No. 5 Nebraska Sweeps South Florida in US Bank Tournament

Lincoln -- The No. 5 Nebraska volleyball team (5-2) breezed through its opening match of the US Bank Tournament, defeating South Florida 15-3, 15-5, 15-2 Friday night at the NU Coliseum. Junior right side hitter Nancy Meendering led the Huskers with six kills and a .667 hitting percentage.

Junior outside hitter Kim Behrends also had six kills, while senior outside hitter Mandy Monson posted 11 digs. Thirteen of the 15 players on the Nebraska roster saw time in the match. Junior outside hitter Angie Oxley did not play while recovering from the flu. NU Coach Terry Pettit expects Oxley to return for Saturday's matches.

Nebraska faces San Diego State (0-2) Saturday at 11 a.m. and No. 15 Arizona (5-1) at 7 p.m. South Florida will play the Wildcats at 11 a.m. before moving on to face San Diego State at 5 p.m.

"I thought we played very well tonight," Pettit said. "We were very sharp and very alert. I saw a lot of good things. Kim Crandall, Nikki Henk, Katie Jahnke and Laura Pilakowski all came off the bench and played well."

Defensively, Nebraska held South Florida, which committed 25 errors, to a minus-.080 hitting percentage. Offensively, the Huskers hit .359. It marked the fourth straight match that the Huskers have held their opponent below a .100 hitting percentage. It also marked the fourth straight match in which NU has hit for at least a .300 hitting percentage. In addition to South Florida, the Huskers last four opponents have included Western Michigan, Iowa and sixth-ranked Florida.

"I think the win over Florida gave us a lot of confidence," Pettit said. "We know now that we can play with anybody."

Against South Florida, NU never faced a challenge in the third game, easily building a 14-1 advantage. South Florida scored its second point of the game off a Nebraska hitting error. Freshman setter Greichaly Cepero served the final point for the Huskers.

South Florida's Michelle Collier, the 1998 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, left the match in the third game with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, but her status was not known late Friday night.

The Huskers held a 7-5 lead in the second game when Monson stepped up to the service line and reeled off six straight points to increase NU's advantage to 13-5. Nebraska regained control on a Jenny Kropp kill and then turned to Behrends. The Chappell, Neb., native posted four kills -- including the game-winner -- as the Huskers won 15-5.

The Huskers opened a 5-3 lead with four straight points from Cepero in the first game. Sophomore Kelly Mathiasmeier regained control for South Florida when she slammed a kill from the right side. But the Bulls lost possession, and junior setter Jill McWilliams served NU's last 10 points of the game for the the 15-3 victory.

No. 15 Arizona Sweeps SDSU in Tournament's Opening Match
Lincoln -- No. 15 Arizona (5-1) defeated San Diego State (0-2) 15-10, 15-9, 15-9 in the opening match of the US Bank Tournament Friday night at the NU Coliseum. Wildcat freshman Shannon Torregrosa led both teams with 17 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Marisa DaLee added 11 kills for Arizona.

Senior Jamie Evans posted nine kills and nine digs for San Diego State, which hit .066 for the match.

Arizona moves on to an 11 a.m. match against South Florida Saturday before facing Nebraska at 7 p.m. San Diego State plays the Huskers at 11 a.m. and South Florida at 5 p.m.

Arizona led 11-4 before SDSU sided out with a kill by junior outside hitter Amy Hallquist. San Diego State outscored the Wildcats 5-4 the rest of the way, but it wasn't enough as UA senior outside hitter Raelene Elam served the final two points of the match and claimed a 15-9 third-game win for Arizona.

The Wildcats also started early in the second game, jumping to a 14-3 lead behind seven points from sophomore setter Dana Burkholder. SDSU's Nadia Privara broke Arizona's momentum with a kill. The Aztecs then scored six unanswered points to cut Arizona's lead to 14-9. The Wildcats' Allison Napier pounded her sixth kill of the match and gave possession back to Arizona. A kill by Jill Talbot -- who hit .500 through games one and two -- secured a 15-9 second-game win for UA.

Arizona took a 4-1 lead in the first game with the help of Evans, who served three points. San Diego State bounced back, outscoring the Wildcats 6-4 to tie the game at 10. But the Aztecs couldn't keep their momentum going. UA regained possession on a kill by Torregrosa. The Wildcats scored three straight points before San Diego State's Lisa Bostian, who hit .364 in the first game, served two points to bring the Aztecs within one. Bostian faltered on her third service attempt, turning control back to the Wildcats. Arizona's Allison Napier served the final two points of the game, giving her team a 15-12 victory.