Husker Runner

Wilberger and Delano were the starting middles. Mueller and Werth were the starting left sides. The Huskers have dominated after blowing the lead in the first set.

On Time Warner Austin, the Big Ten Network is part of the Sports Pass that costs $6.99 per month and also includes the CBS College Sports Network, FCS Central, FCS Pacific, and FCS Atlantic, plus some channels that are totally useless to me and are just annoying to have to flip through (like autoracing and NBA networks).

Right now, Hawaii is the only revenue producing volleyball program in the country, and the only school that tops Nebraska in attendance. This move should help Nebraska surpass Hawaii in both categories. As far as I know, it will be the first volleyball venue in the country to have skyboxes. A reconfigured Devaney Center will also allow for more student tickets. Put the student section close to the action like Texas has at Gregory Gym, and you can still have an intimidating atmosphere for opponents. It will be interesting to see what happens with season ticket demand when it's easier to get individual match tickets. Even Nebraska may be hard-pressed to sell out 7000 seats against lower-tier teams. However, this will give more fans the chance to get tickets, which is only a good thing for the program and for the sport in general. Never underestimate Husker fan support!

#20 Dayton (5-1 overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10) at #7 Nebraska (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) Ameritas Players Challenge When: Thursday, September 9th, 7pm CT Where: NU Coliseum, Lincoln, Nebraska TV: NONE Video Webcast: CLICK HERE (subscription required) Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE Live Stats: CLICK HERE The 20th-ranked Dayton Flyers come into Lincoln to face more ranked competition after playing the 2010 Diet Coke Classic in Minneapolis last weekend, where they beat a tenacious #22 Northern Iowa team in five sets, beat Baylor in four sets, then got swept by a very good #8 Minnesota squad for their first loss of the season. Former Husker Jessica Yanz is the starting setter for Dayton this season. After graduating from UNL in May, she transferred to Dayton for graduate school and still had one season of eligibility after stints at Penn State and Nebraska. She is a very good setter who just happened to end up behind two All-American setters at her previous schools. She played club ball at Sports Performance in Illinois, a top club well-known (in particular) for producing good setters, and I'm glad she is getting a chance to run the show at the collegiate level. (The previous setter at Dayton was tragically killed in a plane crash which created an emergency need at Dayton for a setter. John Cook and Tom Osborne helped clear the way for Jessica to be able to play this final season with the Flyers.) The Huskers will have to contend with 6-6 MB Lindsay Fletemier, who recorded 28 kills and 20 blocks in three matches last weekend against good competition. She also has an active streak of 54 straight matches with at least one block. The Flyers will also look for offense from OH Rachel Krabacher, who had 38 kills in last weekend's tournament. Jessica Yanz

It's probably not going away. The question asked for five things I would like to see during the Idaho game.

1. An end to the use of the "T-Magic" moniker 2. The return of the Flying Wedge as a viable kickoff strategy 3. Free "Big Red" vuvuzelas for every fan at the game 4. A well-rehearsed halftime production of the "Thriller" dance by the entire Husker team (including coaches), featuring Bo Pelini as Michael Jackson. 5. More cowbell

Jordan Wilberger

I was jumping back and forth between the audio feeds for this match and the football game. Wilberger started in place of McNeal and Mancuso started in place of Mueller. Wilberger hit .625 with a career high 11 kills. She has earned a chance to be a starter IMHO. McNeal is light years ahead of where she was at this time last year but Wilberger is solid and dependable. Mancuso hit .368 with 10 kills. I've wanted to see Mancuso start in place of Mueller and she did a respectable job. Lauren Cook set to Gina for a few years in club so it should be an effective pairing. Mancuso and Mueller may continue to split time through the preseason, it could be a real battle for the starting role. Sydney Anderson and Hannah Werth were named to the All-Tournament team, and Kayla Banwarth was named tournament MVP. Very nice to see a libero get that award. Way to go, Kayla! The competition will get tougher in Lincoln this weekend, with matches against Dayton, a decent Western Michigan squad, and Illinois (who just swept Texas in Austin on Friday). It will be a great weekend of volleyball.

Huskers win in straight sets, -16 -17 -12.

TOUCHDOWN!!!

TD!!

#7 Nebraska (4-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Idaho State (4-1, 0-0 Big Sky Conference) BYU Nike Invitational When: Saturday, September 4th, 6pm CT Where: Smith Fieldhouse, Provo, Utah TV: NONE Video Webcast: NONE Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE Live Stats: CLICK HERE Idaho State started the season with four straight victories for the first time in 15 years, but lost to BYU earlier today in a thriller of a match. After losing the first two sets 24-26 and 22-25, the Bengals evened things up by winning the next two 26-24 and 25-20, only to lose a hard-fought fifth set to BYU by a score of 15-17. Haylee Thompson-Brock had 23 kills. I knew nothing about Idaho State before today, but they earned my respect. The Bengals will have to put the emotional loss behind them quickly to rebound for this evening's match against the Huskers. They may have left everything on the court this morning, though. Idaho State had a record of 13-15 in 2009 and finished fifth in the Big Sky conference.

The Huskers sweep Cal Poly, -15 -18 -17. 12 kills for Hannah Werth who hit .333. Tara Mueller only had 3 kills for a .143 hitting percentage but she did have 12 digs. Morgan Broekhuis had 7 kills. Lindsey Licht had 8 kills. Gina Mancuso did not play. The middles today were Delano and McNeal. Wilberger did not play. Megan Pendergast came in for one serve in the third set but hit it into the net. Now to rest for a few hours and get ready for the next match this evening.

This should be a good match. Dayton is ranked #20 and IMHO they should be a bit higher. Former Husker Jessica Yanz is now at Dayton and finally getting a chance to run the show after spending time on the bench behind All-American setters at Penn State and Nebraska.

#7 Nebraska (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Cal Poly (2-2, 0-0 Big West Conference) BYU Nike Invitational When: Saturday, September 4th, 1pm CT Where: Smith Fieldhouse, Provo, Utah TV: NONE Video Webcast: NONE Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE Live Stats: CLICK HERE Cal Poly lost the opening match of the BYU Nike Invitational yesterday, falling in four close sets to Idaho State. The Mustangs finished seventh in the Big West conference in 2009, with an overall record of 9-20 (5-11 in conference play). This will the first of two matches for the Huskers today. They play Idaho State at 6pm CT.

Nebraska wins in four sets. Thanks for the updates last night...Live Stats didn't work on my phone, I thought that might happen. Illinois looks really good, that match will be a good challenge for the Huskers. Texas has a lot of talent but nothing seemed to be working for them last night. They haven't been swept on their own court in a long time.

I'm heading out to Gregory Gym this evening to see #5 Illinois play #2 Texas, should be a good one. I've never used Live Stats on my phone but I hope I can keep up with the Husker match while I'm there.

#7 Nebraska (2-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12) at BYU (1-2, 0-0 Mountain West Conference) BYU Nike Invitational When: Friday, September 3rd, 8pm CT Where: Smith Fieldhouse, Provo, Utah TV: NONE Video Webcast: NONE Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE Live Stats: CLICK HERE BYU finished the 2009 season with a 15-14 record (9-7 Mountain West). They opened the 2010 season with three matches in the State Farm Illini Classic, where they lost in four sets to both #5 Illinois and Middle Tennessee, then beat South Carolina in five sets. BYU played Nebraska in Lincoln last September, hitting .680 in the first set to win 25-18, but the Huskers overcame a slow start to win the match 3-1. Senior Christina Measom recorded double digits kills that night and will look for another big night Friday. Senior setter Kaina Rogers is in her third season as a starter for the Cougars.

MIP. Mascot In Possession.

Huskers close it out 25-15 for the sweep.

The middles flipped back in the third set (with Wilberger still in for McNeal, and playing well).

Creighton got a quick lead on Nebraska in the first set and almost pulled it out, but Nebraska came back to win it 26-24. Nebraska wins the second set 25-18. Mancuso started in place of Broekhuis, and Wilberger is playing for McNeal. Both middles are playing well tonight. Delano and Wilberger are flipped in the lineup from the first two matches.

#7 Nebraska (1-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12) at Creighton (1-2, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) When: Tuesday, August 31st, 7pm Where: D.J. Sokol Arena, Omaha, Nebraska TV: NONE Video Webcast: CLICK HERE Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE Live Stats: CLICK HERE A tough start last season led to the Creighton Bluejays finishing with a somewhat disappointing record of 14-17, after going 18-9 in 2008 and just barely missing the NCAA Tournament with the 2nd highest RPI of any team ever to not make it into the field. Head coach (and Lincoln East HS alumus) Kirsten Bernthal Booth loses a couple of key players, but returns sophomore setter Megan Bober, who started every match last season as a freshman. Creighton hosted the Bluejay Invitational over the weekend, beating San Francisco but losing to Lipscomb and Kansas. Nebraska fell five spots in the AVCA poll to #7 after a five set loss to Florida (who moved up to #6). Look for a solid rebound against the Bluejays and possibly some tweaks to the lineup. Nebraskans on the Creighton roster: OH/DS Lisa Greisch, Omaha, Nebraska (Marian HS) RS/MB Heather Thorson, Mead, Nebraska (Mead HS) S Megan Bober, Murdock, Nebraska (Elmwood-Murdock HS) RS/OH Lexi Malm, Central City, Nebraska (Central City HS) DS Julianne Mandolfo, Omaha, Nebraska (Marian HS) DS Nayka Benitez is from Puerto Rico but attended Western Nebraska Community College Creighton coaches with Husker ties: Angie Oxley Behrens, Assistant Coach (NU Student-Athlete of the Year in 2001, after helping the Huskers win the 2000 National Championship) Amanda (Gates) Sjuts, 1st year Volunteer Assistant Coach (great career with the Huskers from 2005-2008)

1. The passing was not good in the first two sets. That was the real difference maker. 2. Florida is much better than their preseason #13 ranking would indicate. Kelly Murphy is a total stud, every bit of what you would expect from the #1 recruit a few years ago. I always liked Ashley Engle from Texas when she was played both S and RS, and Murphy may possibly be even a little better than Engle. The Gators showed a lot of improvement over their Saturday match against Iowa State. 3. The Huskers appear to be vulnerable to a good right side attack. The outsides are going to need to step up. 4. Nebraska was out of subs in the third set and the very next rotation would have put Licht in the back row and Cook in the front row. One risk with this 6-2 system. 5. Cook looks like the more effective setter after two matches but it's hard to compare since she is setting to Licht and Delano, while Anderson is setting to Broekhuis and McNeal, both of whom should improve as the season goes on. 6. I think Mancuso should get a chance to start over Mueller. Overall I think this was a good loss for Nebraska (if any loss can be called "good"). This is not a team that was very likely to go undefeated anyway. I figured there would be some bumps in the road while the kinks are worked out of the new offense and the McNeal and Broekhuis get some experience. Nebraska has a few easier matches to fine tune things before facing #20 Dayton and #5 Illinois in a couple of weeks.