HUSKER VOLLEYBALL DROPS TO NUMBER TWO IN COACHES POLL:
As the first week of the volleyball season has concluded, there is already a new #1 in the polls despite Nebraska not having lost in their opening contests.
The preseason No. 1 Huskers dropped to No. 2 with 23 first-place votes. Texas moved up to the top spot with 41 first-place votes. Other Big Ten teams making the list include: No. 4 Minnesota, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 11 Purdue, No. 19 Illinois, No. 21 Penn State. Michigan also received votes.
Nebraska opened the season with three sweeps over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Tulsa and Pepperdine at the Ameritas Players Challenge in Lincoln. NU returns to action against Loyola Marymount on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Lincoln.
FOUR LOPERS NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM; PREPARE FOR TUESDAY NIGHT MATCHUP:
Four members of the 10th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team have been named to the 2022 Rosella Meier Fall Classic All-Tournament team.
Junior outside Emersen Cyza (Alliance), junior middles Fallon Stutheit (Johnson) and Bailee Sterling (Kearney) and sophomore right side Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln) represent the Lopers.
Cyza, also the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week, came in at 4.21 kills per set with a .349 hitting efficiency.
UNK hosts NAIA Friends (Kan.) University tomorrow at 7 p.m.
HUSKER v. NORTHWESTERN – POSTGAME COMMENTS:
GARCIA-CASTANEDA – SCRAMBLE DRILL HELPED CREATE BIG PLAY:
Huskers receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda had a big game against Northwestern including a huge scramble by Casey Thompson leading to a huge gain down the field in the first half. IGC breaks down how the play developed…
Garcia-Castaneda had a terrific opening contest for the Huskers, including four receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.
BUFORD – READY TO GET BACK OUT ON DEFENSE:
Marques Buford Jr. remained positive about the Blackshirts outlook after a disappointing loss to Northwestern in Ireland. Buford added he’s still excited to get back out with his teammates…
Northwestern was scary good against the Huskers defense, gashing Nebraska for 214 rushing yards. The Huskers face North Dakota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
MATHIS – DEFENSE STILL CONFIDENT:
Huskers transfer edge rusher Ochaun Mathis stated in his postgame interview after the Northwestern loss that the Blackshirts still remain confident in their ability to get stops…
Mathis and the rest of the Huskers defensive line were essentially non-factors throughout the contest against the Wildcats. They hope to make a bigger impact against North Dakota on Saturday.
THOMPSON – MUST CONTINUE TO TRY TO BE PERFECT:
New Huskers quarterback Casey Thompson had a thrilling start to his Big Red career including two highlight reel plays that nearly toppled Northwestern. Despite the former Longhorns’ heroics, Nebraska still fell 31-28. Thompson said in his postgame comments he has to keep getting better…
Thompson put up 355 yards, the most of a debut quarterback in their first start for the Big Red.
VOKALEK – WORLD ISN’T BURNING:
Offensive captain and tight end for the Huskers Travis Vokalek spoke in his postgame comments when asked what he has said to his teammates to help them through another one-score loss…
Vokalek had a career day with five receptions for 63 yards and was critical in several third down conversions against Northwestern.
NELSON – SEASON ISN’T OVER YET:
Nebraska native and edge rusher Garrett Nelson was somber during his postgame comments, but shared what his message to the team will continue to be throughout the next week of practice…
The Huskers face North Dakota at Memorial Stadium to attempt to even their record on the season.
WILLIAMS WINS FIRST MATCH AT US OPEN:
Serena Williams is not ready to say goodbye just yet. Nor, clearly, are her fans. And she heard them, loud and clear.
In her first match at what is expected to be the last U.S. Open — and last tournament — Williams overcame a shaky start to overpower Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 amid an atmosphere more akin to a festival than a farewell.
Williams is now 40, and told the world three weeks ago via an essay for Vogue that she was ready to concentrate on having a second child and her venture capital firm.
49ers PLAN TO KEEP GAROPPOLO:
Jimmy Garoppolo is staying in San Francisco after agreeing to a reduced contract to be the backup to Trey Lance on the 49ers.
A person familiar with the deal said Monday that the sides are finalizing a deal to reduce Garoppolo’s $24.2 million base salary for 2022.
ESPN reported Garoppolo will receive a $6.5 million fully guaranteed base salary, $500,000 in roster bonuses and the chance to make nearly $9 million more in playing time bonuses. The deal also includes a no-trade clause and prevents San Francisco from using the franchise tag on Garoppolo next offseason.
The Niners had been unable to find a trade partner for Garoppolo and were facing a deadline with rosters being cut to 53 players on Tuesday.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Golf: Varsity Invite @ Lincoln’s Woodland Hills – 9 AM
- Softball: @ GINW (Doubleheader) – 5 PM
- Volleyball: v. GINW – 6:30 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 6:15 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Golf: @ Cozad Dual – 2:30 PM
- Softball: @ Minden Triangular (v. GICC, Minden) – 4 PM
- UNK:
- Volleyball: v. Friends U. (KS) @ Health & Sports Center – 7 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 6:15 PM)
- Kearney High Volleyball v. GINW – Pregame @ 6:15 PM, First Serve @ 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Boys Tennis: Varsity Dual @ GISH – 4 PM
- Girls Cross Country: @ Concordia University – 4:45 PM
- Softball: v. Lincoln High @ Patriot Park – 6:30 PM
- Volleyball: v. Lincoln Southwest @ Kearney High – 6:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Golf: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
- Boys Tennis: v. Adams Central – 4 PM
- Softball @ Twin River Triangular (v. Twin River, Aquinas) – 4:30 PM
- Volleyball: @ Hershey – 5 PM
- Cross Country: @ Lexington Invite – 5 PM
- UNK:
- Women’s Golf: @ Mount Marty Invite
- Football: @ Missouri Southern (Joplin, MO) – 7 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Volleyball v. Loyola Marymount – Pregame @ 5:30 PM, First serve @ 6 PM
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Golf: @ Grand Island Invite @ Jackrabbit Golf Course – 9 AM
- Football: v. Fremont @ Ron and Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM
- KGFW Pregame @ 6:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Boys Tennis: @ Crete Invite – 9 AM
- Football: v. Hershey – 7 PM
- UNK:
- Women’s Golf: @ Mount Marty Invite
- Volleyball: v. Shorter U. (GA) @ Kentucky Wesleyan Invite – 9 AM
- Volleyball: v. Kentucky State @ Kentucky Wesleyan Invite – 1 PM
- Women’s Soccer @ Colorado Mesa (Grand Junction, CO) – 8 PM
- M/W Cross Country: @ Augustana Twilight – 9 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- High School Football Preview Show; 6 PM – 6:30 PM
- Kearney High Football v. Fremont – Pregame at 6:30 PM, Kickoff at 7 PM
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Boys Cross Country: @ Walnut Grove Park – 8 AM
- Softball: @ Norfolk Invite – 9 AM
- Boys Tennis: Kearney Invite @ Harmon Park – 9 AM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Women’s Tennis: @ Southwest Minnesota State – 9 AM
- Volleyball: v. Lincoln Memorial (TN) @ Kentucky Wesleyan Invite – 11 AM
- Women’s Tennis: @ MSU-Moorhead – 1 PM
- Volleyball: v. Saint Anselm (NH) @ Kentucky Wesleyan Invite – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Football v. North Dakota – Pregame at 10:30 AM, Kickoff at 2:30 PM
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Women’s Tennis: v. Minnesota State – 9 AM
- Women’s Soccer: v. Western Colorado (Grand Junction, CO) – 12 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
