Pilakowski, Holmquist lead NU to 3-0 win over Santa Clara - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

 Seniors Amber Holmquist and Laura Pilakowski combined for 33 kills and hit .457 and .387, respectively, to lead the fourth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a 36-34, 30-24, 30-21, win over No. 22 Santa Clara Friday night before 4,105 fans at the NU Coliseum. With the win, the Huskers improved to 5-1 overall, while Santa Clara fell to 6-1.

 

Pilakowski tallied a season-high 19 kills on 35 attacks The 6-1 outside hitter also posted 11 digs.

 

Holmquist, who had 14 kills, added seven blocks, including her school-record breaking 503rd career block assist in midway through game two, and extended the record to 506 by the end of the match. Former NU All-American Stephanie Thater set the previous record of 502 in 1992.

 

Other Huskers with notable numbers were freshman outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua (career-best 20 digs), senior libero Lindsay Wischmeier (tied career-best with 18 digs) and senior setter Greichaly Cepero, who produced four kills, 46 assists, seven digs and five blocks while leading NU to a .322 hitting percentage. The Huskers out-blocked Santa Clara 14-2.

 

Becky Potter led Santa Clara with 19 kills, and she was one of just three Broncos to hit higher than .200.

 

Nebraska led 24-21 in game one after Cepero put up a solo block on Kim McGiven. But the Broncos battled back and tied the score at 25, 26, and 27 before Melissa Elmer slammed down a kill to give NU a 28-27 lead. The teams exchanged kills to make it 29-29. Anna Schrad regained control for Nebraska with a kill down the line, but Megan Johnston responded with a kill, tying the score once more.

 

After three more ties, Cepero tipped a shot to a hole in the Santa Clara defense to give the Huskers a 34-33 advantage. Cepero served long on the next play to even the score again, but 34-34 would be the final tie of the game. Elmer pounded a kill down the middle to force a game-point situation, and Schrad and Elmer combined to block Erin Cobler to secure the 36-34 victory.

 

The match marked just the second time since rally scoring was implemented in 2001 that Nebraska has scored 36 points in a single game.

 

In game two, Nebraska held a one-point lead before Holmquist combined with Jennifer Saleaumua for a record-breaking block of Cassie Perrett. The Huskers quickly built a six-point lead, and Santa Clara never pulled within closer than three points of Nebraska the rest of the way. Holmquist claimed the 30-24, second-game win for NU with her 10th kill of the night.

 

The Huskers built a 14-5 lead in game three and were never seriously threatened.

 

Nebraska will continue action in the US Bank/Arby