Thursday Afternoon Sports – Loper Volleyball Begins Final Stretch of Regular Season, Husker Football Practice Comments, Memorial Stadium Sellout Streak Intact, State Volleyball Update, Local Sports Schedule

LOPER VOLLEYBALL BEGINS FINAL STRETCH OF REGULAR SEASON; FIFTH IN REGION RANKINGS:

The Nebraska Kearney volleyball team is fifth in the second edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings.

These rankings determine the NCAA Tournament field which will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 13. The field consists of 64 teams from eight regions. 

UNK has a 22-4 Division II record and an 18-4 Central Region mark. The Lopers are 3-5 against the current Central Top 10 with Pittsburg State (15-13) and Missouri Southern (13-14) visiting the Health & Sports Center this Thursday and Friday nights to close out the regular season

The top seed in the region hosts the first three rounds of the NCAA Tourney/Central Regional Nov. 17-19.

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – JOSEPH:

JOSEPH – THOMPSON DOES NOT NEED A LOT OF PRACTICE REPS:

Mickey Joseph, interim Head Coach for Nebraska, has not ruled out quarterback Casey Thompson for Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota. Joseph added that the veteran quarterback may have a leg up in terms of needed preparation time…

Nebraska has listed Thompson as day-to-day moving forward, and will be a gametime decision on whether or not the Texas transfer can play.

JOSEPH – CHUBBA HAD A GOOD WEEK OF WORK:

Nebraska interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph addressed the media on Thursday and said he’s happy with the week of work that Chubba Purdy had…

Nebraska was working Purdy and Logan Smothers with the No. 1 offense through most of the week, as Casey Thompson has been limited with an injured elbow.

JOSEPH – NEBRASKA MUST PUT LOSSES BEHIND THEM:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph spoke to the media on Thursday and said that the team is ready to move forward and move past the loss to the Fighting Illini… 

Nebraska has lost back-to-back games after winning two in a row against Indiana and Rutgers. The Huskers host Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

JOSEPH – QUARTERBACK REPS HAVE BEEN SPLIT IN PRACTICE:

Nebraska interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph spoke to the media on Thursday and was asked what the quarterback situation was like in practice this past week…

Nebraska faces Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium with kickoff at 11 AM.

JOSEPH – THURSDAY PRACTICE A GOOD ONE:

Mickey Joseph opened up his Thursday media comments complementing his team on their practice habits and mentality heading into their matchup on Saturday…

Nebraska aims to break a two game losing skid facing a tough Minnesota team led by PJ Fleck. The Golden Gophers have stomped out the Huskers in every matchup since 2018.

JOSEPH – MINNESOTA SOLID DEFENSE:

Nebraska interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph broke down the Minnesota defense during his Thursday morning presser…

Nebraska has not officially listed a No. 1 quarterback heading into the conference matchup, as Logan Smothers, Chubba Purdy, and Casey Thompson all took reps for the Big Red in practice. 

SELLOUT STREAK CONFIRMED FOR MINNESOTA:

Another week, another lifeline for Nebraska football’s home sellout streak.

At about 9 a.m. CDT Wednesday, the Nebraska Athletics ticket site showed 64 seats still unsold for Saturday’s game against Minnesota. A mere two hours later, the event was listed as sold out.

Much like what happened a week ago with the Illinois game, it appears someone bought up all remaining seats in bulk — although nearly twice as many tickets apparently were involved this time around.

Minnesota game tickets can still be had on the resale market, and at a deep discount.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS HOOSIERS IN COMPETITIVE MATCH:

The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team picked up a 25-22, 25-18, 25-19 sweep of Indiana on Wednesday night in front of 8,205 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. 

The Huskers improved to 20-2 (12-1 Big Ten), while Indiana fell to 13-12 (6-7 Big Ten). Nebraska dealt Indiana its first sweep in its last eight matches. 

Nebraska’s outside hitter trio of Madi Kubik, Whitney Lauenstein and Lindsay Krause had a big night to lead the Huskers. Kubik had nine kills on only 22 swings while Lauenstein had eight kills on 18 swing

The Huskers will travel to play Northwestern on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

STARS VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN THREE SETS TO CRUSADERS:

Another stellar season by the Kearney Catholic Volleyball team ends at the state tournament as the Stars could not overcome local rival Grand Island Central Catholic in the first round. The Crusaders took the match in three sets wrapping up the Stars season.

Kearney Catholic ends the year in their third consecutive state volleyball appearance, and wraps at 25-9 on the season.

ASTROS PITCH COMBINED NO-HITTER FOR GAME FOUR WIN:

Hammered the night before, Cristian Javier and the Houston Astros desperately needed to figure out how to keep Bryce Harper and the Phillies in the ballpark.

A no-hitter should do the trick.

Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on just the second combined no-hitter in World Series history, silencing a booming lineup and boisterous fans as the Astros blanked the Phillies 5-0 Wednesday night to even the matchup at two games each.

Game 5 begins tonight at 7 PM from Philadelphia for the final game of the series at Citizens Bank Park.

FORMER BEARCAT GARNER EARNS GPAC HONOR:
As a result of her performance in last week’s regular season finale (a 2-0 win over Doane), former Kearney Bearcat and Concordia freshman Kierstynn Garner was named GPAC Offensive Player of the Week. 

In her first collegiate season, Garner has immediately become the team’s top goal scorer. She notched her eighth goal of the season in the victory over Doane and also assisted the goal scored by Savannah Andrews. Garner has started all 17 games and has produced five game-winning goals.

HUSKER FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – COORDINATORS:

WHIPPLE – UNFAIR TO PUT QUARTERBACKS IN CAROUSEL AGAINST ILLINOIS:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple spoke to the media on Wednesday and talked about his faults in the Illinois game, including the switching of quarterbacks in the second quarter after the Casey Thompson injury…

Nebraska has continued to practice both Logan Smothers and Chubba Purdy with the No. 1 offense so far this week in preparation for Minnesota. 

WHIPPLE – MINNESOTA DEFENSE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ILLINOIS:

Huskers Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple addressed the media on Wednesday and said there isn’t much carry-over from last week’s game plan against Illinois to this week’s preparation against Minnesota…

The Minnesota defense aims to shut down the Big Red attack this Saturday at 11 AM at Memorial Stadium.

WHIPPLE – DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCES IN ILLINI AND GOLDEN GOPHERS:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple broke down the differences from the Huskers’ last opponent in Illinois to this Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota…

Nebraska hosts Minnesota on Saturday at 11 AM, as it is still uncertain which quarterback will begin the game under center for the Big Red. 

BUSCH – HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE COACHING THIS TEAM:

Bill Busch, Nebraska’s interim defensive coordinator, spoke to the media after Wednesday’s practice and wanted to share how much this team has meant to him…

Nebraska named Busch the interim defensive coordinator after the Oklahoma loss.

BUSCH – MINNESOTA OFFENSE PREVIEW:

Nebraska’s interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice and previewed what the Minnesota offense has in store for the Husker defense…

Nebraska aims to slow down another strong Big Ten rushing attack, as Minnesota averages 223 yards per game on the ground.

FORT HAYS STATE ADDS WOMEN’S WRESTLING TO TIGER ATHLETICS:

Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason and Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke announced on Wednesday the addition of Women’s Wrestling as a varsity sport in Athletics, set to begin competition in 2024-25. With the addition of the program, Fort Hays State will have 17 intercollegiate athletic programs (nine women’s, eight men’s).

Fort Hays State will have three sports during the winter season in which both genders compete, including wrestling, basketball, and indoor track and field.

Fort Hays State will be the first NCAA school in Kansas to offer the sport as a varsity program in Athletics.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
    • #6 Kearney Catholic v. #3 Grand Island Central Catholic
      • #3 GICC 3-0

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Unified Bowling: @ Grand Island
• 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)