Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Davis Named Harlon Hill Finalist, Loper Football & Volleyball Receive All-Region Nods, Allen Named Big Ten Tight End of the Year, Husker Offensive All-Conference, Huskers Hoops Ready for ACC Challenge

DAVIS NAMED FINALIST FOR HARLON HILL

Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis is one of eight finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The winner is determined in a nation-wide vote of D2 SID’s as the national ballot is open between Dec. 1-10. The 35th winner in the trophy’s history will be announced on Friday, Dec. 17

Davis (Colorado Springs/Widefield H.S.) had a memorable season as part of the Lopers 10-3 playoff run. He had a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), is currently the nation’s second most efficient passer (183.3), ran for 1,151 yards and threw for 2,320 yards.

Davis broke his own school-record for rushing TD’s by a QB in a season, became UNK’s all-time leader in rushing TD’s (41) and is one of just three Lopers to have multiple 1,000-rushing season in a career. Finally, he had four games with at least four TD’s and eight straight games with at least two passes.

No Loper has ever won the trophy. The Sports Management major joins fellow QB’s Justin Coleman (1999 and 2000) and Jake Spitzlberger (2011) as UNK players to have been Harlon Hill Finalists. Coleman was sixth in 1999 and then runner-up his senior season with Spitzlberger finishing sixth as well.

THREE LOPERS EARN ALL-REGION FOOTBALL HONORS

Senior right tackle Corey Hoelck, junior quarterback TJ Davis and junior safety Darius Swanson represent Nebraska-Kearney football on the 2021 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 3 team.

Super Region 3 includes schools in the MIAA, GAC (Great American. Conf.), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conf. (GLIAC) and Great Lakes Valley Conf. (GLVC).

Davis (Colorado Springs) and Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) made the first-team with Davis also being the Region Offensive Player of the Year. Hoelck (Giltner), a 2021 team co-captain with Davis, made the second-team.

Hoelck and Davis were part of a Loper offense that averaged 34 points and 450 yards per week

Leading the UNK defense was Swanson who at a breakout year as the starting strong safety. He led the team in tackles (98) and interceptions (four for 19 yards) while ranking second in pass breakups (seven) and tying for third in tackles for loss (5.0).

UNK had a banner 2021 season, going 10-3, reaching the second round of the NCAA Playoffs and being nationally-ranked for the first time in a decade.

SQUIER SISTERS HEADLINE UNK VOLLEYBALL ALL-REGION HONOREES

Super seniors Anna Squiers and Madison Squires represent Nebraska-Kearney volleyball on the 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Central Region team.

Both Anna and Maddie earned their second All-Central Region honors and both hit major milestones this fall, Anna reaching 1,000 career kills (1,058) and Maddie recording career assist number 6,000 (now 6,152) and career dig number 1,500 (now 1,610).

The 12th-ranked Lopers faced 4th-ranked Northwest Missouri State Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That match begins at noon in Warrensburg, Mo.

ALLEN NAMED BIG TEN TIGHT END OF THE YEAR

Senior tight end Austin Allen has been named the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, as well as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. Allen led four Husker offensive standouts who earned all-conference accolades

A native of Aurora, Neb., Allen was a first-team all-conference choice by the Big Ten media panel and earned second-team accolades from the Big Ten coaches. Allen is the first Husker position player to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since 2014, and he is the first Husker tight end to be a first-team all-conference selection since Matt Herian in 2003.

Allen had a record-setting season for a Nebraska tight end in 2021, setting school position records for receptions (38) and yards (602), and a single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end with 143 yards at Wisconsin. Allen led all Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards, and his 15.8 yards per reception ranked sixth nationally among tight ends and bettered all other Big Ten tight ends by more than three yards per catch.

FOUR HUSKER OFFENSIVE PLAYERS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE NODS

Four Husker offensive players were recognized by the Big Ten on Wednesday. 

Tight End Austin Allen of Aurora was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year as well as earning First-team All-Big Ten honors.

Center Cam Jurgens was a third-team all-league pick by the Big Ten coaches, while earning honorable-mention accolades from the media panel.

Quarterback Adrian Martinez earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second time in his career, picking up the accolades from the Big Ten Coaches. Martinez ranked second in the Big Ten in total offense with 308.0 yards per game

Receiver Samori Toure made the most of his only season at Nebraska and was an honorable-mention all-conference choice by the Big Ten media. Toure caught 46 passes for 898 yards and five touchdowns, while leading all Big Ten players with 19.5 yards per reception

In addition to the four all-conference selections, senior receiver Levi Falck was Nebraska’s recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.

FIVE HUSKERS RECEIVE BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL AWARDS

The Nebraska volleyball program was well represented on the 2021 All-Big Ten teams and postseason accolades earning four all-conference nods, one superlative honor and two all-freshman awards.

Madi Kubik, Lexi Rodriguez and Lauren Stivrins were named to the All-Big Ten First Team, and Nicklin Hames was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Rodriguez was tabbed the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Fellow newcomer Lindsay Krause joined her on the All-Freshman Team.

Nebraska and Purdue were the only two schools to have three first-team All-Big Ten picks this season. NU has boasted at least three first-teamers six straight years.

TUESDAY SPORTS NIGHTLY: ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TREV ALBERTS COMMENTS:

ALBERTS – CREATING THE BEST FAN EXPERIENCE IN ATHLETICS

Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke on Sports Nightly Tuesday night for his monthly show, and addressed the need for fans to voice their opinions for improvements to Husker Athletic facilities… 

Alberts continued that building a winning program also aids in the experience. Husker Athletics will soon release surveys for fans to take to share their thoughts on what can be improved. 

ALBERTS – FOOTBALL HIRES NOT INFLUENCED BY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Trev Alberts made his monthly appearance on Sports Nightly last night. When asked how the offensive coaching staff hires for the Football program has been going, Alberts stated he’s allowing Head Coach Scott Frost to make those decisions… 

Alberts continued that he wants to see Frost build a staff that can find continued success for Husker Football, and that no timetable has been set to hire a staff as of yet.

ALBERTS – NEBRASKA TIES NOT NECESSARY FOR EMPLOYMENT

Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts joined Sports Nightly for his monthly appearance on Tuesday and spoke about the ongoing hiring process for the Nebraska Football offensive coaching vacancies. 

Alberts was asked if candidates needed ties to the university for employment… 

Alberts continued that he hopes to see a staff in place that focuses on the players and their development.

HUSKER FOOTBALL LOSES ANOTHER TO TRANSFER PORTAL

Marvin Scott III became the second running back signed to the Class of 2020 to enter the transfer portal, joining Sevion Morrison who had previously announced his transfer intentions.

Scott is the first NU player on the roster to enter the portal since the Iowa game and the conclusion of the Huskers’ 2021 regular season.

Scott played in four games this past season, carrying the ball 17 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns, with one catch for nine yards.

NEBRASKA DEFENDERS NAMED TO ALL-BIG TEN LIST

Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and nickel back JoJo Domann led seven Husker Blackshirts who received All-Big Ten accolades

Taylor-Britt earned second-team all-league honors from both the Coaches and the Media, earning second-team All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight year.

One of the conference’s most versatile defenders, Domann was a second-team All-Big Ten choice as a linebacker by the Big Ten Coaches and earned third-team recognition from the media panel.

Five Nebraska defenders earned honorable-mention accolades on Tuesday. Defensive linemen Damion Daniels and Ben Stille, linebacker Luke Reimer and safety Deontai Williams were honorable-mention selections on both teams, while safety Marquel Dismuke was recognized by the conference coaches. 

Stille, Dismuke and Williams earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second time, while Reimer and Daniels were recognized for the first time in their careers.

NEBRASKA MEN PREPARED FOR ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE

The Nebraska men’s basketball team hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Raleigh, N.C., for a matchup with NC State as part of the 2021 Men’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The first meeting between the Huskers and Wolfpack will take place tonight at 6:15 p.m. (central) at PNC Arena.

The Huskers (5-2) are looking for their fifth straight win following an 83-70 win over South Dakota on Saturday.

NC State is 5-1 on the season following a 90-81 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday

HUSKER WOMEN READY FOR ACC BATTLE

The Nebraska women’s basketball team continues its four-game non-conference road swing when it travels to Wake Forest today for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Tip-off between the Huskers (7-0) and Demon Deacons (7-0) is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Wednesday’s battle of unbeatens in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Wake Forest in women’s basketball.

The Big Red beat 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifier and Colonial Athletic Association champion Drexel (65-53) before knocking off the hosts from San Diego (64-56) on Saturday at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

NEBRASKA MEN’S BASKETBALL HOIBERG MONDAY SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS:

HOIBERG – NC STATE PREVIEW FOR BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Coach Fred Hoiberg previewed the opportunistic defense that the Huskers will see tonight as they take on the Wolfpack of NC State… 

Hoiberg added that this week’s focus in practice was the same as prior weeks – better shot selection and team defense. 

Nebraska tips off with NC State on the road at 6:15 PM tonight. 

HOIBERG – SOUTH DAKOTA WAS HUSKERS’ BEST PERFORMANCE

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg was a guest on Sports Nightly Monday night and said he felt his team’s performance against South Dakota was there best so far on the young season… 

The Huskers are back in action tonight against North Carolina State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at 6:15 PM. 

HOIBERG – HUSKERS NEED TO FIND MORE CONSISTENT SHOOTING

Head Coach of the Husker Men’s Basketball team Fred Hoiberg was a guest on Sports Nightly and said he’s looking for his team to find a more consistent shot selection… 

Hoiberg contributed many good shots due to the presence of Derrick Walker who has four straight double-digit point total games since being shut-out against Creighton. 

HUSKER WRESTLING READY TO DEFEND TITLE IN VEGAS

The undefeated No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team heads to Las Vegas this weekend to partake in one of the premier wrestling tournaments of the year at the Cliff Keen Invitational.

The Las Vegas Convention Center will host the event, with action set to begin on Friday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m

The tournament field features the defending champions from Nebraska along with 26 other Division 1 teams and over 100 ranked wrestlers. Nine of the nation’s Top-25 teams in the latest NWCA poll will take the mat in Las Vegas.

UNK VOLLEYBALL AIMS TO DOWN FAMILIAR FOE NORTHWEST MISSOURI

The 12th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will try and defend its Central Regional title when NCAA Tournament play begins Thursday in Warrensburg, Mo.

This year’s Central Regional features seven nationally-ranked teams with MIAA regular season and tournament champion Central Missouri serving as host. The Jennies (28-3) are 12-1 at home and 6-0 in five-set matches including a 3-2 decision over the Lopers in the MIAA tourney semifinals.

UNK (25-6) and the Bearcats (26-5) will be meeting for the third time this fall with each team winning on the other’s home court. In the “non-countable” 2021 spring season, the Lopers went 2-1 against Northwest, winning a 3-2 decision in the MIAA Spring Invite. First serve is noon on Thursday and fans can follow watch via The MIAA Network

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • MENS WRESTLING: GPAC Duals

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
    • Kearney v. Bellevue East – 4:30 PM
      • Pregame @ 4:15 PM on KGFW; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW App
  • BOYS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
    • Kearney v. Bellevue East – 6:15 PM
      • Pregame @ 6 PM on KGFW; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW App
  • WRESTLING: Dual @ Hastings – 6:30 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • SWIMMING: Kearney High Triangular

• UNK:
  • VOLLEYBALL: NCAA D2 Regional @ Warrensburg, MO
    • UNK v. Northwest Missouri State – 12 PM
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Emporia State – 5:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Emporia State – 7:30 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Dakota Wesleyan – 6 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Sutton – 5:30 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Sutton – 7:15 PM

• UNK:
  • TRACK: Indoor Intrasquad – TBA

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • MENS/WOMENS T&F: Indoor SDSU Holiday Invite
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Dakota Wesleyan – 7:45 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
    • Kearney High @ TBA
  • BOYS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
    • Kearney High @ TBA
  • WRESTLING: Kearney High Invite v. Multiple teams – 10 AM
  • SWIMMING AND DIVING: @ Hastings Invite

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • SWIMMING: @ Hastings Invite
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Holdrege – 2:30 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL:  @ Holdrege – 3:45 PM

• UNK:
  • WRESTLING: @ Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite – 11 AM.
  • WRESTLING: @ Doane Invite – 9 AM
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
  • VOLLEYBALL: NCAA D2 Regional
    • Championship, TBA

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • MENS BOWLING: @ Sioux City, IA
  • MENS WRESTLING: @ Doane Open
  • WOMENS BOWLING: @ Sioux City, IA
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ Leavenworth, KS
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Jamestown – 2 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Jamestown – 3:45 PM