Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Husker Volleyball Ready for Creighton, Nebraska Offense Prepares for Buffalo Matchup, Stars’ Keck Earns Career Mark

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR UPSET-MINDED CREIGHTON

A big match awaits Nebraska in the Huskers’ first road test of the season. No. 19 Creighton is 6-0 on the season. Among the wins was a sweep of No. 3 Kentucky on Saturday.

The Huskers, now No. 3 after replacing Kentucky, swept the Ameritas Players Challenge but did find fierce competition against Omaha, winning in 5 sets. 

The Bluejays dropped only two sets, both to Southern California in a five-set victory Friday.

This match can be heard on KGFW with pregame starting at 6 p.m.

LUBICK – BUFFALO A GOOD TEST FOR HUSKER OFFENSE

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick spoke with the media after Tuesday’s practice and previewed the Buffalo defense, adding it could be a good test for his offense…

The Huskers look to earn their second win of the season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.

LUBICK – SMOTHERS EARNED No. 2 SPOT AT QUARTERBACK

The question of who would be the No. 2 quarterback for the Huskers was finally answered last Saturday for the Huskers as Logan Smothers was given the reins of the offense once Adrian Martinez’ day had concluded. 

Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick added that Smothers earned the role as the top backup…

Smothers beat out former Kearney Catholic quarterbacks Matt Masker and Heinrich Haarberg for the spot. 

LUBICK – OFFENSIVE LINE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

The Huskers offense was able to protect quarterback Adrian Martinez against Fordham to create big plays. 

Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick said the big plays were created in part by the improvement of the offensive line…

Lubick added that he’s enjoyed seeing better communication in protection schemes from not only the linemen, but also the running backs and tight ends as well.

LUBICK – RECEIVERS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT RUN GAME

Huskers Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice. After reviewing the Fordham game tape, Lubick gave praise to his wide receivers – but not for their pass catching… 

The receivers also showed off in the passing game, with the starters and backups combining for 228 of the 304 total receiving yards. 

NEBRASKA BASEBALL SETS FOR FALL EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

A pair of fall exhibitions with Creighton and Wichita State headline the Nebraska baseball team’s fall slate at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park that were announced Tuesday.

The Huskers will square off with in-state foe Creighton on Friday, Sept. 17, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.

Competition continues with Wichita State on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Noon.

Additionally, NU will hold its annual Red/White Series fall scrimmages Oct. 11-13 at Hawks Field, with game times determined in the coming weeks. Scrimmages will be free and open to the public. 

STARS’ KECK EARNS 1,000 CAREER KILLS

Kearney Catholic Stars senior Ashley Keck earned her 1,000th career kill on Tuesday night’s match against South Loup. The senior will take her talents to Concordia at the conclusion of her senior year. 

The Stars won 3-0. 

STARS FOOTBALL HAPPY WITH HOT START

For two consecutive seasons the Kearney Catholic Stars have started the year 2-0; this year, wins over Wood River/Shelton and Gothenburg have head coach Rashawn Harvey’s team confident…

Kearney Catholic hits the road on Friday to take on the team who ended the winning streak last year in St. Paul. The Wildcats are 0-2 but have faced the defending state champs Pierce in Week 1, followed by an up-and-coming Broken Bow squad. 

KEARNEY HIGH FOOTBALL HAPPY WITH IMPROVEMENT DESPITE LOSS

Despite falling to Omaha Burke on Friday night, Kearney High Football Coach Brandon Cool says he’s happy with the improvement of his squad from Week 1 to Week 2…

The Bearcats, now 1-1, face off against 2-0 North Platte at home on Friday night. Hear pregame coverage at 6:30 p.m. on KGFW with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

TRI-CITY STORM HIRE NEW ASSISTANT COACH
The Tri-City Storm has hired Sam Povorozniouk (Povo-Rahz-Knee-Ewk) as an Assistant Coach ahead of the 2021-2022 season. Povorozniouk joins the Storm organization after most recently serving as an Assistant Coach for the Windy City Storm’s Under-12 team.

He played professional hockey for multiple organizations across the United States, Finland, Germany, and Denmark.

TRI-CITY STORM ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTERS

The Tri-City Storm has announced its training camp roster ahead of the 2021-2022 season. The roster includes thirty-eight total players who are currently competing for a spot on the team’s opening night roster.

Following the Storm’s five-game exhibition schedule, the team will move forward with a twenty-five-man protected list.

The full rosters can be found at www.StormHockey.com/StormRoster.

UNK WOMEN’S GOLF OPENS THIRD AT CENTRAL REGION TOURNAMENT

The Nebraska-Kearney women’s golf team sits in third place with a 308 after the first day of the Central Region Preview in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Colombian freshman Juliana Botero Molina had a strong collegiate debut, tied for sixth place. Her day featured a birdie on the par 4 18th hole

The final day concludes today (Wednesday).

NEBRASKA SELLOUT STREAK CONTINUES TO RED CARPET EXPERIENCE

The Husker sellout streak will move to 377 this Saturday, Nebraska athletics director Trev Alberts confirmed on Tuesday. He thanked donors and the accompanying Red Carpet Experience, offering the remaining tickets to younger fans who may not usually get the chance to see a Big Red game.

Nebraska will also commemorate the 20-year anniversary of 9/11 for the 2:30 p.m. game against Buffalo.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH
  • Boys Tennis Invite @ Lincoln
    • Team = 2nd overall
    • DOUBLES:
      • 2nd: Jackson Bokenkamp & Sam Rademacher
      • #2 Doubles, 2nd: Quinten Shaffer & Andy Vu
  • SINGLES:
    • 3rd: Asher Saulsbury
    • 4th: Eli Bond

• • • Softball v. Lincoln East
      • GAME 1: Lincoln East 10-1
      • GAME 2: Lincoln East 11-1
    • Volleyball v. Fremont
      • Fremont 3-1

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • Boys Tennis @ Holdrege Dual
  • Volleyball v. South Loup
    • KCHS 3-0
  • Softball @ McCook
    • KCHS 9-1 McCook

WEDNESDAY:

• UNK:

• • Women’s Golf v. Central Region @ Blue Springs, Missouri
  • Volleyball v. U. of St. Mary (KS) @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf @ Lincoln Southeast Invite – 9 AM
  • Boys Tennis Dual @ Lexington – 4 PM
  • Softball v. Lincoln North Star @ Patriot Park – 5 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • Girls Golf @ Awarii Challenge – 9 AM
  • Cross Country @ Centura Invite – 3 PM
  • Volleyball @ Blue Hill Triangular – 5 PM
  • Softball @ Holdrege – 5 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Cross Country Varsity Invite @ Meadowlark – 3 PM
  • Football v. North Platte – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Football @ St. Paul – 7 PM

• UNK:

• • Volleyball Rosella Meier Fall Classic v. Chadron State @ Health & Sports Center – 12 PM
  • Women’s Soccer v. NW Oklahoma State @ Foster Field – 2 PM
  • Volleyball Rosella Meier Fall Classic v. Southern Nazarene @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis @ North Platte Invite – 9 AM
  • Volleyball Kearney Invite – 9 AM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • Softball @ Cozad Invite – 9 AM

• UNK:

• • Volleyball Rosella Meier Fall Classic v. Minot State @ Health & Sports Center – 12 PM
  • Volleyball Rosella Meier Fall Classic v. West Texas A&M @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
  • Football @ Pittsburg State (Pittsburg, KS) – 7 PM