HUSKER VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN NATIONAL TITLE
The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team came up just short of its sixth national title Saturday night, losing a five-set heartbreaker to No. 4 Wisconsin at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It was the longest Championship Match in NCAA history in front of the largest crowd in NCAA history (18,755).
The Huskers, who were the first to 20 points in three of the first four sets, won the first set 25-22, before Wisconsin took the next two sets 31-29 and 25-23. NU fought back to force a fifth set with a 25-23 come-from-behind victory in set four. Wisconsin scored the first seven points of the decisive fifth set – the first time the Badgers had led by more than four points all night – but Nebraska stormed back and fought off three match points before the Badgers (31-3) closed out a 15-12 victory to win their first NCAA title.
In the match, the Badgers won 116 points to Nebraska’s 114. NU (26-8) finished as the NCAA Runner-up for the fifth time in school history to go along with its five national titles.
Following the match, Kubik and Hames were named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
The Huskers were also honored at halftime of the Sunday Women’s Basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL: NATIONAL TITLE POSTGAME COMMENTS:
COOK – PROUD OF HUSKERS FOR RESILIENCY
The Nebraska Volleyball team could not overcome a 7 point deficit in the final set as Wisconsin was named the national champion on Saturday night. Husker Head Coach John Cook said in the postgame its the most proud he’s been of a Nebraska team…
The Huskers were seeded No. 10 in the tournament and was considered to be in a “reloading” season in Cook’s own preseason comments. Nebraska finished as a runner-up for the fifth time in school history.
COOK – WISCONSIN EXECUTED BETTER THAN HUSKERS TO WIN
Nebraska volleyball finished the 2021 season as runner-up to champion Wisconsin after falling in 5 sets on Saturday night. Huskers Head Coach John Cook added in post game that the Badgers simply executed better when needed to win…
The Huskers spotted Wisconsin seven straight points to start the fifth set, ultimately digging a hole they could not get out of.
STIVRINS – PROUD OF EFFORT FROM INEXPERIENCED HUSKERS
Senior middle blocker Lauren Stivrins added her post-game comments after the Huskers national title loss to Wisconsin she was happy to see the inexperienced Huskers fight…
The Huskers earned their fifth national runner-up in school history.
HAMES – EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO LAST GAME
Nicklin Hames was overcome with emotions during the national championship post-game as she realized it would be her last game with the Husker seniors, specifically middle blocker Lauren Stivrins…
The Huskers ended the season as the No. 10 overall seed and their fifth national runner-up in school history.
HUSKER WOMEN CONTINUE UNBEATEN SEASON:
True freshman Alexis Markowski led five Huskers in double figures by recording her second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to power unbeaten Nebraska to an 89-68 women’s basketball win over Drake on Sunday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
With the victory, Nebraska improved to 11-0 with its eighth victory by 20 or more points to start the season. The Huskers also snapped Drake’s six-game winning streak, as the Bulldogs slipped to 7-3 on the season.
Nebraska returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena to play Wyoming on Wednesday, Dec. 22, to close non-conference play and its three-game home stand. Tip-off between the Huskers and the 2021 Mountain West Conference Champion Cowgirls is set for noon with tickets on sale now at Huskers.com.
HUSKER MEN CANNOT STOP OLD RIVAL K-STATE:
Nebraska fought back from a six-point halftime deficit, but Kansas State used an 12-2 second-half run to earn a 67-58 victory over the Huskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska held Kansas State percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers, but the Wildcats were more opportunistic, turning 17 NU turnovers into 22 point and enjoying a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points.
The Huskers will close non-conference action on Wednesday, Dec. 22, against Kennesaw State. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
LOPER MEN OUTGUNNED AT HOME BY BRONCHOS:
Central Oklahoma used a late run to down Nebraska-Kearney, 84-63, Sunday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
The Bronchos (9-2, 5-1) win a fifth straight MIAA game by double digits and improve to 17-5 all-time against the Lopers (5-6, 1-4). The two will meet again Feb. 3 in Edmond with each team not playing again until Jan. 1.
The Division II winter moratorium this year runs from Dec. 21-27.
LOPER WOMEN USE LATE RALLY TO UNSEAT BRONCHOS:
The No. 12/7 Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team closed on a 13-4 run to get past Central Oklahoma, 72-64, Sunday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
UNK (10-1, 5-0) pushes its win streak to nine straight and sits atop the MIAA standings after the first semester. The Lopers are now off until Jan. 1 and will return to practice on Dec. 28 as this year’s Division II moratorium runs from Dec. 21-27.
These two teams will meet again Feb. 3 in Edmond. The Lopers are at Rogers State on Jan. 1 (Sat.) and Northeastern State on Jan. 3 (Mon.) to start the second semester.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL’S HILDEBRAND NAMED HEAD COACH AT LONG BEACH STATE:
Nebraska associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand will return to his alma mater as the head women’s volleyball coach at Long Beach State, it was announced Sunday evening.
Hildebrand is the fourth Nebraska assistant coach in the last six years to land a Division I head coaching job.
Hildebrand has spent three seasons on the staff at Nebraska over the last five years. As an assistant coach in 2017, he helped the Huskers to their fifth NCAA championship, and three players – Kelly Hunter, Mikaela Foecke and Annika Albright — were named All-Americans. Hildebrand was responsible for the Husker defense, which led the Big Ten with an opponent hitting percentage of .154.
STORM RALLIES, FALLS TO SIOUX CITY:
The Tri-City Storm came from behind in Saturday’s game to take a 3rd period lead over the Sioux City Musketeers but fell by a final score of 4-3. Kieran Cebrian, Ilya Nikolaev, and Cole O’Hara scored the Storm’s goals in the loss.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Friday, December 31st in a home game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop for the game is set for 7:05pm CT.
UNK’S DAVIS FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN HARLON HILL VOTING
Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis finished runner up in voting for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in NCAA Division II.
Davis was one of eight national finalists. The field began with nearly 40 candidates split among D2’s four football regions.
Shepherd (W.V.) University junior QB Tyson Bagent won with 169 points (44 1st place; 15 2nd place; seven 3rd place). He threw for an even 5,000 yards and 53 TD’s this fall in leading the Rams to a 13-2 record and the third round of the playoffs. His 42-yard “Hail Mary ” helped SU win its second-round playoff game.
Davis tallied 105 points (17 1st place, 21 2nd place; 12 3rd place) to come in second.
BEARCAT BASKETBALL CLOSES ROAD WEEKEND WITH UNDEFEATED MARK:
The Kearney High basketball teams came away with dominating wins for both the girls and boys teams in Northeast Nebraska over the weekend.
After downing Norfolk on Friday in the doubleheader, Kearney cruised by Columbus Saturday afternoon. Full recaps can be found at KGFW.com
Both teams are off until the week after Christmas with the NCAA Moratorium taking place. Kearney awaits seeding for the Heartland Athletic Conference tournament.
KEARNEY CATHOLIC’S MAHONY TAKES OVER RECORD BOOKS
After four years of running the Stars’ program on the floor, senior Brett Mahony has his name atop the all-time scoring list for Kearney Catholic. Mahony has averaged 17 PPG through his four years, and cemented his top mark after a win in Hastings for Kearney Catholic 53-32 Friday night.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus
- KHS 42-25
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus
- KHS 84-44
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Omaha Skutt (@ Hastings College)
- Omaha Skutt 35-31
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Omaha Skutt (@ Hastings College)
SUNDAY:
- UNK:
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. UCO @ Health & Sports Center
- UCO 84-63
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. UCO @ Health & Sports Center
- UNK 72-64
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. UCO @ Health & Sports Center
MONDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Boone Central – 4 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Boone Central – 6 PM
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
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:
- N/a
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
