Tuesday Morning Sports – Stars in Sub-District Championship, Husker Volleyball Preps for Another Top Ten Matchup, Husker Post-Practice Comments, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY CATHOLIC VOLLEYBALL IN SUB-DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

The Stars dominated in three sets over Minden, earning their spot in the Class C1-10 Sub-District championship game. 

Gothenburg swept by #2 Broken Bow for the upset, and the Swedes will travel back to Cope Coliseum to take on the Stars. 

First serve is set for 7 PM.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL READY FOR BADGERS, ANOTHER TOP 10 MATCHUP

The No. 6 Nebraska volleyball team faces its second of three straight top-15 opponents this Wednesday, Oct. 27 with No. 3 Wisconsin at the Devaney Center. First serve is set for 8 p.m.

Nebraska has sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings and is the only remaining unbeaten team at 10-0 in conference play. The Huskers are ahead of second-place Wisconsin (9-1).

Nebraska is currently on their longest win streak since 2018.

UNK FOOTBALL SEVENTH IN SUPER REGION RANKINGS

In the first edition of the NCAA region rankings the Nebraska-Kearney football team is seventh in “Super Region 3.”

These rankings determine the 28-team Division II playoff field (seven teams from four regions). The playoffs start Nov. 20 and end on Dec. 18.

National polls have no bearing on the makeup of the region rankings.There are no automatic qualifiers in D2 football but a league champion can make the playoff field with “earned access”

UNK has wins over two teams with 6-2 records (Pittsburg State and Washburn) and another with a 4-4 mark (Emporia State). The de facto MIAA title tilt occurs this Saturday when the Lopers travel to Northwest Missouri State.

MORE HUSKERS HONORED WITH BIG TEN AWARDS

Lexi Rodriguez was doubly honored with Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week recognition, while Nicklin Hames was named Big Ten Co-Setter of the Week.

Rodriguez’s Defensive Player of the Week distinction was the first of her career, while the Freshman of the Week award was her third. Hames’ award is the second of her career. 

NU has counted 10 Big Ten weekly award winners this season.

HUSKER FOOTBALL MONDAY POST-PRACTICE COMMENTS

FROST – TEAM IS REFRESHED AND READY

Head Coach of the Huskers Scott Frost was asked what the coaching staff did with their off-time during the bye week, and how the team responded to some added time off… 

Frost continued that he felt more energetic himself after going through eight straight contests without a bye week. 

FROST – READY TO GET BACK WITH WEEK OFF

Huskers Head Coach Scott Frost spent his bye week watching film on Purdue, catching up on games across the conference, and spending time with family. Frost was asked how he feels following the time off…

The Huskers opened as 7 point favorites at home over Purdue. Frost is 1-5 at Nebraska when coming off a bye week.

FROST – ADRIAN READY TO ROLL

Huskers Head Coach Scott Frost was asked about the health of his quarterback after Adrian Martinez was battling through injuries during the Minnesota contest…

Frost had mentioned prior to the bye week that Martinez was “banged up” that had affected the game plan of the Huskers. 

FROST – PURDUE PASSING GAME DIFFICULT TO DEFEND

The Huskers will face a prolific passing attack from Purdue this week while down a defensive back. Deontai Williams, a senior tied for most interceptions in the nation with four, will be out due to an injury suffered against Minnesota. Frost adds the loss makes the task more difficult…

The Huskers face Purdue’s David Bell, a top-flight receiver with 44 rec and over 700 yards receiving this season. Bell had over 200 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in the Iowa upset two weeks prior.

FROST – RECRUITING TAKING A STEP FORWARD WITH PROGRESS

Huskers Head Coach Scott Frost was able to take some time during his bye week to visit local recruits in the area. Frost visited the Elkhorn South and Lincoln Southeast matchup on Friday night, and added that his coaches heard positive responses about the on-field progress of the Huskers…

Frost added it had been over 680 days since his coaching staff had been allowed to visit recruits as all coaches took time to hit the recruiting trail over the weekend.

FROST – GETTING TEAM TO BELIEVE THEY CAN WIN

Huskers Coach Scott Frost met with the media after Monday’s practice and spoke on how his team is ready to mentally get over the hump… 

The Huskers are seven point favorites over Purdue for their home contest on Saturday.

FROST – LEADERS NEED TO GET TEAM READY TO PLAY

Head Coach Scott Frost was asked what his team will need to do to get out of the gate against Purdue. Frost commented that he looks to his leaders to set the tone through the team’s preparation…

The Huskers stumbled out of the gate against Minnesota, and are hoping to get back to their winning ways over Purdue on Saturday.

MARTINEZ – WAS NOT 100 PERCENT, BUT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PLAY

Quarterback Adrian Martinez has faced adversity this season with lingering injuries that have slowed the four year starter down. Martinez elaborates… 

Head Coach Scott Frost had mentioned that the offensive game plan versus Minnesota was manipulated due to Martinez’ injury.

MARTINEZ – URGENCY SETTING IN FOR PROGRAM

Quarterback Adrian Martinez reiterated the importance of this upcoming contest for the Huskers program… 

The Huskers are seven point home favorites over Purdue.

HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL POST-PRACTICE COMMENTS

HOIBERG – WANT TO GET OFF ON RIGHT FOOT

The Husker Men’s Basketball team gets ready for their exhibition contests this week with Peru State and Colorado. Head Coach Fred Hoiberg adds that he wants his team to settle in… 

The Huskers open Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday at 6 PM.

HOIBERG – BIGGER EXPECTATIONS FOR TEAM

Head Coach for the Huskers Men’s Basketball team Fred Hoiberg met with the media on Monday and expressed that the expectations have only increased for his team…

The Huskers open their exhibition season with Peru State on Wednesday and Colorado on Sunday.

SQUIER’S FAMILY CELEBRATES A BIG NIGHT SATURDAY

Anna Squiers reached 1,000 career kills and Rick Squiers won his 1,000 match as No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney swept Newman Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Squiers is in his 32nd year of coaching volleyball with stops at UNK, Hastings College, Seward (Kan.) C.C. and Remsen St. Mary (Ia.) High School. He has amassed a gaudy 693-94 record since taking over the Lopers in 1999. Note the 1,000-career win total doesn’t factor in the 16-3 “non-countable” 2021 spring season.

Anna Squiers (Kearney Catholic) is now up to 1,002 kills to rank 31st in school history with Breanna Jones (1,098) and senior libero Lindsay Nottlemann (1,065) recently reaching the 1,000-career dig milestone.

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL OPENS AS SEVEN POINT FAVORITE OVER PURDUE

The Boilermakers (4-3, 2-2) opened as a 7-point road underdog against Nebraska (3-5, 1-4) at Circa Sports. The total for the game opened at 57.5.

Nebraska was idle on Saturday for the first time this season.

Since 2018, the Huskers are 2-5 against the spread with a rest advantage, which it will have against Purdue on Saturday, and 3-4 straight up. Nebraska is 7-8 against the spread as a home favorite, 10-5 straight up, under Frost.

KEARNEY HIGH & STARS EARN PLAYOFF BIDS:

Both Kearney High and Kearney Catholic earned playoff bids after their regular seasons concluded on Friday night. 

Kearney Catholic finished 9-0 and earned a #2 playoff seeding, meaning they will likely host all playoff contests heading into the State Final. The Stars take on 6-3 and #15 Boys Town on Friday at 6 PM.

The Bearcats earned a #13 seed after punching their ticket in on Friday’s win over Omaha Northwest. Kearney will face a familiar foe in Elkhorn South, this time on the road in a contest starting at 8 PM on Friday. 

UNK WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY WIN MIAA IN KEARNEY, MEN FOURTH

The Nebraska-Kearney cross country teams placed first (women) and fourth (men) at the 2021 MIAA Championships Saturday at Kearney Country Club.

This was just the second time since 1990 UNK and KCC hast hosted a conference championship meet.

All teams that competed at the MIAA championship will run at the NCAA Central Regional meet Nov. 6 in Joplin, Mo.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • VOLLEYBALL: C1-11 Sub-district tournament
    • #1 KCHS v. #4 Minden
      • KCHS 3-0

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • VOLLEYBALL: District A-7 tournament @ Fremont; #3 Kearney @ #2 Fremont – 6 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • VOLLEYBALL: C1-11 Subdistrict Championship
    • #1 KCHS v. #3 Gothenburg

• UNK:
  • JV VOLLEYBALL v. Hastings College – 6 PM @ Health and Sports Center

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • JV VOLLEYBALL @ UNK – 6 PM

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • VOLLEYBALL: A-7 District Championship TBA

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • N/a

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • JV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Southeast Community College, Beatrice

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • FOOTBALL: NSAA Round 1 Class A Playoffs: #13 Kearney @ #4 Elkhorn South – 8 PM
    • KGFW Pregame Coverage @ 7:30 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • FOOTBALL: NSAA Round 1 Class C1 Playoffs: #15 Boys Town @ #2 Kearney Catholic – 7 PM

• UNK:
  • VOLLEYBALL: @ Missouri Western St. – 5 PM
  • WOMEN’S SOCCER: v. Fort Hays State; Ron and Carol Cope Stadium – 6 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Presentation College, Lynn Farrell Arena
    • C3 Tip-off Classic
  • MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Presentation College, Lynn Farrell Arena
    • C3 Tip-off Classic

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • VOLLEYBALL: District Final TBA

• UNK:
  • FOOTBALL: @ No. 10 Northwest Missouri State (MIAA Championship Game) – 2 PM
  • VOLLEYBALL: @ Northwest Missouri State – 6 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • WRESTLING: @ York Open
  • FOOTBALL: @ Mount Marty University, Yankton, SD
  • VOLLEYBALL: @ Morningside University
  • WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Haskell Indian Nations University, Lynn Farrell Arena – 4 PM
    • C3 Tip-off Classic
  • WOMEN’S SOCCER: v. Dordt University – 5 PM, Lloyd Wilson Field
  • MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Friends University, Lynn Farrell Arena – 6 PM
    • C3 Tip-off Classic
  • MEN’S SOCCER: v. Dordt University – 8 PM, Lloyd Wilson Field