Thursday Morning Sports – Husker Volleyball Sweeps Hoosiers, Stars Fall to GICC at State, State Volleyball Day 1 Recap; Day 2 Preview, Garner GPAC Player of the Week; Husker Football Coordinator Comments, Astros Tie World Series

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.

STATE VOLLEYBALL WEDNESDAY RECAP/THURSDAY PREVIEW:

A busy day at Pinnacle Bank Arena wrapped for classes A, B, and C1 on Wednesday in the first round of the NSAA State Volleyball Tournament in Lincoln. 

In local action, Class B’s Northwest fell in three sets to #1 Elkhorn North. Class C1 had five Central Nebraska teams in action, as #8 Adams Central was swept by #1 North Bend Central; #5 Gothenburg edged past #4 Malcolm in four sets for the Swedes first match victory in the state tournament in school history; #2 Minden dominated DC West in three sets including a 25-8 set two victory; and #3 GICC won over Kearney Catholic in a three set sweep. 

Today, Classes C2, D1, and D2 begin their first round of action. Area teams in action include: C2’s #6 Amherst taking on #3 Cross County at 7 PM tonight; D1’s #5 seed SEM facing #4 BDS at 3 PM, #2 Cambridge and #7 Cedar Catholic facing off at 1 PM; and in D2 #4 Shelton facing #5 Diller-Odell while #2 Overton battles #7 St. Mary’s at 9 AM. 

Winners will return to Lincoln Friday for semifinal round action. 

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.

SNYDERS TO EXPLORE SALE OF COMMANDERS FRANCHISE:

The NFL’s Washington Commanders could soon be for sale, after owners Dan and Tanya Snyder said they have hired Bank of America Securities to “consider potential transactions.”

The team announced the surprising decision Wednesday to enlist the investment bank’s services. Asked if the Snyders were considering selling part or all of the team, a spokesperson said, “They are exploring all options.”

That could mean a full sale amid mounting pressure and multiple ongoing investigations — Snyder has said many times he would never sell the team — or bringing on new investors more than 18 months after the Snyders bought out the previous minority owners.

BofA Securities has handled other sales of professional sports teams, including Steve Ballmer buying the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. A message sent to the firm seeking additional comment was not immediately returned.

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
• 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)