HUSKER VOLLEYBALL EARNS THREE ALL-AMERICANS:
Three Nebraska volleyball players were selected to the 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Team
Lexi Rodriguez picked up first-team All-America honors, Kayla Caffey nabbed second-team recognition, and Madi Kubik earned third-team status. Additionally, Nicklin Hames garnered All-America Honorable Mention.
The Huskers’ three AVCA All-America selections boosted NU’s total to a nation-leading 98 certificates all-time. A nation-best total of 50 players have combined for the Huskers’ 98 awards in school history. The Nebraska volleyball program has had multiple All-Americans seven years straight.
SID’s NAME DAVIS, SWANSON TO ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Junior safety Darius Swanson and junior quarterback TJ Davis represent Nebraska-Kearney football on the 2021 Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) Division II All-American team.
Swanson (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trial H.S.) made the first-team with Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Widefield) on the second-team. Since 1995 they become the 10th and 11th Lopers, respectively, to earn SID All-American honors.
Swanson had a breakout year as the Lopers starting strong safety. He led the team in tackles (98) and interceptions (four for 19 return yards) while ranking second in pass breakups (seven) and tying for third in tackles for loss (5.0).
Davis 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.
LYNN EXTENDS WITH LOPERS THROUGH 2025:
Nebraska-Kearney Director of Athletics Marc Bauer announced Tuesday that head football coach Josh Lynn has signed a contract extension that makes him leader of the Loper program through the 2025 season.
The new contract takes effect on January 1, 2022, and includes a salary increase with an incentive package for Lynn and his coaching staff.
Lynn was named the 18th head football coach in school history on January 4, 2017, after successful head coaching stints at Eastern New Mexico University, his alma mater, and New Mexico Military Institute.
His initial contract ran through the 2020 season and then he signed an extension in February 2020 that extended the contract to December 2022. This latest change will extend the contract to December 31, 2025.
Since his arrival, the New Mexico native has increased UNK’s win total by at least two games every fall, culminating with a 10-3 mark this fall. The effort marked the Lopers return to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in a decade, the program’s second-ever D2 playoff win and posting the program’s third-ever double-digit win season. Subsequently, Lynn was named the 2021 MIAA Coach of the Year.
NEW SPORTS COMPLEX COMING TO KEARNEY:
Votes are in and Kearney residents have voted yes for the new sports complex. KSNB reports the votes tallied up to a whopping 5,268 to 1,803. Voters have decided to extend the restaurants tax to raise money for the complex. This also means the expiration date of the tax has been moved from January 2025 to December 2042.
JURGENS ENDS HUSKER CAREER, MOVES ON TO NFL:
Sophomore center Cam Jurgens announced his intention to declare for the NFL Draft Tuesday night on social media.
Jurgens joined the Huskers in 2018 as a tight end out of Beatrice, Neb., and converted to the center position. He started every game in 2019 and 2021, and seven of the eight in 2020.
Jurgens earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors from league coaches this past season.
UNK MEN’S BASKETBALL SHOOTS LIGHTS OUT IN SECOND HALF:
The Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball team shot 67 percent in the second half and got three big individual performances to overwhelm Sterling (Kan.) College, 105-69, Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
This game was recently added to the schedule and replaced the Colorado School of Mines contest (Nov. 20) that was canceled due to COVID protocols within the CSM program. This was the first-ever meeting between the Lopers (4-5) and NAIA Warriors. UNK saw a four-game losing streak come to an end while SC remained at 2-13 as this was an exhibition contest per NAIA rules.
Kearney started the second half on a 15-2 run and never looked back. The Lopers made 24 of 36 second half shots including an 8 of 13 effort from the three-point line. Six different players sunk a triple over the final 20 minutes with no one making more than two.
Due to winter graduation on Friday morning, the Lopers host Newman Friday night and Central Oklahoma Sunday afternoon.
UNK WOMEN MOVE UP RANKINGS AFTER TOPPLING HAYS:
The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team is ranked 12th and 7th in the latest editions of the Division II Top 25 polls.
UNK (8-1, 3-0 MIAA) is 12th in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Assoc. (WBCA) Top 25 and 7th in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Top 25 poll. Last week Kearney was 17th in the WBCA and 14th in the D2SIDA
The other Central Region teams in both rolls/receiving votes are Fort Hays State, Missouri Western State, Minnesota State and Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Lopers are coming off a 61-56 win at Hays this past Saturday
The Lopers host the Newman Jets (2-7, 0-4) on Friday night and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (7-3, 3-1) on Sunday afternoon.
ALBERTS STATEMENT: “AWARE OF RECENT PUBLIC SPECULATION” FOR VIOLATION RUMORS:
The following statement was issued by Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts regarding rumors of potential NCAA violations against Nebraska Men’s Basketball and their coach Fred Hoiberg:
“I am aware of recent public speculation regarding our men’s basketball program. Our compliance staff has been in communication with the NCAA today and was told there is no active or pending investigation into our men’s basketball program. Coach Hoiberg and I have talked, and he has assured me his program is compliant with NCAA rules.”
TUESDAY SPORTS NIGHTY COMMENTS: DONOVAN RAIOLA:
RAIOLA – NFL EXPERIENCE HELPED IN COACHING
Nebraska’s new offensive line coach Donovan Raiola comes from the NFL ranks as a former assistant offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears. Raiola talks about how the professional experience helped mold his coaching style…
Donovan is the younger brother to Husker legend Dominic Raiola, and takes over the offensive line coaching duties from Greg Austin.
RAIOLA – FOCUS FOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Nebraska Offensive Line Coach Donovan Raiola joined Sports Nightly on Tuesday and talked about what his goals for the line are coming to the Big Red…
Raiola comes from the NFL ranks as a former offensive line assistant coach at the Chicago Bears.
RAIOLA – OFFENSIVE LINE GOOD GROUP TO WORK WITH
Huskers Offensive Line Coach Donovan Raiola joined Sports Nightly Tuesday and said he’s happy with the group of guys he’s met so far in Lincoln…
Raiola lost one key piece to the line from last season as center Cam Jurgens has declared for the NFL Draft.
RAIOLA – LINE MUST BE IN UNISON FOR SUCCESS
New Nebraska Offensive Line coach Donovan Raiola joined Sports Nightly on Tuesday and spoke about what his main philosophy for the Huskers offensive line would be…
The Huskers should return some notable talent including Sophomore Teddy Prochaszka, but lose center Cam Jurgens to the NFL Draft.
NSAA FOOTBALL DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2022-23:
The NSAA released its 2022-23 district assignments for all classes in football on Tuesday.
Kearney High will re-settle in the A-3 District, competing against Lincoln Northeast, Norfolk, North Platte, and Omaha Westside.
Kearney Catholic dropped a class from C1 to C2, and kept a local district with Amherst, Centura, Gibbon, and Ord.
Find all the new districts at nssahome.org
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL AWAITS PITTSBURGH FOR FINAL FOUR SHOWDOWN
The 10th-seeded Nebraska volleyball team (25-7) makes its 16th NCAA Semifinal appearance in program history this Thursday, Dec. 16, facing No. 3 seed Pitt (30-3) at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m.
No. 10 Nebraska joins No. 1 Louisville, No. 3 Pitt and No. 4 Wisconsin as the final four teams left standing to contend for a national championship. Louisville and Wisconsin meet in Thursday’s first semifinal match at 6 p.m. CT. The winners of each semifinal will advance to Saturday night’s national title match.
The Huskers are the first double-digit seed to reach an NCAA Semifinal since BYU in 2014. NU looks to become only the second double-digit seed to win the national championship since the NCAA began seeding teams with the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Stanford won the 2004 NCAA title as the No. 11 seed and is the lowest seed to ever win the national championship.
With Saturday’s Regional Final win over Texas, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Semifinal for the 16th time in program history and for the fifth time in the past seven years.
Pitt is 30-3 on the season after defeating Purdue 3-1 in Saturday’s Regional Final in Pittsburgh for the Panthers’ first NCAA Semifinal appearance in program history.
UNK’S DAVIS AWAITS HARLON HILL ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY
The winner of the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II Heisman, will be announced this Friday (Dec. 17) at 2 p.m. Central.
Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis is one of eight national finalists.
The announcement will be aired live on Harlon Hill Facebook page and the GAC You Tube Channel. UNK has had two previous national finalists in QB’s Justin Coleman (1999; 6th & 2000; 2nd) and Jake Spitzlberger (2011; 6th).
The 2021 MIAA and Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year, Davis is one of just two QB’s in NCAA’s four divisions (FBS, FCS, D2 and D3) to throw for at least 2,000 and run for 1,000 yards this fall. Having a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), the second-team AFCA All-American had eight games with at least two TD tosses, five 100-yard rushing days and four games with four TD’s.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Ravenna
- Ravenna 34-33
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Ravenna
- KCHS 56-31
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Ravenna
- UNK:
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Sterling (Kan.) Community College
- UNK 105-69
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Sterling (Kan.) Community College
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- 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:
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Missouri Valley Duals
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 6 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 5:45 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 7:45 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 7:30 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- SWIMMING: @ Lincoln Southeast Invite
- WRESTLING: Flatwater Fracas Tournament @ Heartland Event Center
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 6 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Hastings – 5:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Hastings – 7 PM
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- WRESTLING: Flatwater Fracas Tournament @ Heartland Event Center
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus – 3:30 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 3:15 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus – 5 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 4:45 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- WRESTLING: Kearney Catholic Invite
- SWIMMING: @ Lincoln Southeast Invite
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Omaha Skutt (@ Hastings College) – 4:30 PM
- UNK:
- WRESTLING: @ Augustana (Sioux Falls, SD)
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Newman @ HSC – 5:30 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Newman @ HSC – 7:30 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Kansas City, Avila Duals
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
