Thursday Morning Sports – Husker Volleyball Swept by Badgers, Cook Postgame Comments, Husker Football Coordinator Comments, Nebraska WBB Added to Top 25, Stars Volleyball Set for District Final Matchup

NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL SWEPT UP BY WISCONSIN:

Despite some valiant rallies – including a 10-point deficit erased by the Huskers in the second set – the Nebraska volleyball team’s 11-match win streak came to an end after a 25-23, 25-23, 25-18 loss at No. 5 Wisconsin on Wednesday night at the UW Field House. 

The top-ranked Huskers (18-2, 10-1 Big Ten) fell for the first time since Sept. 13. Bekka Allick had a career-high 13 kills and hit .647 to lead the Huskers in the match. 

Whitney Lauenstein had seven kills, and Madi Kubik chipped in seven kills. Ally Batenhorst had four kills to go with five blocks. Kaitlyn Hord had three kills and seven blocks, and Lindsay Krause also had three kills. 

Wisconsin (16-3, 10-1 Big Ten) outhit Nebraska .205 to .164. Wisconsin had the edge in kills (44-37), aces (6-1) and digs (50-45). Blocks were even at 9-9. 

The Huskers return home to welcome Maryland to the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL POSTGAME COMMENTS – JOHN COOK:

COOK – WISCONSIN ADDED PRESSURE HUSKERS COULDN’T HANDLE:

No. 1 Nebraska Volleyball fell to Wisconsin Wednesday night on the road in a sweep to the Badgers, as Head Coach for Nebraska John Cook stated in his postgame comments that the Badgers had too much pressure all night…

Nebraska rallied multiple times – including a 7-0 run in the second that nearly toppled the set – but fell for the first time since September 13 in the 2021 National Championship rematch.

COOK – HAVE TO WIN ON THE ROAD IN THE BIG TEN:

Head Coach for Nebraska Volleyball John Cook spoke in his postgame after the loss at Wisconsin that his team needs to understand the importance of winning critical matchups on the road…

Nebraska did not take a set in the loss, falling to last year’s national champion. The Huskers return home on Saturday to battle Maryland. 

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – COORDINATORS:

WHIPPLE – CLEANED UP ISSUES IN BYE WEEK PRACTICES:

Offensive Coordinator for Nebraska Football Mark Whipple addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice and said he was happy to get another bye week to clean up and heal up for the Huskers…

Nebraska aims to take down their first Top 25 team since 2016 as Illinois travels to Lincoln on Saturday with kickoff set for 2:30 from Memorial Stadium.

WHIPPLE – IMPORTANT TO STAY BALANCED WITH RUN GAME:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple was asked at his Wednesday press conference what needs to be done to get the Big Red running game back on track…

Nebraska struggled running the ball against the Boilermakers, with the longest run coming off an end-around to Trey Palmer for 60 yards – outgaining leading rusher on the season Anthony Grant. 

BUSCH – LOSING HENRICH A KICK TO THE GUT:

Nebraska’s Defensive Coordinator Bill Busch opened up his comments on Wednesday’s press conference talking about the loss of inside linebacker and defensive captain Nick Henrich…

Nebraska’s Henrich was a key part of last year’s defense that was one of the top in the conference in 2021, but has suffered lingering injuries throughout this season including hand, shoulder, and knee injuries. 

BUSCH – CHASE BROWN, ILLINOIS RUN GAME VERY CHALLENGING:

Husker Football interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch was asked at his Wednesday press conference regarding the impressive Illinois running attack, and their leader Chase Brown… 

Nebraska’s defense looks to shore up after allowing over 200 rushing yards to Purdue two weeks ago. Illinois’ Brown currently leads the Big Ten with over 1000 rushing yards on the season.

HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS RATED IN USA TODAY TOP 25: 

The Nebraska women’s basketball team will begin the 2022-23 season at No. 22 in the USA Today Preseason Top 25 announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Wednesday.

The Huskers, who were also preseason No. 22 in the Associated Press Poll, are one of six Big Ten women’s basketball teams in the USA Today/WBCA Top 25, joining No. 6 Iowa (2), No. 11 Indiana, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 18 Maryland (2) and No. 23 Michigan (2).

Kansas, which the Huskers will play at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 21, is also receiving top-25 votes in both the USA Today/WBCA and AP polls.

Nebraska opens exhibition play for the 2022-23 season on Sunday, when the Huskers play host to Washburn.

FOUR LOPER SOCCER PLAYERS NAMED HONORABLE MENTION ALL-MIAA:

Four members of the Nebraska Kearney women’s soccer team have been named 2022 honorable mention All-MIAA.

Representing UNK this year are defenders Raegan Downham (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and Dolcie Hanlon (Grand Junction, Colo.), midfielder Cammie Davis (Wichita, Kan.) and forward Emma Middleton (Springfield). Davis and Middleton earn their first all-league honor while Downham and Hanlon are now two-time All-MIAA picks.

BIG TEN ANNOUNCES 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR HUSKERS:

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2023 football schedule Wednesday morning, with Nebraska set to play host to five conference games next fall.

Nebraska will begin the season with a Big Ten game for the fourth consecutive season, opening at Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31. Nebraska played at Ohio State in 2020, traveled to Illinois in 2021 and met Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland, to open the 2022 season.

Following its season opener against Minnesota, Nebraska will play three non-conference games beginning with a Sept. 9 game at Colorado, followed by home contests against Northern Illinois (Sept. 16) and Louisiana Tech (Sept. 23).  The Sept. 16 home opener will be Nebraska’s latest in full-season schedule since also opening on Sept. 16 in 1995.

Nebraska resumes Big Ten play with a Sept. 30 home game against Michigan at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers return to the road for an Oct. 7 game at Illinois, followed by their lone bye week of the season on Oct. 14.

Following its bye, Nebraska plays three of its next four contests in Memorial Stadium, starting with a two-game October homestand against Northwestern (Oct. 21) and Purdue (Oct. 28). The Huskers travel to Michigan State on Nov. 4, before returning home to face Maryland on Nov. 11.  

Nebraska will travel to Madison on Nov. 18, before the Huskers finish the regular season by hosting their traditional Black Friday matchup with Iowa on Nov. 24.

2023 Nebraska Football Schedule

Aug. 31—at Minnesota (Thursday)

Sept. 9—at Colorado

Sept. 16—Northern Illinois

Sept. 23—Louisiana Tech

Sept. 30—Michigan

Oct. 7—at Illinois

Oct. 14—BYE

Oct. 21—Northwestern

Oct. 28—Purdue

Nov. 4—at Michigan State

Nov. 11—Maryland

Nov. 18—at Wisconsin

Nov. 24—Iowa (Friday)

EAGLES ACQUIRE QUINN FOR ADDED PHILLY PASS RUSH:

The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles already have one of the NFL’s best defenses. Now, they’re adding another pass rusher to the mix.

The Eagles acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears for a 2023 fourth-round pick on Wednesday.

The Eagles (6-0) are the lone undefeated team. Philadelphia, coming off a bye, hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Quinn is off to a slow start with just one sack and three quarterback hits after opting not participate in offseason workouts. But he broke Hall of Famer Richard Dent’s franchise record with 18 1/2 sacks last year in a resurgent season.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Football: PLAYOFFS v. Millard South @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM
    • #5 Kearney v. #12 Millard South – KGFW Pregame at 6 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Swimming: Homecoming Scrimmage – 5 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Iowa (Exhibition) – 6:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Football PLAYOFFS v. Millard South (6 PM – 10 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: District Final – 1 PM @ Kearney Catholic High School
    • #7 KCHS v. #10 Ogallala
• UNK:
  • Football: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 2 PM (Homecoming)
  • Volleyball: @ Northwest Missouri State – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football v. Illinois (10:30 AM – 9:30 PM; KGFW)
  • Nebraska Football v. Illinois (1:45 PM – 7:45 PM; KQKY)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a