Husker Runner

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.

I have two tickets to the Dayton/Nebraska Volleyball match on Thursday the 9th. Theyare in Sec. 0, Row 11. Tickets are $45 for the pair.

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.

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.

#13 Florida (1-0 overall, 0-0 SEC) at #2 Nebraska (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

2010 Runza/AVCA Showcase

When: Sunday, August 29th, 4:30pm

Where: Qwest Center, Omaha, Nebraska

TV: NET (local only) and CBS College Sports Network

Video Webcast: None :-(

Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE

Live Stats: CLICK HERE

This is Florida's fifth appearance in the AVCA Showcase. The Gators started their season in Omaha Saturday with a 3-1 victory over #9 Iowa State (who lost OH Rachel Hockaday to a knee injury very early in the match). Florida runs a 6-2 so Nebraska will see a different offense than they saw today. S/RS Kelly Murphy is a two-time All-American and an important part of the offense. Florida's passing game needs to show major improvement over Saturday's performance if they hope to challenge the Huskers, who already looked in midseason form in a decisive sweep of #14 Kentucky.

A great first match for the Huskers. A few thoughts:

1. Was surprised not to see Gina Mancuso at all today, thought at a few points she should have come in for Tara Mueller.

2. Lindsey Licht was a monster out there, Kentucky didn't have an answer for her. She is going to have a killer season in this system.

3. Lauren Cook looked great, too. I'm going to enjoy watching the Huskers run the 6-2 this year.

4. Banwarth rocks. But we all know that.

5. Definitely saw some things that need work, but this team is playing in midseason form already. Thank you China. :-)

Licht is looking GREAT!

#14 Kentucky (0-0 overall, 0-0 conference) at #2 Nebraska (0-0, 0-0)

2010 Runza/AVCA Showcase

When: Saturday, August 28th, 4:30pm CT

Where: Qwest Center, Omaha, Nebraska

TV: NET (local only) and CBS College Sports Network

Video Webcast: None :-(

Audio Webcast: CLICK HERE

Live Stats: CLICK HERE

Kentucky returns six regular players (including four starters) from last year's squad that went to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament and finished the season 29-5, ranked #12 in the nation. Head coach Craig Skinner was an assistant at Nebraska from 2000 to 2004 before being hired at Kentucky. The Wildcats will break in a new setter this season, as sophomore Christine Hartmann fills the spot held by All-American Sarah Rumely last season. Senior RS Lauren Rapp and junior MB Becky Pavan (Sarah's younger sister) were both voted to the preseason All-SEC team, and the team will also rely on senior OH Blaire Hiler for offensive production.

This will be the first real look at Nebraska's 6-2 system with setters Sydney Anderson and Lauren Cook, at least for most fans outside of China. :-)

Junior MB Becky Pavan

Nebraskans on the Kentucky roster:

Sophomore OH Ann Armes, Grand Island, Nebraska (Grand Island Senior)

2009 record: 26-7

Final ranking last season: #5 (lost to Texas in Elite Eight match)

2010 preseason ranking: #2

Key matches: Florida (8/29/2010 in Omaha), Dayton (9/9/2010...former Husker Jessica Yanz returns to the Coliseum with the Flyers), Illinois (9/11/2010 in Lincoln), Iowa State (9/15/2010 in Ames), Texas (10/2/2010 in Lincoln and 10/27/2010 in Austin)

Not only do the Huskers return almost their full starting lineup from their #5 team from last year (losing only middle blocker Kori Cooper), they acquired setter Lauren Cook, the National Freshman of the Year last season for UCLA (and coach John Cook's daughter), and added incoming freshman right side hitter Morgan Broekhuis, one of the top recruits in the nation. The team has already had time to gel, too, with a summer trip to China playing against international competition. Previous trips to China in 2000 and 2006 were followed with national championships by those Nebraska teams, so it's easy to see why expectations are running very high in Lincoln this year.

Coach John Cook is committed to running a 6-2 offense this season, using All-American Sydney Anderson and transfer Lauren Cook to each set out of the back row. If the team runs the 6-2 the same way they did in China, look for the setters to rotate with the right side hitters, with Anderson setting for Broekhuis and Cook setting for Lindsey Licht. I expect we'll see a good amount of back setting to get more production out of the right side, especially if Morgan adjusts quickly to the speed of the college game. This will take some of the pressure off the outside hitters, where Gina Mancuso, Tara Mueller, and Hannah Werth compete for playing time.

SETTER

With proven setters in Anderson and Cook, I think the only question here is how much these two buy in to the 6-2 system. Sharing time will mean neither player ends up with "All-American" stats. Brigette Root is a fine setter, too, and if one of the other setters is lost to injury, rather than immediately switching to a 5-1, the team may look to Root to continue the 6-2. I'm betting that Sydney and Lauren will put aside their egos and run the 6-2 at a high level.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A

OUTSIDE HITTER

Mancuso, Mueller, and Werth will battle at this position and all should get a decent amount of playing time, especially early in the season. Mancuso was relegated mainly to a back row role in her freshman year, but I think we will see Mancuso and Werth both getting starts in the preseason. Werth has ongoing issues with plantar fasciitis but hopefully that won't be a factor. Mueller has shown signs of returning to her form from two seasons ago.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A-

RIGHT SIDE HITTER

I think Lindsey Licht is poised to have the best season of her career. Broekhuis comes in with borderline unrealistic expectations IMHO, with frequent references to Sarah Pavan. Morgan may very well turn out to be a superstar, but it's a lot to put on a freshman. She will feel the pressure in front of sold-out Coliseum crowds; how she responds to that is the biggest question at this position. The right side will be the key for this offense, and with a true freshman here, I hesitate to grade it too high without a better look.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: B+

MIDDLE BLOCKER

Brooke Delano should have the MB1 spot locked up. Allison McNeal has improved quite a bit from last year so expect to see her and Jordan Wilberger share playing time in the preseason as they battle for a starting role.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: B+

LIBERO

Kayla Banwarth. Do I need to say more? We'll see Megan Pendergast as a serving specialist, and Pendergast and Hubl will fight for the backup (and future) libero role, but this season belongs to Kayla.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A

With Destinee Hooker gone from Texas, this Nebraska team is the favorite to win the Big 12. There is no clearly dominant team in college volleyball this year--Penn State may see a small dropoff after losing key players to graduation and injury--and Nebraska could arguably enter the season as the favorite to win the national championship, especially considering that the Final Four will be in nearby Kansas City which may give the Huskers a home crowd advantage. I am predicting the Chinese magic to continue, and after a few problems early in the season as they break in a new offense and starting roles get defined, Nebraska will be clicking on all cylinders and end the season with a victory over Stanford in the national championship match on December 18th.