STATE VOLLEYBALL DAY 2 RECAP / SEMIFINAL PREVIEW:
The NSAA State Volleyball Championships continue in Lincoln today for semifinal round action for all classes at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Two area teams were eliminated in Class D1 on Thursday as #5 SEM fell in five dramatic sets to #4 BDS, and #2 Cambridge was unable to survive a Cedar Catholic rally, falling in five.
Local teams in action include Class C1’s #5 Gothenburg battling top seed North Bend Central at 1 PM, while a Central Nebraska showdown brings in #2 Minden and #3 GICC at 3 PM.
In Class C2, #6 Amherst faces #2 Archbishop Bergan after the Broncos cleared #3 Cross County in a first round sweep yesterday.
Class D2’s #4 Shelton won in four sets over #5 Diller-Odell on Thursday, bringing up a matchup with #1 Howells-Dodge this morning at 9 AM. #2 Overton dispatched St. Mary’s in a sweep yesterday, as the Eagles now face #3 Humphrey-St. Francis today at 11 AM.
More details can be found at the NSAA website.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ENTERS QUARTERFINAL ROUND:
More High School playoff action kicks off tonight across the state as the quarterfinal round is set for area teams.
In Class A, #4 Grand Island hosts #12 Millard South after the Patriots downed Kearney at Foster Field last week.
Class B faces #13 Northwest to #5 Waverly, as the Vikings won a dramatic 24-21 showdown at Elkhorn High last week.
In Class C1, top seed Aurora hosts #9 Lincoln Christian while #3 McCook welcomes in #6 Adams Central.
Class C2 has #1 Hastings St. Cecilia facing #9 Battle Creek, meanwhile #2 Ord battles #7 Oakland-Craig.
Class D2 #12 Central Valley takes on #14 BDS after an upset win over Sandhills/Thedford, and #10 Elm Creek continues to impress as they face #2 Hitchcock County at home at 7 PM.
Finally in 6-Man action, #1 SEM looks to continue their season against #8 Shelton and #4 Red Cloud battles #5 Parkview Christian.
Game times and more matchups can be found at the NSAA website.
LOPER VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS PITT; AWAITS MISSOURI SOUTHERN TONIGHT:
Outside hitters Emersen Cyza and Asha Regier combined for 21 kills and defensive specialist Rhianna Wilhelm had a long match-closing service run to help 12th-ranked Nebraska Kearney sweep Pittsburg State Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
The Lopers improve to 25-4 (15-4) and take the season series from the Gorillas (15-13, 9-10). UNK is aiming to finish second in the MIAA with Pitt currently in sixth place. The eight-team MIAA Tournament begins next Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo., with pairings announced Saturday night after the completion of the regular season.
UNK hosts Missouri Southern State (13-154) Friday at 6 p.m. The Lions own four wins over nationally-ranked squads this fall (Washburn twice, Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma).
VERLANDER GETS WIN; ASTROS TAKE SERIES LEAD:
Justin Verlander beamed like a first-time big leaguer, and the Houston Astros feted the 244-game winner like a baby-faced rookie.
After 16 years of trying, Verlander finally gritted out his elusive first World Series win.
Expected to win his third Cy Young Award this month, Verlander overcame an early jolt and rookie Jeremy Peña hit a go-ahead homer and drove in two runs as the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Thursday night to head home with a 3-2 Series lead.
Of previous Fall Classics tied 2-2, the Game 5 victor has won 31 of 47 times. Three years ago, the Astros lost Games 6 and 7 at home to Washington.
Game 6 is set in Houston tomorrow with first pitch at 7 PM.
STORM CELEBRATE HAT TRICK IN VICTORY:
The Tri-City Storm defeated the Fargo Force by a final score of 5-4 Thursday night at Scheels Arena.
The Storm’s offense was powered by a three-goal performance from forward Kieran Cebrian. Ryan Smith and Artemi Nizameyev also scored in the victory for Tri-City.
The Storm will return to action tomorrow night in a rematch with the Force. Puck drop for tomorrow’s battle at Scheels Arena is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
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.
NETS SUSPEND IRVING WITHOUT PAY FOR ANTISEMITIC POSTS:
The Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving for at least five games without pay Thursday, dismayed by his repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs.”
Hours after Irving refused to issue the apology that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sought for posting a link to an antisemitic work on his Twitter feed, the Nets said that Irving is “currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”
Irving did finally apologize later in an Instagram post for not explaining the specific beliefs he agreed and disagreed with when he posted the documentary.
His reluctance to do so earlier Thursday came hours before the FBI said it had received credible information about a “broad” threat to synagogues in New Jersey, Irving’s home state.
HURTS, EAGLES SOAR PAST TEXANS FOR BEST PHILLY START:
Jalen Hurts didn’t make too much of the Philadelphia Eagles improving to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.
Hurts threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, and the Eagles overcame a slow start to beat the Houston Texans 29-17 on Thursday night.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson grabbed his NFL-best and career-high fifth interception before Hurts threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown to give the Eagles the lead in the third quarter.
The Eagles host Washington for Monday Night Football next week, while the Texans visit the Giants.
NFL SCORES/SCHEDULES:
THURSDAY:
Philadelphia Eagles 29-17 Houston Texans
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- UNK:
- Volleyball: v. Pittsburg State @ Health & Sports Center
- UNK 3-0
- Volleyball: v. Pittsburg State @ Health & Sports Center
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- 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:
- N/a
- 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)
