Cady, Wildcats Upset NU in Lincoln

Lincoln -- All-American Nancy Meendering pounded a school-record 39 kills and posted a career-high 21 digs, but it wasn't enough to overcome a gusty effort by Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference opener for both schools. KSU (7-2 overall and 1-0 in Big 12) became the first Big Eight or Big 12 Conference team to defeat Nebraska (8-3, 0-1) at the NU Coliseum since Missouri defeated the Huskers in 1977, capturing a 15-9, 16-14, 16-18, 7-15, 15-17 victory before 3,490 fans Wednesday night.

Kansas State's Dawn Cady led the upset-effort with an All-American night of her own, posting 37 kills, 27 digs and a Coliseum-record 93 total attacks, a mark formerly held by Meendering (78). Sophomore right-side hitter Liz Wegner or Tecumseh, Neb., had an outstanding homecoming with 21 kills for the Wildcats.

With the win, Kansas State notched the program's first win over Nebraska in 59 attempts.

It appeared as the Huskers might escape with the victory when Monson tied the fifth game at 12, slamming a kill down the baseline. She then blocked KSU's Disney Bronnenburg to give the Huskers a 13-12 lead. The two teams exchanged points to a 14-14 tie before NU's Katie Jahnke hit a kill to give the Huskers a 15-14 lead. KSU tied the match after a Cady kill and a Husker attacking error. Cady then won the match with her 37th kill of the match.

The Huskers out-blocked KSU 25 to 12.5, to hold the Wildcats to a .150 hitting percentage. Nebraska couldn't find a rhythm offensively, despite Meendering and Cepero hitting for .325 and .275 hitting percentages. Overall, however, NU hit at a .170 clip.

"It's amazing," Wegner said of KSU's win. "It's exciting. I'm so speechless. I don't even know what to say. We knew that if we came in here and served well and passed tough that we had a chance to win. This is only the first step. We'll just build from here."

Nebraska was slow getting out of the blocks in the fourth game. It trailed 12-5 early and never recovered. Wegner posted four kills to lead KSU to the 15-7 win. The Wildcats hit .316 after hitting less than .132 in the first three games.

In the most thrilling game of the match, Kansas State served for game point before capturing an 18-16 win in the third frame. Down 9-6, KSU outscored NU 8-6 and took a 14-12 lead. After 12 sideouts and two kills from Meendering, NU evened the score at 14. The two teams exchanged points behind a kill by senior middle blocker Tonia Tauke and one by Cady. With NU outside hitter Mandy Monson serving, Meendering slammed an kill down the middle to give the Huskers a 16-15 advantage. The Wildcats regained possession as the result of two attack errors by Nebraska. A kill by Cady put KSU up by one. With Kelly Branting serving for game point, Disney Bronnenberg and Jayne Christen blocked Meendering to secure the 18-16 game three win.

"They were aggressive, and we backed off," Monson said. "I have to give them credit because they played well. But when there were critical volleys, we were tipping and they were hitting. We were wishing the ball would go down. They weren't wishing it would go down. They were putting it down."

In the second game, Nebraska again faced a stiff challenge. NU trailed by three in the second game, but posted seven unanswered points to take a 14-11 lead. The Huskers served for the win six times in the second game in a stretch that included three kills by Meendering and four by Wegner, who had nine kills in the second game and denied NU a win three times. KSU rallied, tying the score at 14. But a kill and a block by Meendering on consecutive possessions sealed the 16-14 win for NU. Meendering recorded 11 kills in the second game, hitting. 409.

In the first game, NU held a 10-9 lead when junior setter Jill McWilliams served four straight to bring the Huskers to game point. A kill from KSU's Christen delayed the victory for Nebraska, which regained control with a kill by Cepero. With Monson serving, the Huskers secured the win when junior outside hitter Angie Oxley and Tauke blocked Christen. Meendering pounded seven kills in the game, hitting at a .500 clip.

The Huskers saw some familar faces across the net. Kansas State lists five players from Nebraska on its roster, including Wegner, Kelly Branting of North Platte, Jenny Pollard of North Bend, Lisa Mimick of Spencer and Jayne Christen of Tecumseh.

With her 39 kills, Meendering became the second player in school history to record four 30-plus kill performances in a career, joining former three-time All-American Allison Weston. Meendering, a 6-foot-1 right-side hitter, also posted the first triple double of her career, adding a career-high 12 blocks and a career-high 21 digs. NU's Greichaly Cepero, playing her first match as the second setter in NU's 6-2 offense, also posted a triple-double. Cepero recorded 16 kills, 33 assists and 17 digs.