LOPER VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIFTH SET TO WASHBURN:
The 12th-ranked Washburn Ichabods scored four of the last five points to down 6th-ranked Nebraska Kearney in five sets Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
Winning at Buckle Court for the third time in five years, WU (14-3) also takes the season series from the Lopers (17-2). The ‘Bods took the final three sets to win in Topeka back on September 10.
Washburn had more kills, digs and blocks than the Lopers but the Blue & Gold almost won. UNK served up a season-best 11 aces and got a combined 46 kills from outsides CeCe Beahm (Hastings St. Cecilia) and Emersen Cyza (Alliance) and middle Bailee Sterling (Kearney).
The fifth set featured 10 ties and eight lead changes with UNK moving ahead 11-10 after a solo block from setter Peyton Neff (North Platte). WU used an unforced Loper attack error and a kill from senior middle Halle Meister to move ahead for good, 12-11.
UNK heads to Pittsburg State (12-7, 6-4) and Missouri Southern State (8-9, 3-5 this weekend. MSSU knocked off Washburn last Friday night while Pitt lost in five on Saturday afternoon.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – WHIPPLE:
WHIPPLE – STILL IN FIRST PLACE DESPITE OFFENSIVE EFFORT:
Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple addressed the media after Tuesday’s practice and said he was disappointed in his offense’s complete effort during Indiana, but it was enough to get the job done…
Whipple added he was happy to see the response by his offense in adversity especially after he vented his frustration to quarterback Casey Thompson.
WHIPPLE – FRUSTRATED WITH OFFENSE AFTER FIRST DRIVES:
Mark Whipple, Nebraska Offensive Coordinator, spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice and said he has been somewhat frustrated with his offense’s lack of performance in the past four games…
A verbal confrontation between Whipple and Thompson was shown on cameras during the Nebraska/Indiana matchup, but both quarterback and coordinator have spoken publicly that they have put it behind them and are ready to continue to excel for the Big Red attack.
WHIPPLE – OFFENSIVE LINE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE FROM MISTAKES:
Offensive Coordinator for Nebraska Football Mark Whipple spoke after Tuesday’s practice that he’s been happy with his offensive line’s improvement despite some errors…
Nebraska will walk out a new rotation of offensive lineman for Friday night’s matchup against Rutgers for their fourth different starting five since the season opener.
WHIPPLE – ROAD TRAVEL MUST BE PREPARED FOR:
Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice and said one of the biggest concerns for the Big Red offense is hitting the road for their first true road contest of the season…
Nebraska has only played at Memorial Stadium or in Ireland against Northwestern to kick off their season. The Huskers play in Piscataway, New Jersey on Friday against Rutgers.
WHIPPLE – HUSKERS ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN THE WEST:
Offensive Coordinator for Nebraska Mark Whipple may be in his first year guiding the Husker offense, but the coordinator remains confident in his team’s ability to stay competitive in the conference…
The Huskers are currently tied for first with five other teams at 1-1 in conference play.
WHIPPLE – BEING A NICE GUY DOES NOT GARNER SUCCESS:
Mark Whipple was a bit vulgar in his response to Tuesday’s media session when asked why it was good to get on the offense for struggling at times against Indiana…
Nebraska responded well, putting away Indiana in the second half and earning a 35-21 win at Memorial Stadium.
JUDGE SLAMS 62nd HOMER TO BREAK MARIS’ RECORD:
Aaron Judge took a smooth, mighty swing, then broke into a big smile as he trotted around the bases. Heading home, his teammates backed away, letting him touch the plate alone.
At last, the New York Yankees slugger had the American League home run record all to himself.
Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season Tuesday night, breaking Roger Maris’ AL record and setting what some fans consider baseball’s “clean” standard.
Judge said he felt “quite a few emotions” after connecting, thinking about his family and fans and supporters. He said it would probably be after the season until he’d truly soak in and appreciate the significance of his achievement.
Judge did it just in time, too, homering on the next-to-last day of the regular season.
Barry Bonds holds the major league record of 73 home runs, set with the San Francisco Giants in 2001.
ANOTHER COMMITMENT FROM STORM HOCKEY:
Tri-City Storm goaltender Karlis Mezsargs has announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
He made his USHL debut for Tri-City on September 23rd, 2022, in the Storm’s second game at the 2022 DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic.
Mezsargs notched his first career USHL victory in goal during the same game in Tri-City’s 6-4 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
UNK WOMEN’S GOLF TOP FIELD IN FLORIDA:
The Nebraska Kearney women’s golf team shot a school-record 54-hole score of 919 to place sixth at the Golfweek Division II Invitational Tuesday in Destin, Fla.
UNK improved each day, carding a 313, 308 and 298. The 919 bests a pair of 933’s (2019 MIAA Championships and 2019 Hardscrabble Invite) with the 298 on Tuesday one of only eight sub-300 rounds in school history.
Puerto Rico super senior Faviola Gonzalez finished 13th with an 11-over par 224 (76-75-73). That is a new 54-hole school-record.
HUSKER BASKETBALL MOURNS PASSING OF EKWALL AND LORENZ:
The Nebraska basketball family lost two valued members over the weekend with the passings of Rex Ekwall and Tom Lorenz.
Ekwall was a star player in the 1950s under Jerry Bush, as he totaled nearly 900 points and 700 rebounds in his three-year career between 1955 and 1957. The Holmesville, Neb., product led NU in scoring as both a junior and senior and topped the Huskers in rebounding all three seasons in the program. Nearly seven decades after his final season at NU, Ekwall holds two of the top five single-season rebound marks in program history, including his 11.5 rebounds per game in 1954-55 which ranks second all time.
Lorenz served as general manager of Pinnacle Bank Arena since it opened in 2013 and was an integral part of the Lincoln community since 1996. Lorenz was instrumental in the creation of Pinnacle Bank Arena from its early stages, and it was his dedication to the project which made the facility one of the best college basketball and concert facilities in the country.
FORMER HUSKER LINEMAN MARK PELINI PASSES AWAY AT 31:
Former Nebraska Cornhuskers offensive lineman Mark Pelini has passed away at the age of 31, according to a report in Indiana. He died in a car wreck on the Indiana Toll Road on Sunday along with the passenger in his vehicle, 31-year-old Jillian Marian.
Mark Pelini is the son of Diane and Vince Pelini and the nephew of former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini and former FAU head coach Carl Pelini.
Pelini started his career in Lincoln as a walk-on in 2010 and left as the team’s starting center in 2014.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
KEARNEY HIGH:Girls Golf: A-4 Districts @ Lake Maloney Golf CourseKHS = 3rd Place (State Qualifier)Olivia James = 4th (87)Lauren Lydiatt = 8th (93)Boys Tennis: Dual @ NorfolkPPD to WednesdayVolleyball: v. NorfolkKHS 3-2KEARNEY CATHOLIC:Volleyball: v. AmherstKCHS 3-2UNK:Volleyball: v. Washburn @ Health & Sports CenterWashburn 3-2
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: A-3 Districts @ Elkhorn South
- #4 Kearney v. #5 Omaha Buena Vista
- Boys Tennis: Dual @ Norfolk
- Softball: A-3 Districts @ Elkhorn South
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: Districts – TBA
- Cross Country: HAC Championships @ Kearney Country Club
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Volleyball: Centennial Conference Tournament
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Volleyball @ Michigan State (6:30 PM – 9:45 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Boys Tennis: @ HAC Championships @ Wood Tennis Center, Lincoln
- Football: @ Omaha Westside – 7 PM
- Pregame on Y102 at 6:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Football: v. Ord – 7 PM
- UNK:
- Volleyball: @ Pittsburg State – 6 PM
- Women’s Soccer: v. Rogers State @ Foster Field – 7 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Football @ Rutgers (2 PM – 1 AM) – KGFW
- Nebraska Football @ Rutgers (5:15 PM – 11:15 PM) – KQKY/HITS 106
- Kearney High Football @ Omaha Westside (6 PM – 10 PM) – KRNY/Y102
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Volleyball: Varsity Quad @ North Platte – 10 AM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Volleyball: Centennial Conference Tournament
- Boys Tennis: v. KCHS Invite (East/West Shootout)
- UNK:
- Women’s Golf: v. Augustana Fall Regional Preview
- Women’s Swimming: Blue/White Scrimmage – 8 AM
- Football: @ Missouri Western State – 4 PM
- Volleyball: @ Missouri Southern State – 7 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Volleyball @ Michigan (5:30 PM – 8:45 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Women’s Golf; v. Augustana Fall Regional Preview
- Women’s Soccer: v. Northeastern State – 1 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
