Monday Afternoon Sports – UNK Wrestling Picked Top in Conference, Stars Face Loaded C1-State Volleyball Bracket, Husker Basketball Exhibition Sunday Recap, Nebraska Football Kickoff Set for 11 AM, Loper Athletics Weekend Recap, Monday Sports Schedule

UNK WRESTLING PICKED #1 TO START 2022-23 SEASON:

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) has announced its Wrestling Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2022-2023 season. Nebraska Kearney tabbed the top spot with 15 points and three first-place votes. 

Nebraska Kearney, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, was selected to finish first in the MIAA for the second consecutive season. Central Oklahoma, the defending national runners-up, came in second with 14 points and two first-place selections. UCO won the 2022 MIAA title by going 4-0 in league duals including a 18-17 decision over UNK.

Head coach Dalton Jensen must replace five starters, including one national champion and two national runners up, off last year’s squad but still has five returning national qualifiers and four returning All-Americans. The returning All-Americans are Omaha junior Billy Higgins (184 lbs.), Kansas redshirt senior Austin Eldredge (174 lbs.), Kearney redshirt senior Lee Herrington (285 lbs.), Kearney redshirt junior Nick James (141 lbs.) and South Carolina redshirt senior Hayden Prince (197 lbs.).

UNK is at home Saturday (Nov. 5) at 11 a.m. for its annual Blue/White intrasquad dual. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Health & Sports Center. 

KEARNEY CATHOLIC SWEEPS OGALLALA; FACES GICC AT STATE:

The Kearney Catholic Volleyball program continues their dominance into another state tournament run, as the Stars settle into their third consecutive state tournament after winning the C1-7 District Final over Ogallala. 

Kearney Catholic enters as the sixth seed overall, facing Central Nebraska rival and third seed Grand Island Central Catholic in the first round. First serve from the Bob Devaney Sports Center is set for 3 PM on Wednesday. 

The C1 bracket is loaded with Central Nebraska talent, including #2 Minden, #3 GICC, #5 Gothenburg, #6 Kearney Catholic, and #8 Adams Central.

HUSKERS/MINNESOTA SET FOR EARLY KICKOFF:

The Big Ten Conference announced that Nebraska’s home game against Minnesota next Saturday will kick off at 11 am CT.  The game will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcast across the Huskers Radio Network with pregame beginning at 7 AM on Saturday on KGFW. 

Oddsmakers weighed in on Nebraska and Minnesota on Sunday afternoon, opening the week with the Huskers as 11-point underdogs at home.  

NEBRASKA MEN’S HOOPS FALLS IN BOULDER:

Emmanuel Bandoumel had 14 points to lead three Huskers in double figures as Nebraska battled before falling 72-61 to Colorado in a charity exhibition game between the two programs Sunday afternoon in Boulder.

The Huskers rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to five in the later stages of the first half and had opportunities to close the Buffalo lead in the second half, but were unable to complete the comeback

The Huskers will open the season against Maine on Monday, Nov. 7. Tipoff at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 7 p.m.

HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SHUTS DOWN WASHBURN:

Alexis Markowski produced a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while fellow post Isabelle Bourne pitched in 12 points and eight rebounds, as Nebraska worked its way to a 70-27 exhibition women’s basketball win over Washburn at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. 

Bourne (3) and Markowski (2) also combined for five of Nebraska’s seven blocked shots on the day, while both added steals. 

Nebraska opens its regular season on Monday, Nov. 7, by playing host to Omaha at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tip-off is set for noon.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SHUTS DOWN MARYLAND IN REMATCH:

The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team shut down Maryland’s league-leading block and serve in a 25-16, 25-9, 25-19 win on Saturday night in front of 8,133 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. 

Maryland (13-11, 4-8 Big Ten) entered the match as the No. 1 blocking team in the country and the league leader in service aces in the Big Ten, but the Huskers (19-2, 11-1 Big Ten) were dominant in both areas to pick up the sweep. Nebraska had 12 blocks and held Maryland to a season-low five blocks. The Huskers had six service aces and held Maryland without an ace for just the second time this year. 

The Huskers are home again on Wednesday, hosting Indiana at 8 p.m.

LOPER FOOTBALL FALLS TO BEARCAT RALLY ON HOMECOMING:

The 13th/14th-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats ran for 301 yards and four touchdowns, got a late fourth down stop and converted a late third down to rally past No. 31/19 Nebraska Kearney, 28-24, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

Northwest (7-2) keeps its NCAA Division II playoff hopes alive while UNK (6-3) now aims to win its final two regular season games.

In front of a “Homecoming” crowd of 4,256, the Lopers led 24-14 going into the fourth quarter. However, the ‘Cats gave the Lopers a taste of its own medicine as it had back-to-back TD drives that consisted of 11 runs and no passes. True freshman back Jay Harris scored for the third time on the day when he ran 23 yards with 12:34 left and then backup QB Brayden Wright recorded the game-winner about six minutes later.

UNK hosts Central Oklahoma (5-4) next Saturday at noon on “Senior Day.”

UNK VOLLEYBALL UPENDED BY NORTHWEST IN MARYVILLE:

The 12th-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats recorded 18 blocks and had four players with a double digit kill total to down 8th-ranked Nebraska Kearney in four sets Saturday evening in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats, who slipped past Fort Hays State in five sets on Friday night, are now in sole possession of first place in the MIAA (21-5, 15-3). UNK falls to 24-4 (14-4) with one week of the regular season remaining.

The Lopers host Pittsburg State (Thurs.) and Missouri Southern (Fri.) next Friday in the Health & Sports Center.

STORM WIN HALLOWEEN GAME OVER STARS:

The Tri-City Storm defeated the Lincoln Stars by a final score of 5-3 Saturday night at the Viaero Center to win the team’s “Halloween Night” promotional game.

More than one hundred Storm fans joined the team on the ice following the game to celebrate with the team in the Viaero Center’s first postgame skate of the season. The win for Tri-City was the first on home ice this season. 

Nick Roukounakis, Graham Gamache, Cameron O’Neill, Ryan Smith, and Dane Dowiak each netted a goal in the game for the Storm.

Tri-City hits the ice again on Thursday, November 3rd, in a road game against the Fargo Force. Puck drop for the game is set for 7:05pm CT.

PHILLIES PREPARED TO HOST ASTROS IN TIED SERIES:

Fresh from singing another rollicking chorus of “Fly, Eagles fly,” fans streamed out of Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday and quickly turned their attention from the NFL’s only unbeaten club to another Philly team, another sport and another building just a few hundred yards away.

Citizens Bank Park figures to be positively pulsating for Game 3 on Monday night — providing the rain that’s in the forecast doesn’t dampen things.

Noah Syndergaard is set to start for the Phillies against Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros with the Series tied at one game each.

ROYALS HIRE RAYS MATT QUATRARO AS MANAGER:

The Kansas City Royals hired Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as manager Sunday night, turning over the young core of are building franchise to a forward-thinking manager with experience winning in a small market.

Quatraro replaces Mike Matheny, who was fired as part of a wide-spread shakeup within the Royals after a 65-97 finish for their sixth straight losing season. Quatraro was chosen by Royals general manager J.J. Picollo, who took over as head of the club’s baseball operations after the firing of longtime front-office executive Dayton Moore.

Tampa Bay has had five straight winning seasons while playing in the rugged AL East.

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL POSTGAME COMMENTS – MICKEY JOSEPH:

JOSEPH – AFTER INJURY, GAME GOT AWAY:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph began his postgame press conference after the loss to Illinois stating he was surprised how quickly the game got out of reach after quarterback Casey Thompson went down with an injury…

Nebraska mustered less than 30 total offensive yards in the second half, including multiple turnovers as the Illini shut down the Big Red and held them scoreless in the final two quarters. 

JOSEPH – HAVE TO PREP CHUBBA BETTER:

Mickey Joseph was asked how he can get his backup quarterback Chubba Purdy more prepared for game moments after a struggling performance in place of injured quarterback Casey Thompson…

Nebraska could not find offensive rhythm after Thompson left the game with an injury, as Purdy went 10 of 20 for 50 yards passing and 2 interceptions. 

JOSEPH – BACKUP QUARTERBACK SWITCH DEPENDENT ON PASSING GAME:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph was asked during his postgame press conference regarding the rotating door of backup quarterbacks after starter Casey Thompson went down… 

Logan Smothers did not attempt a pass in his short stint but did rush for positive yardage in his own possession of running the Big Red offense. 

JOSEPH – RECEIVERS HAD TROUBLE WITH CONTACT:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Mickey Joseph spoke on his top receiver’s struggles against Illinois, as Trey Palmer was only held to one catch for a single yard against Illinois…

Nebraska targeted Palmer seven times, resulting in one yard of receiving and one interception along with five other incompletions.

JOSEPH – TURNOVERS WERE HUGE AGAINST ILLINOIS:

Mickey Joseph re-emphasized the importance of turnovers in the postgame presser after the Huskers loss to Illinois last Saturday…

Nebraska threw a costly interception after an Illinois turnover inside of the Fighting Illini red zone that gave up a sure field goal attempt to bring the game back to one score in the mid-third quarter.

JOSEPH – DEFENSE PLAYED PHYSICAL DESPITE BEING OUTSIZED:

Mickey Joseph did have some positive comments for his Nebraska team after the loss to Illinois, saying he was proud of the defense’s tenacity and physicality…

Nebraska’s defense had mostly contained the nation’s leading rusher Chase Brown prior to the fourth quarter, as the Huskers then ran out of gas and were stomped out in the fourth quarter. 

NFL SCORES/SCHEDULES:

SUNDAY:

Denver Broncos 21-17 Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins 31-27 Detroit Lions

Atlanta Falcons 37-34 Carolina Panthers (OT)

Minnesota Vikings 34-26 Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys 49-29 Chicago Bears

New Orleans Saints 24-0 Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles 35-13 Pittsburgh Steelers

New England Patriots 22-17 New York Jets

Tennessee Titans 17-10 Houston Texans

Seattle Seahawks 27-13 New York Giants

Washington Commanders 17-16 Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers 31-14 Los Angeles Rams

Buffalo Bills 27-17 Green Bay Packers

MONDAY:

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns – 7:15 PM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: C1–7 District Final
    • #7 KCHS 3-0 #10 Ogallala 
• UNK:
  • Football: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium
    • NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 28-24
  • Volleyball: @ Northwest Missouri State
    • NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 3-1

MONDAY:

• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Coaches Show (5 PM – 6 PM)
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

TUESDAY:

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

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • #6 Kearney Catholic v. #3 Grand Island Central Catholic – 3 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Indiana (7:30 PM – 10:45 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Unified Bowling: @ Grand Island
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Volleyball: v. Pittsburg State @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • TBA
• UNK:
  • Women’s Swimming: @ UNK Invite @ Kearney High School – 5 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Missouri Southern @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • TBA
• UNK:
  • Women’s Swimming: @ UNK Invite @ Kearney High School – 9 AM
  • M/W Cross Country: @ Joplin, MO – 10 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Intrasquad Dual – 11 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Southern Nazarene @ Kansas City, MO – 11:30 AM
  • Football: v. Central Oklahoma @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 12 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football v. Minnesota (7 AM – 6 PM; KGFW)
  • Nebraska Football v. Illinois (10:15 AM – 4:15 PM; KQKY)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: v. West Texas A&M @ Kansas City, MO – 11:30 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Volleyball @ Northwestern (12 PM – 3:45 PM)