick's 26

Gothenburg 52, North Platte St. Patrick's 38

<h2>Girls Basketball</h2>Gothenburg 67, North Platte St. Patrick's 26Maywood-Hayes Center 48, Brady 29Medicine Valley 54, Hitchcock County 43Sandhills/Thedford 56, Arthur County 28Cozad 47, Cambridge 37&nbsp;<h2>Boys Basketball</h2>Cozad 45, Cambridge 29Gothenburg 52, North Platte St. Patrick's 38Hitchcock County 58, Medicine Valley 47Maywood-Hayes Center 72, Brady 31Sandhills/Thedford 62, Arthur County 35&nbsp;<h2>North Platte High School Swim and Dive</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651228196.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651246164.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651263287.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651282443.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651461754.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651480728.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702651587057.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Area sports scores 12-14

KEARNEY, NE.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Tri-City Storm has announced the signing of forward Ilya Morozov to a tender agreement for the 2024-2025 season. Morozov is currently skating for the Windy City Storm AAA organization at the Orbit Ice Arena in Palatine, Illinois. The signing will replace Tri-City’s draft selection in the 1st&nbsp;Round of the 2024 USHL Phase I Draft. &nbsp;

Ilya Morozov, 15, Forward, of Moskva, Russia, has skated in twenty-four games this season with the Windy City Storm. He has netted seventeen goals and notched twenty-six assists for forty-three total points. Morozov is currently second on the team in goals, assists, and points. He previously skated for Orbita Zelenograd in Zelenograd, Russia prior to beginning his career in North America. Morozov scored five goals and recorded three assists for eight total points for Team Moskva U15 in the 2022-2023 Federal Districts Cup. He also scored four goals and recorded five assists for nine total points in the 2021-2022 edition of the event for Moskva’s U14 team. Morozov is 6’1”, 154 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot. &nbsp;

“As an organization we are thrilled to add Ilya Morozov to our family. Ilya is a two-way center who plays the game the right way and has high-end offensive upside. Equally as important, he is a leader that that will strengthen our culture through the way he carries himself and goes about his work.”- President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen&nbsp;

“As we followed the top 2008-born prospects in the US these first few months of the season, we kept coming back to Ilya as a prime target and talent. Ilya possesses a legitimate hockey brain, great size, and simply helps make others around him better. He is a true playmaking centerman. We feel that Ilya has all the talent and traits to develop into a strong two-way center and impact player at the junior, college, and pro levels as he develops with us these next few seasons. Ilya is currently playing and developing for a quality U15 program with the Windy City Storm. His current Head Coach, Sam Povorozniouk, who previously worked with our coaching staff in Kearney, and who was an Assistant Coach for our 2021-2022 Anderson Cup Championship team, will continue to help him prepare for next season. We've added a quality competitor, leader, and teammate to our club. We are thrilled to welcome Ilya Morozov and his family to the Tri-City Storm organization.”&nbsp;– General Manager Jason Koehler

Story by Tri-City Storm CommunicationsKEARNEY, NE.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Tri-City Storm has announced the signing of forward Ilya Morozov to a tender agreement for the 2024-2025 season. Morozov is currently skating for the Windy City Storm AAA organization at the Orbit Ice Arena in Palatine, Illinois. The signing will replace Tri-City’s draft selection in the 1st&nbsp;Round of the 2024 USHL Phase I Draft. &nbsp;Ilya Morozov, 15, Forward, of Moskva, Russia, has skated in twenty-four games this season with the Windy City Storm. He has netted seventeen goals and notched twenty-six assists for forty-three total points. Morozov is currently second on the team in goals, assists, and points. He previously skated for Orbita Zelenograd in Zelenograd, Russia prior to beginning his career in North America. Morozov scored five goals and recorded three assists for eight total points for Team Moskva U15 in the 2022-2023 Federal Districts Cup. He also scored four goals and recorded five assists for nine total points in the 2021-2022 edition of the event for Moskva’s U14 team. Morozov is 6’1”, 154 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot. &nbsp;“As an organization we are thrilled to add Ilya Morozov to our family. Ilya is a two-way center who plays the game the right way and has high-end offensive upside. Equally as important, he is a leader that that will strengthen our culture through the way he carries himself and goes about his work.”- President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen&nbsp;“As we followed the top 2008-born prospects in the US these first few months of the season, we kept coming back to Ilya as a prime target and talent. Ilya possesses a legitimate hockey brain, great size, and simply helps make others around him better. He is a true playmaking centerman. We feel that Ilya has all the talent and traits to develop into a strong two-way center and impact player at the junior, college, and pro levels as he develops with us these next few seasons. Ilya is currently playing and developing for a quality U15 program with the Windy City Storm. His current Head Coach, Sam Povorozniouk, who previously worked with our coaching staff in Kearney, and who was an Assistant Coach for our 2021-2022 Anderson Cup Championship team, will continue to help him prepare for next season. We've added a quality competitor, leader, and teammate to our club. We are thrilled to welcome Ilya Morozov and his family to the Tri-City Storm organization.”&nbsp;– General Manager Jason Koehler

Storm signs Ilya Morozov to Tender Agreement 

TAMPA, Fla. -&nbsp;The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team advanced to the program's 11th NCAA Final with an impressive sweep of fellow No. 1 seed Pittsburgh in an NCAA Semifinal match Thursday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

The Huskers trailed for only four rallies in the entire match. Nebraska lost four of the first six rallies then won three straight points and never trailed again in a 25-20 win in the opening set. The Huskers did not trail in either set two or three, leading by as many as six in a 25-23 set two victory and by as many as 10 in a 25-17 win in set three to close out the match.

With the win, Nebraska (33-1) advanced to Sunday's NCAA Final where the Huskers will take on last year's champion Texas in the 11th NCAA Final in program history. First serve is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the match will be televised on ABC.

Nebraska hit .245 against Pitt on Thursday, which entered the match with the second-best opponent hitting percentage in the country behind NU. The Huskers limited the Panthers to a .137 attack percentage, which marked Pitt's second-lowest mark of the season and lowest since its season opener against BYU.&nbsp;

The Husker block was dominant, recording 15 stuffs. Bekka Allick had 10 blocks, her second straight match with double-digit blocks. Merritt Beason added five stuffs while Ally Batenhorst and Andi Jackson each had a hand in four blocks. Lexi Rodriguez led the floor defense with a match-high 10 digs.

Harper Murray shined in her NCAA Semifinal debut as the freshman had a match-high 13 kills on 33 swings. She hit .273 and had five digs and two blocks. Allick and Jackson combined for nine kills on 16 error-free swings out of the middle, while Beason and Batenhorst had eight kills apiece.&nbsp;

National Freshman of the Year Oliva Babcock led Pitt (29-5) with 12 kills and eight blocks while fellow freshman Torrey Stafford had 10 kills.

Set 1:&nbsp;Murray had two early kills as the Huskers claimed an 11-9 lead with suffocating defense, holding Pitt to -.056 at that point. Beason had a kill and a block with Allick to make the lead three, 13-10. After Pitt got within one, Beason tipped a kill and Batenhorst and Jackson posted NU's fifth block of the set for a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. The Panthers scored the next two points to cut it to one again, but a service error followed by a Batenhorst/Jackson block put the lead back at three, 17-14. A kill by Batenhorst and a Pittsburgh hitting error made it 19-15 Huskers. Murray tallied her fourth kill, and Allick sent a Pitt attack back to the floor for a 22-17 Husker advantage. Beason terminated for a fourth time, and Pitt hit wide for set point, 24-18. Pitt fought off two set points before the Huskers' eighth block ended the set, 25-20. Nebraska held Pitt to .000 hitting in the first set.&nbsp;

Set 2:&nbsp;Allick started the set for the Big Red with a kill and a block, and Batenhorst added a kill before another block by Beason and Allick made it 4-1. Pitt answered with a 3-0 run, but Beason and Batenhorst produced back-to-back kills for a 6-4 advantage. An ace by Beason and two kills by Jackson extended the lead to 11-6, and Allick's seventh block made it 13-7. NU remained up by six, 15-9, after a Murray kill, but Pitt scored the next three to get within 15-12. Murray, Batenhorst and Reilly put down kills to keep the Huskers in front, 20-15. Batenhorst fired her sixth kill to make it 21-16, but the Panthers got two kills and a Husker hitting error to cut it to 21-19. Murray then put the Huskers on her back with three kills to take NU to set point, 24-20. The Panthers answered with two kills and a block to cut it to 24-23, but a service error ended the set in NU's favor, 25-23.&nbsp;

Set 3:&nbsp;Allick was involved in two more blocks and had a kill as well as the Huskers went up 8-6. Back-to-back kills by Batenhorst started a 5-0 Husker run that made it 15-9. Batenhorst and Jackson also had a block in that stretch, and Beason tallied a kill that forced a Pittsburgh timeout. The timeout didn't slow the Huskers, as Rodriguez came out of it with an ace. After Pittsburgh sided out, Jackson came right back with a kill and Pittsburgh was out of rotation to give the Huskers a 17-10 advantage. Pittsburgh used its final timeout, but Beason served back-to-back aces to make it 19-10 Huskers. Kills by Jackson and Murray and a block by Murray and Allick before another kill by Murray had it at 23-13 Huskers. Murray's 13th kill earned match point, and after Pitt fended off three match points, the Big Red clinched the match when the Panthers were called for being int he net on the Huskers' fourth match point.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsTAMPA, Fla. -&nbsp;The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team advanced to the program's 11th NCAA Final with an impressive sweep of fellow No. 1 seed Pittsburgh in an NCAA Semifinal match Thursday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa.The Huskers trailed for only four rallies in the entire match. Nebraska lost four of the first six rallies then won three straight points and never trailed again in a 25-20 win in the opening set. The Huskers did not trail in either set two or three, leading by as many as six in a 25-23 set two victory and by as many as 10 in a 25-17 win in set three to close out the match.With the win, Nebraska (33-1) advanced to Sunday's NCAA Final where the Huskers will take on last year's champion Texas in the 11th NCAA Final in program history. First serve is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the match will be televised on ABC.Nebraska hit .245 against Pitt on Thursday, which entered the match with the second-best opponent hitting percentage in the country behind NU. The Huskers limited the Panthers to a .137 attack percentage, which marked Pitt's second-lowest mark of the season and lowest since its season opener against BYU.&nbsp;The Husker block was dominant, recording 15 stuffs. Bekka Allick had 10 blocks, her second straight match with double-digit blocks. Merritt Beason added five stuffs while Ally Batenhorst and Andi Jackson each had a hand in four blocks. Lexi Rodriguez led the floor defense with a match-high 10 digs.Harper Murray shined in her NCAA Semifinal debut as the freshman had a match-high 13 kills on 33 swings. She hit .273 and had five digs and two blocks. Allick and Jackson combined for nine kills on 16 error-free swings out of the middle, while Beason and Batenhorst had eight kills apiece.&nbsp;National Freshman of the Year Oliva Babcock led Pitt (29-5) with 12 kills and eight blocks while fellow freshman Torrey Stafford had 10 kills.Set 1:&nbsp;Murray had two early kills as the Huskers claimed an 11-9 lead with suffocating defense, holding Pitt to -.056 at that point. Beason had a kill and a block with Allick to make the lead three, 13-10. After Pitt got within one, Beason tipped a kill and Batenhorst and Jackson posted NU's fifth block of the set for a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. The Panthers scored the next two points to cut it to one again, but a service error followed by a Batenhorst/Jackson block put the lead back at three, 17-14. A kill by Batenhorst and a Pittsburgh hitting error made it 19-15 Huskers. Murray tallied her fourth kill, and Allick sent a Pitt attack back to the floor for a 22-17 Husker advantage. Beason terminated for a fourth time, and Pitt hit wide for set point, 24-18. Pitt fought off two set points before the Huskers' eighth block ended the set, 25-20. Nebraska held Pitt to .000 hitting in the first set.&nbsp;Set 2:&nbsp;Allick started the set for the Big Red with a kill and a block, and Batenhorst added a kill before another block by Beason and Allick made it 4-1. Pitt answered with a 3-0 run, but Beason and Batenhorst produced back-to-back kills for a 6-4 advantage. An ace by Beason and two kills by Jackson extended the lead to 11-6, and Allick's seventh block made it 13-7. NU remained up by six, 15-9, after a Murray kill, but Pitt scored the next three to get within 15-12. Murray, Batenhorst and Reilly put down kills to keep the Huskers in front, 20-15. Batenhorst fired her sixth kill to make it 21-16, but the Panthers got two kills and a Husker hitting error to cut it to 21-19. Murray then put the Huskers on her back with three kills to take NU to set point, 24-20. The Panthers answered with two kills and a block to cut it to 24-23, but a service error ended the set in NU's favor, 25-23.&nbsp;Set 3:&nbsp;Allick was involved in two more blocks and had a kill as well as the Huskers went up 8-6. Back-to-back kills by Batenhorst started a 5-0 Husker run that made it 15-9. Batenhorst and Jackson also had a block in that stretch, and Beason tallied a kill that forced a Pittsburgh timeout. The timeout didn't slow the Huskers, as Rodriguez came out of it with an ace. After Pittsburgh sided out, Jackson came right back with a kill and Pittsburgh was out of rotation to give the Huskers a 17-10 advantage. Pittsburgh used its final timeout, but Beason served back-to-back aces to make it 19-10 Huskers. Kills by Jackson and Murray and a block by Murray and Allick before another kill by Murray had it at 23-13 Huskers. Murray's 13th kill earned match point, and after Pitt fended off three match points, the Big Red clinched the match when the Panthers were called for being int he net on the Huskers' fourth match point.Nebraska Post-Match Notes<ul>
 <li>With the win, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Final for the 11th time in program history and for the fifth time in the past nine seasons. NU improved to 11-6 all-time in NCAA Semifinal matches, with the 11 trips to the NCAA Final ranking second in NCAA Division I history.</li><li>The Huskers have won their last four NCAA Semifinal matchups and five of their last six.</li><li>John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Final for the eighth time in his 24 seasons. Cook is the third Division I coach to take one school to eight NCAA Finals, joining Russ Rose (10 at Penn State) and Don Shaw (8 at Stanford). Overall, Cook’s eight trips to the NCAA Final are tied with Shaw for third all-time among Division I coaches.</li><li>With the win, Nebraska improved to 33-1 on the season. The 33 wins tie for the second-most victories for Nebraska during the NCAA era (1981-present), one shy of the 34 wins by the 2000 Huskers.</li><li>Nebraska improved to 130-36 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers joined Stanford (138 wins) as the only two Division I programs with 130 NCAA Tournament wins.</li><li>NU improved to 14-0 all-time against Pittsburgh, including a 5-0 mark in the NCAA Tournament.</li><li>The Huskers moved to 11-0 all-time against ACC teams in the NCAA Tournament.</li><li>John Cook improved to 89-19 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach. He moved to 97-24 in his NCAA Tournament career. Cook ranks second all-time in career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school.</li><li>Tonight marked John Cook’s 850th career victory (including his seven seasons at Wisconsin). Cook is just the 14th coach in NCAA Division I history to win 850 matches. He joins Florida’s Mary Wise (1,045) and Florida State’s Chris Poole (918) as the only active Division I head coach with 850 career wins.</li><li>The Huskers won the first two sets against Pittsburgh and improved to 101-1 in the NCAA Tournament when taking a 2-0 lead. Nebraska has won 100 consecutive postseason matches when winning the first two sets.</li><li>Nebraska had eight blocks in set one. That was a higher total than the Huskers had in 11 matches this season.</li><li>The Huskers recorded their 10th block on the 50th rally of the match. NU finished with 15 blocks, its fourth straight match with double-digit kills and 14th on the season.</li><li>In addition to the 15 blocks against Pitt, Nebraska had 17 blocks in its last match against Arkansas. The Huskers have recorded 15 blocks in consecutive matches for the first time since back-to-back matches against Michigan (15) and Illinois (16) in November of 2014.</li><li>Nebraska held Pittsburgh to a .137 attack percentage, which marked the Panthers' second-lowest percentage of the season and lowest since their season opener against BYU.</li><li>Bekka Allick had 10 blocks in the match, which tied the Nebraska all-time record for blocks in a three-set NCAA Tournament match. Only three times prior to tonight had a Husker had 10 stuffs in a three-set NCAA Tournament match: Melissa Elmer twice during the 2005 NCAA Tournament (Duke and Florida) and Amber Rolfzen in a 2014 first-round match against Hofstra.</li><li>Allick now has 22 blocks in her last two matches, averaging 3.1 blocks per set.</li><li>Allick and fellow middle Andi Jackson combined to hit .563 in the match with nine kills on 16 error-free swings.</li><li>Merritt Beason had four service aces in the match. The four aces were her most as a Husker and tied her career high.</li><li>Lexi Rodriguez had 14 digs in the match to increase her career total to 1,418. Rodriguez passed Kenzie Maloney (1,406) and Jordan Larson (1,410) to move into fifth place on Nebraska’s all-time digs list.</li>
 </ul>

NU sweeps Pitt, advances to NCAA Final

TAMPA, Fl - Nebraska head coach John Cook was announced as the 2023 AVCA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year on Thursday. Cook has been selected as the national coach of the year for the third time in his career, as he also took home the honor in 2000 and 2005.

Cook has led Nebraska to a 32-1 record this season heading into an NCAA Semifinal matchup with Pittsburgh. The Huskers lead the nation in wins and winning percentage, and Nebraska won an outright Big Ten Conference title and was selected as the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Cook, who was also the AVCA North Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Nebraska to a 28-1 record in the regular season, the program’s best regular-season record since 2005. The Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season.

Nebraska’s success has come despite a young roster that features no seniors for just the second time in Cook’s 24 seasons. Nebraska’s regular rotation features four true freshmen and one first-year transfer. The Huskers’ top three leaders in kills are all in their first season at Nebraska, while NU has a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure.

Cook has guided Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 11th time and for the sixth time in the last nine years. He ranks second in NCAA history in postseason victories, including an 88-19 record in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach.

The 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Cook has done more for the growth of the sport of volleyball this year than possibly any other year of his career. Cook took on the challenge of having his Huskers play a volleyball match outdoors in a football stadium, which was an overwhelming success story as 92,003 packed Memorial Stadium for Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Aug. 30. The event gained worldwide attention as the crowd set a record for the largest to attend a women's sporting event anywhere in the world.&nbsp;

TAMPA, Fl - Nebraska head coach John Cook was announced as the 2023 AVCA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year on Thursday. Cook has been selected as the national coach of the year for the third time in his career, as he also took home the honor in 2000 and 2005.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605207543684.jpeg" alt="John Cook - Husker Athletics Credit" />
 <figcaption>John Cook - Husker Athletics Credit</figcaption>
 </figure>Cook has led Nebraska to a 32-1 record this season heading into an NCAA Semifinal matchup with Pittsburgh. The Huskers lead the nation in wins and winning percentage, and Nebraska won an outright Big Ten Conference title and was selected as the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.Cook, who was also the AVCA North Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Nebraska to a 28-1 record in the regular season, the program’s best regular-season record since 2005. The Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702589271249.png" alt="John Cook AVCA National Coach of The Year - Photo courtesty of AVCA" />
 <figcaption>John Cook AVCA National Coach of The Year - Photo courtesty of AVCA</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska’s success has come despite a young roster that features no seniors for just the second time in Cook’s 24 seasons. Nebraska’s regular rotation features four true freshmen and one first-year transfer. The Huskers’ top three leaders in kills are all in their first season at Nebraska, while NU has a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure.Cook has guided Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 11th time and for the sixth time in the last nine years. He ranks second in NCAA history in postseason victories, including an 88-19 record in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach.The 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Cook has done more for the growth of the sport of volleyball this year than possibly any other year of his career. Cook took on the challenge of having his Huskers play a volleyball match outdoors in a football stadium, which was an overwhelming success story as 92,003 packed Memorial Stadium for Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Aug. 30. The event gained worldwide attention as the crowd set a record for the largest to attend a women's sporting event anywhere in the world.&nbsp;

John Cook Named AVCA National Coach of the Year

• The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team squares off against No. 4 Pittsburgh on Thursday in the NCAA Semifinals at 6 p.m. (CT) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The winner will advance to Sunday’s NCAA Championship at 2 p.m. (CT) on ABC against either No. 3 Wisconsin or No. 5 Texas.&nbsp;

• Thursday’s match will be televised on ESPN and streamed on WatchESPN. Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Katie George will be on the call.&nbsp;• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln, AM 590 in Omaha and 92.5 FM/1400 AM in Alliance. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.&nbsp;

• John Baylor is in his 30th season doing play-by-play for the Husker volleyball program. Lauren (Cook) West, a former All-American setter for the Huskers, will provide color commentary.

ABOUT THE HUSKERS• Nebraska (32-1) is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history. The other years were 2000 (NCAA Champion), 2004 (NCAA Regional Finalist), 2005 (NCAA Runner-Up), 2006 (NCAA Champion) and 2016 (NCAA Semifinalist).• The Huskers won the outright Big Ten title this season with a 19-1 league record, earning their first Big Ten title since 2017. Nebraska has now won four Big Ten titles since joining the conference in 2011. The years were 2011, 2016, 2017 (co-champions) and 2023. All-time, Nebraska volleyball has won 35 conference titles. John Cook has been head coach for 13 of them.&nbsp;• Nebraska’s 32 wins are tied for the most by a Nebraska team since the 2006 team won 33 matches (33-1).• Nebraska won 27 matches in a row to begin the season and finished 28-1, its best regular-season record since going 28-1 in 2005.&nbsp;• The Huskers, who led the nation in defense in 2022, have held their opponents this season to a combined .134 hitting percentage, which ranks first nationally.&nbsp;• Nebraska has been sharp offensively this season, hitting .279 to rank 18th nationally. The Huskers rank 10th nationally with 14.06 kills per set and 15th in assists per set at 13.02.&nbsp;• Nebraska had four All-Big Ten First Team selections and two All-Big Ten Second Team selections for a total of six all-conference players this season, the most in program history.• The Huskers had six AVCA All-Region honorees, tied for the most in program history.&nbsp;• Thursday’s semifinals pits the nation’s top two defenses against each other. Nebraska is No. 1 nationally at .134, while Pittsburgh is No. 2 at .138.&nbsp;• Nebraska and Pittsburgh are the only two teams who are holding their opponents under .100 hitting in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers are No. 1 with a .090 opponent hitting percentage in the NCAA Tournament while the Panthers rank second with an .095 opponent hitting percentage.• Nebraska has lost only one set in the NCAA Tournament, the only team in the tournament with fewer than two set losses.• Nebraska enters the NCAA Semifinals with 32 wins. That ties for the most wins by a team entering the NCAA Semifinals since 2014, when Penn State entered the semifinals with a 34-3 record.• Bekka Allick is averaging 2.4 blocks per set during the NCAA Tournament and is the nation’s leading blocker during the postseason.• Bergen Reilly is looking to become just the fourth freshman setter to lead her team to a national championship. Bryn Keho set Stanford to a national title as a true freshman in 2004 as did Jenna Gray for the Cardinal in 2016. In addition to the two Stanford setters, Nebraska’s Rachel Holloway set the Huskers to a national championship in 2006, when she was a redshirt freshman.• Merritt Beason has 444 kills in her first season as a Husker. With six more kills, Beason would join an accomplished group of four Huskers who totaled 450 kills in a season during the rally-scoring era (2001-present). That group includes Sarah Pavan, Kelsey Robinson, Mikaela Foecke and Jordan Larson. Pavan and Foecke were each named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player in their careers, while Robinson and Larson both won gold medals with Team USA at the 2020 Olympics, with Larson being the Olympics’ Most Outstanding Player.• Andi Jackson is hitting .402 this season, as she attempts to become the first freshman in program history to hit .400. The current record for freshman hitting percentage is .388 by Karen Dahlgren in 1983.&nbsp;

NEBRASKA’S NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES• Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Semifinal for the 17th time in program history and for the sixth time in the past nine seasons. The Huskers’ 17 NCAA Semifinals rank second in NCAA history, and Nebraska’s six semifinal appearances since 2015 lead the nation.• John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 10th time in his 24 seasons. Cook is the fourth Division I coach to take one school to 10 NCAA Semifinals, joining Russ Rose (Penn State), Andy Banachowski (UCLA) and Jerritt Elliott (Texas).• Nebraska is 129-36 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.782).• Cook is 88-19 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach. He is 96-24 in his NCAA Tournament career. Cook ranks second all-time in career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school.• Bekka Allick had a career-high 12 blocks in the regional final (her previous career high was 10 at Minnesota on Nov. 25, 2023). Allick’s 12 blocks were the most by a Husker in an NCAA Tournament match during the rally-scoring era (since 2001), breaking the record of 10, which was accomplished seven times by five Huskers.&nbsp;• Merritt Beason had 19 kills in the Arkansas match. She has produced double-digit kills in 17 of her last 18 matches, including all four matches of the NCAA Tournament. Beason has 444 kills this season. She moved into the top 10 on Nebraska’s single-season kills list, passing Mikaela Foecke (441 in 2017) and Sarah Pavan (443 in 2005) for the ninth-most single-season kills by a Husker in the rally-scoring era (since 2001).• Lexi Rodriguez had 20 digs in the regional final to increase her career total to 1,404. Rodriguez became the seventh player in school history to total 1,400 career digs.

HUSKERS RACK UP POSTSEASON AWARDS• Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter who transfered to NU from Florida, was named the AVCA Region Player of the Year, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and All-Region Team. Beason has stepped in as a team captain and is contributing a team-leading 3.86 kills per set this season with 2.09 digs per set and a .293 hitting percentage. A native of Gardendale, Ala., Beason earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Beason had a career-high 27 kills on .426 hitting in a 3-2 reverse sweep at then-No. 16 Penn State on Nov. 3. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, Beason was an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection.• Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career, becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive that honor twice in a career. She also earned AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time. Rodriguez, who averages 3.62 digs and 1.26 assists per set, leads a Husker defense that ranks first nationally in opponent hitting percentage. The junior from Sterling, Ill., was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season despite opponents frequently tailoring their game plans to avoid Rodriguez on the court. Rodriguez was a first-team AVCA All-American in 2021 and a second-team AVCA All-American in 2022.&nbsp;• Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, making her the second ever Husker (Madi Kubik, 2019) to earn that distinction. Murray also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Freshman Team accolades. Murray ranks second on the Huskers in kills with 3.23 per set and adds 2.10 digs per set with a team-high 34 service aces. Murray was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.• Freshman setter Bergen Reilly was chosen Big Ten Setter of the Year, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the award since it originated in 2012. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, All-Freshman Team, and AVCA All-Region Team accolades. Reilly, just the second true freshman setter to be the starter at Nebraska under head coach John Cook, is putting up 10.64 assists and 2.70 digs per set and has 15 double-doubles this season. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native ranks 17th nationally in assists per set. Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. She paces a Husker offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in hitting percentage (.279) and kills per set (14.06).&nbsp;• Bekka Allick, a sophomore middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., has been Nebraska’s top defensive presence at the net with a team-best 1.45 blocks per set this season. Offensively, Allick adds 1.80 kills per set on .325 hitting. Allick had a career-high 12 blocks in the NCAA regional final win over Arkansas, the most by a Husker in an NCAA Tournament match during the rally-scoring era. Allick received AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten Second Team honors for the second year in a row.&nbsp;• Andi Jackson, a freshman middle blocker from Brighton, Colo., averages 2.04 kills per set and 1.09 blocks per set and has a team-high .402 hitting percentage, which ranks 18th nationally. Jackson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in November and has hit .500 or better in 13 matches this season. She was selected to the AVCA All-Region Team, All-Big Ten Second Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team. &nbsp;

SCOUTING REPORT: PITTSBURGH• Pittsburgh (29-4, 16-2 ACC) earned a third straight trip to the NCAA Semifinals with a 3-2 reverse sweep of Louisville in the regional finals, its second time in four weeks reverse sweeping the Cardinals.&nbsp;• The Panthers rank second nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.138) and third in hitting percentage (.308). Pitt is No. 2 in the nation in blocks at 2.97 per set. &nbsp;• Outside hitter Olivia Babcock was the ACC Freshman of the Year. Babcock leads the attack with 3.61 kills per set and has served a team-high 50 aces.&nbsp;• Setter Rachel Fairbanks was the ACC Setter of the Year. Fairbanks averages 9.32 assists per set.&nbsp;

SERIES HISTORY• Nebraska is 13-0 all-time against Pittsburgh. The teams met in the NCAA Semifinals in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 16, 2021. The Huskers won that match, 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22) to advance to the NCAA Championship match, which Wisconsin won 3-2.&nbsp;

HUSKERS RANKED NO. 1 IN AVCA COACHES POLL• Nebraska is ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll this week.• Nebraska has been ranked No. 1 in 108 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history.&nbsp;• The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 557 times, which is also the most in NCAA history.• Nebraska has appeared in all 618 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time.• Nebraska’s 618 consecutive weeks of being ranked is the longest active streak in Division I for any sport, leading Connecticut women’s basketball and North Carolina women’s soccer.

AVCA HALL OF FAMER JOHN COOK IN 24TH SEASON AT NEBRASKA• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 24th season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2023. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 11 final fours, 13 conference championships and 21 top-10 final rankings since 2000.&nbsp;• Cook has 849 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (688-99).&nbsp;• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 64 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and an eight-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2023.• Cook was voted AVCA North Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading a young Nebraska team with no seniors to its first Big Ten title since 2017. The Huskers finished the regular season 28-1 overall, their best regular season record since going 28-1 in 2005. After going 26-6 last year and missing the NCAA Regional Finals for the first time since 2011, the Huskers started over with a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer (Beason). Cook’s Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season. Despite having no seniors on the roster for just the second time in Cook’s 24 years at Nebraska - as well as starting a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure - the Huskers earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the sixth time overall under Cook.• Cook is one of only two active coaches - and one of six all-time - to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award.• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.&nbsp;

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SETS ATTENDANCE RECORDS• It was a record-breaking night at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30 when Nebraska hosted Omaha in an outdoor volleyball match. The attendance of 92,003 set a record for the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States. The crowd of more than 92,000 also surpassed what is widely regarded as the world-record attendance for any women’s sporting event.• The previously recognized world record was 91,648 fans in an UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg on April 22, 2022, at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. The previous record for an American women’s sporting event was 90,185 in USA’s FIFA World Cup Final against China on July 10, 1999, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.• Along with the two records mentioned above, the Huskers shattered a pair of NCAA records, exceeding the previous records for any NCAA volleyball match and an NCAA volleyball regular-season match.&nbsp;• Entering the match, the largest-ever crowd for any NCAA volleyball match was 18,755 when Nebraska played Wisconsin in the NCAA Final at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 18, 2021. The largest NCAA volleyball regular-season attendance was 16,833 when Wisconsin hosted Florida at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., on Sept 16, 2022.• The Husker volleyball program has sold out 319 consecutive regular-season matches. Nebraska’s sellout streak is an NCAA women’s record. The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since moving into the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013.• Nine of the top 11 crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved the Huskers.&nbsp;• Of the 16 largest NCAA volleyball regular-season crowds, 14 have been Nebraska matches.• On Oct. 21, Nebraska broke its Devaney Center attendance record since the arena was reconfigured for volleyball in 2013. A crowd of 9,198 turned out to see a five-set thriller between undefeated No. 1 Wisconsin and undefeated No. 2 Nebraska. Over the summer, 402 seats were added to the Devaney Center, increasing the seating capacity to 8,309.&nbsp;• Nebraska’s total attendance for the 2023 season was 264,665 (including the 92,003 for the outdoor match). Nebraska volleyball became the first female sport in NCAA history to draw 250,000 home fans in a single season.&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsMATCH PREVIEW• The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team squares off against No. 4 Pittsburgh on Thursday in the NCAA Semifinals at 6 p.m. (CT) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The winner will advance to Sunday’s NCAA Championship at 2 p.m. (CT) on ABC against either No. 3 Wisconsin or No. 5 Texas.&nbsp;• Thursday’s match will be televised on ESPN and streamed on WatchESPN. Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Katie George will be on the call.&nbsp;• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln, AM 590 in Omaha and 92.5 FM/1400 AM in Alliance. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.&nbsp;• John Baylor is in his 30th season doing play-by-play for the Husker volleyball program. Lauren (Cook) West, a former All-American setter for the Huskers, will provide color commentary.ABOUT THE HUSKERS• Nebraska (32-1) is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history. The other years were 2000 (NCAA Champion), 2004 (NCAA Regional Finalist), 2005 (NCAA Runner-Up), 2006 (NCAA Champion) and 2016 (NCAA Semifinalist).• The Huskers won the outright Big Ten title this season with a 19-1 league record, earning their first Big Ten title since 2017. Nebraska has now won four Big Ten titles since joining the conference in 2011. The years were 2011, 2016, 2017 (co-champions) and 2023. All-time, Nebraska volleyball has won 35 conference titles. John Cook has been head coach for 13 of them.&nbsp;• Nebraska’s 32 wins are tied for the most by a Nebraska team since the 2006 team won 33 matches (33-1).• Nebraska won 27 matches in a row to begin the season and finished 28-1, its best regular-season record since going 28-1 in 2005.&nbsp;• The Huskers, who led the nation in defense in 2022, have held their opponents this season to a combined .134 hitting percentage, which ranks first nationally.&nbsp;• Nebraska has been sharp offensively this season, hitting .279 to rank 18th nationally. The Huskers rank 10th nationally with 14.06 kills per set and 15th in assists per set at 13.02.&nbsp;• Nebraska had four All-Big Ten First Team selections and two All-Big Ten Second Team selections for a total of six all-conference players this season, the most in program history.• The Huskers had six AVCA All-Region honorees, tied for the most in program history.&nbsp;• Thursday’s semifinals pits the nation’s top two defenses against each other. Nebraska is No. 1 nationally at .134, while Pittsburgh is No. 2 at .138.&nbsp;• Nebraska and Pittsburgh are the only two teams who are holding their opponents under .100 hitting in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers are No. 1 with a .090 opponent hitting percentage in the NCAA Tournament while the Panthers rank second with an .095 opponent hitting percentage.• Nebraska has lost only one set in the NCAA Tournament, the only team in the tournament with fewer than two set losses.• Nebraska enters the NCAA Semifinals with 32 wins. That ties for the most wins by a team entering the NCAA Semifinals since 2014, when Penn State entered the semifinals with a 34-3 record.• Bekka Allick is averaging 2.4 blocks per set during the NCAA Tournament and is the nation’s leading blocker during the postseason.• Bergen Reilly is looking to become just the fourth freshman setter to lead her team to a national championship. Bryn Keho set Stanford to a national title as a true freshman in 2004 as did Jenna Gray for the Cardinal in 2016. In addition to the two Stanford setters, Nebraska’s Rachel Holloway set the Huskers to a national championship in 2006, when she was a redshirt freshman.• Merritt Beason has 444 kills in her first season as a Husker. With six more kills, Beason would join an accomplished group of four Huskers who totaled 450 kills in a season during the rally-scoring era (2001-present). That group includes Sarah Pavan, Kelsey Robinson, Mikaela Foecke and Jordan Larson. Pavan and Foecke were each named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player in their careers, while Robinson and Larson both won gold medals with Team USA at the 2020 Olympics, with Larson being the Olympics’ Most Outstanding Player.• Andi Jackson is hitting .402 this season, as she attempts to become the first freshman in program history to hit .400. The current record for freshman hitting percentage is .388 by Karen Dahlgren in 1983.&nbsp;NEBRASKA’S NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES• Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Semifinal for the 17th time in program history and for the sixth time in the past nine seasons. The Huskers’ 17 NCAA Semifinals rank second in NCAA history, and Nebraska’s six semifinal appearances since 2015 lead the nation.• John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 10th time in his 24 seasons. Cook is the fourth Division I coach to take one school to 10 NCAA Semifinals, joining Russ Rose (Penn State), Andy Banachowski (UCLA) and Jerritt Elliott (Texas).• Nebraska is 129-36 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.782).• Cook is 88-19 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska’s head coach. He is 96-24 in his NCAA Tournament career. Cook ranks second all-time in career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school.• Bekka Allick had a career-high 12 blocks in the regional final (her previous career high was 10 at Minnesota on Nov. 25, 2023). Allick’s 12 blocks were the most by a Husker in an NCAA Tournament match during the rally-scoring era (since 2001), breaking the record of 10, which was accomplished seven times by five Huskers.&nbsp;• Merritt Beason had 19 kills in the Arkansas match. She has produced double-digit kills in 17 of her last 18 matches, including all four matches of the NCAA Tournament. Beason has 444 kills this season. She moved into the top 10 on Nebraska’s single-season kills list, passing Mikaela Foecke (441 in 2017) and Sarah Pavan (443 in 2005) for the ninth-most single-season kills by a Husker in the rally-scoring era (since 2001).• Lexi Rodriguez had 20 digs in the regional final to increase her career total to 1,404. Rodriguez became the seventh player in school history to total 1,400 career digs.HUSKERS RACK UP POSTSEASON AWARDS• Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter who transfered to NU from Florida, was named the AVCA Region Player of the Year, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and All-Region Team. Beason has stepped in as a team captain and is contributing a team-leading 3.86 kills per set this season with 2.09 digs per set and a .293 hitting percentage. A native of Gardendale, Ala., Beason earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Beason had a career-high 27 kills on .426 hitting in a 3-2 reverse sweep at then-No. 16 Penn State on Nov. 3. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, Beason was an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection.• Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career, becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive that honor twice in a career. She also earned AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time. Rodriguez, who averages 3.62 digs and 1.26 assists per set, leads a Husker defense that ranks first nationally in opponent hitting percentage. The junior from Sterling, Ill., was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season despite opponents frequently tailoring their game plans to avoid Rodriguez on the court. Rodriguez was a first-team AVCA All-American in 2021 and a second-team AVCA All-American in 2022.&nbsp;• Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, making her the second ever Husker (Madi Kubik, 2019) to earn that distinction. Murray also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Freshman Team accolades. Murray ranks second on the Huskers in kills with 3.23 per set and adds 2.10 digs per set with a team-high 34 service aces. Murray was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.• Freshman setter Bergen Reilly was chosen Big Ten Setter of the Year, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the award since it originated in 2012. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, All-Freshman Team, and AVCA All-Region Team accolades. Reilly, just the second true freshman setter to be the starter at Nebraska under head coach John Cook, is putting up 10.64 assists and 2.70 digs per set and has 15 double-doubles this season. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native ranks 17th nationally in assists per set. Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. She paces a Husker offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in hitting percentage (.279) and kills per set (14.06).&nbsp;• Bekka Allick, a sophomore middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., has been Nebraska’s top defensive presence at the net with a team-best 1.45 blocks per set this season. Offensively, Allick adds 1.80 kills per set on .325 hitting. Allick had a career-high 12 blocks in the NCAA regional final win over Arkansas, the most by a Husker in an NCAA Tournament match during the rally-scoring era. Allick received AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten Second Team honors for the second year in a row.&nbsp;• Andi Jackson, a freshman middle blocker from Brighton, Colo., averages 2.04 kills per set and 1.09 blocks per set and has a team-high .402 hitting percentage, which ranks 18th nationally. Jackson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in November and has hit .500 or better in 13 matches this season. She was selected to the AVCA All-Region Team, All-Big Ten Second Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team. &nbsp;SCOUTING REPORT: PITTSBURGH• Pittsburgh (29-4, 16-2 ACC) earned a third straight trip to the NCAA Semifinals with a 3-2 reverse sweep of Louisville in the regional finals, its second time in four weeks reverse sweeping the Cardinals.&nbsp;• The Panthers rank second nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.138) and third in hitting percentage (.308). Pitt is No. 2 in the nation in blocks at 2.97 per set. &nbsp;• Outside hitter Olivia Babcock was the ACC Freshman of the Year. Babcock leads the attack with 3.61 kills per set and has served a team-high 50 aces.&nbsp;• Setter Rachel Fairbanks was the ACC Setter of the Year. Fairbanks averages 9.32 assists per set.&nbsp;SERIES HISTORY• Nebraska is 13-0 all-time against Pittsburgh. The teams met in the NCAA Semifinals in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 16, 2021. The Huskers won that match, 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22) to advance to the NCAA Championship match, which Wisconsin won 3-2.&nbsp;HUSKERS RANKED NO. 1 IN AVCA COACHES POLL• Nebraska is ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll this week.• Nebraska has been ranked No. 1 in 108 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history.&nbsp;• The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 557 times, which is also the most in NCAA history.• Nebraska has appeared in all 618 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time.• Nebraska’s 618 consecutive weeks of being ranked is the longest active streak in Division I for any sport, leading Connecticut women’s basketball and North Carolina women’s soccer.AVCA HALL OF FAMER JOHN COOK IN 24TH SEASON AT NEBRASKA• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 24th season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2023. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 11 final fours, 13 conference championships and 21 top-10 final rankings since 2000.&nbsp;• Cook has 849 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (688-99).&nbsp;• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 64 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and an eight-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2023.• Cook was voted AVCA North Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading a young Nebraska team with no seniors to its first Big Ten title since 2017. The Huskers finished the regular season 28-1 overall, their best regular season record since going 28-1 in 2005. After going 26-6 last year and missing the NCAA Regional Finals for the first time since 2011, the Huskers started over with a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer (Beason). Cook’s Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season. Despite having no seniors on the roster for just the second time in Cook’s 24 years at Nebraska - as well as starting a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure - the Huskers earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the sixth time overall under Cook.• Cook is one of only two active coaches - and one of six all-time - to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award.• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.&nbsp;HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SETS ATTENDANCE RECORDS• It was a record-breaking night at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30 when Nebraska hosted Omaha in an outdoor volleyball match. The attendance of 92,003 set a record for the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States. The crowd of more than 92,000 also surpassed what is widely regarded as the world-record attendance for any women’s sporting event.• The previously recognized world record was 91,648 fans in an UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg on April 22, 2022, at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. The previous record for an American women’s sporting event was 90,185 in USA’s FIFA World Cup Final against China on July 10, 1999, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.• Along with the two records mentioned above, the Huskers shattered a pair of NCAA records, exceeding the previous records for any NCAA volleyball match and an NCAA volleyball regular-season match.&nbsp;• Entering the match, the largest-ever crowd for any NCAA volleyball match was 18,755 when Nebraska played Wisconsin in the NCAA Final at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 18, 2021. The largest NCAA volleyball regular-season attendance was 16,833 when Wisconsin hosted Florida at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., on Sept 16, 2022.• The Husker volleyball program has sold out 319 consecutive regular-season matches. Nebraska’s sellout streak is an NCAA women’s record. The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since moving into the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013.• Nine of the top 11 crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved the Huskers.&nbsp;• Of the 16 largest NCAA volleyball regular-season crowds, 14 have been Nebraska matches.• On Oct. 21, Nebraska broke its Devaney Center attendance record since the arena was reconfigured for volleyball in 2013. A crowd of 9,198 turned out to see a five-set thriller between undefeated No. 1 Wisconsin and undefeated No. 2 Nebraska. Over the summer, 402 seats were added to the Devaney Center, increasing the seating capacity to 8,309.&nbsp;• Nebraska’s total attendance for the 2023 season was 264,665 (including the 92,003 for the outdoor match). Nebraska volleyball became the first female sport in NCAA history to draw 250,000 home fans in a single season.&nbsp;

Huskers meet Pitt in NCAA Semifinal in Tampa

Story by NU Athletic Communications&nbsp;

Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Teams on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Merritt Beason and Lexi Rodriguez were selected to the AVCA All-America First Team. Setter Bergen Reilly was chosen to the AVCA All-America Second Team. Outside hitter Harper Murray was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team.&nbsp;

The Huskers' four All-America selections brings their nation-leading total to 103 all-time, and it's the most All-Americans Nebraska has had in a season since 2016.&nbsp;

Rodriguez is now a three-time All-American after earning first-team honors in 2021 and second-team honors in 2022. Beason, Reilly and Murray are all first timers.&nbsp;

Merritt Beason, Jr., Opposite Hitter Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter who transferred to NU from Florida, was named the AVCA Region Player of the Year, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and All-Region Team. Beason has stepped in as a team captain and is contributing a team-leading 3.86 kills per set this season with 2.09 digs per set and a .293 hitting percentage. A native of Gardendale, Ala., Beason earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Beason had a career-high 27 kills on .426 hitting in a 3-2 reverse sweep at then-No. 16 Penn State on Nov. 3. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, Beason was an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection.

Lexi Rodriguez, Jr., Libero Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career, becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive that honor twice in a career. She also earned AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time. Rodriguez, who averages 3.62 digs and 1.26 assists per set, leads a Husker defense that ranks first nationally in opponent hitting percentage. The junior from Sterling, Ill., was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season despite opponents frequently tailoring their game plans to avoid Rodriguez on the court. Rodriguez was a first-team AVCA All-American in 2021 and a second-team AVCA All-American in 2022.&nbsp;

Bergen Reilly, Fr., Setter Freshman setter Bergen Reilly was chosen Big Ten Setter of the Year, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the award since it originated in 2012. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, All-Freshman Team, and AVCA All-Region Team accolades. Reilly, just the second true freshman setter to be the starter at Nebraska under head coach John Cook, is putting up 10.64 assists and 2.70 digs per set and has 15 double-doubles this season. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native ranks 17th nationally in assists per set. Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. She paces a Husker offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in hitting percentage (.279) and kills per set (14.06).

Harper Murray, Fr., Outside Hitter Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, making her the second ever Husker (Madi Kubik, 2019) to earn that distinction. Murray also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Freshman Team accolades. Murray ranks second on the Huskers in kills with 3.23 per set and adds 2.10 digs per set with a team-high 34 service aces. Murray was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.

Story by NU Athletic Communications&nbsp;Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Teams on Wednesday.&nbsp;Merritt Beason and Lexi Rodriguez were selected to the AVCA All-America First Team. Setter Bergen Reilly was chosen to the AVCA All-America Second Team. Outside hitter Harper Murray was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team.&nbsp;The Huskers' four All-America selections brings their nation-leading total to 103 all-time, and it's the most All-Americans Nebraska has had in a season since 2016.&nbsp;Rodriguez is now a three-time All-American after earning first-team honors in 2021 and second-team honors in 2022. Beason, Reilly and Murray are all first timers.&nbsp;Merritt Beason, Jr., Opposite Hitter Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter who transferred to NU from Florida, was named the AVCA Region Player of the Year, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and All-Region Team. Beason has stepped in as a team captain and is contributing a team-leading 3.86 kills per set this season with 2.09 digs per set and a .293 hitting percentage. A native of Gardendale, Ala., Beason earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Beason had a career-high 27 kills on .426 hitting in a 3-2 reverse sweep at then-No. 16 Penn State on Nov. 3. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, Beason was an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection.Lexi Rodriguez, Jr., Libero Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career, becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive that honor twice in a career. She also earned AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time. Rodriguez, who averages 3.62 digs and 1.26 assists per set, leads a Husker defense that ranks first nationally in opponent hitting percentage. The junior from Sterling, Ill., was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season despite opponents frequently tailoring their game plans to avoid Rodriguez on the court. Rodriguez was a first-team AVCA All-American in 2021 and a second-team AVCA All-American in 2022.&nbsp;Bergen Reilly, Fr., Setter Freshman setter Bergen Reilly was chosen Big Ten Setter of the Year, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the award since it originated in 2012. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, All-Freshman Team, and AVCA All-Region Team accolades. Reilly, just the second true freshman setter to be the starter at Nebraska under head coach John Cook, is putting up 10.64 assists and 2.70 digs per set and has 15 double-doubles this season. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native ranks 17th nationally in assists per set. Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. She paces a Husker offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in hitting percentage (.279) and kills per set (14.06).Harper Murray, Fr., Outside Hitter Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, making her the second ever Husker (Madi Kubik, 2019) to earn that distinction. Murray also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Freshman Team accolades. Murray ranks second on the Huskers in kills with 3.23 per set and adds 2.10 digs per set with a team-high 34 service aces. Murray was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.