Volleyball

Nebraska Sweeps Fifth Straight With 3-0 Win at Colorado

Boulder, Colo. -- Laura Pilakowski and Angie Oxley combined for 24 kills as the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team swept its fifth Big 12 Conference opponent of the 2000 season with a 15-5, 15-6, 15-9 win over Colorado Wednesday night at the Coors Events Center. With the victory, the Huskers, who have swept 10 of 12 matches this season, improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the league. Nebraska improved its series record against the Buffaloes to 26-5 and is now 46-2 all-time when competing as the nation's top-ranked team.

Pilakowski, a sophomore outside hitter, led NU with 13 kills on .355 hitting. Oxley, a senior right side hitter, produced 11 kills on .500 hitting. Oxley also had a team-best 12 digs. Sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero recorded 36 assists, seven kills on .375 hitting and a match-high seven total blocks while leading the Huskers to a .322 team hitting percentage.

Defensively, NU out-blocked the Buffaloes 13-4 and held them to a .095 hitting efficiency.

Sonja Nielsen posted eight kills to lead Colorado, which fell to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12.

In the first game, sophomore defensive specialist Lindsay Wischmeier served four straight points to bring the Huskers from a 2-2 tie to a four-point advantage. Cepero put NU up 7-2 with a service ace, but the Huskers lost control on a Behrends hitting error, then CU scored on another error by Oxley. Nebraska regained possession on a block by Cepero and sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist. Pilakowski then directed a 5-0 run with three of her six first-game kills to give for a 12-3 advantage. Colorado scored twice more on NU hitting errors before freshman outside hitter Anna Schrad brought the Huskers to game point with her first kill of the match. CU's Meghan Barkman thwarted NU's attempt for the win with a kill, but NU regained possession on a Colorado illegal hit, and Pilakowski sealed the 15-5 win with her sixth kill of the game.

Colorado bounced back to take 5-1 lead in the second game. Nebraska chipped away, finally tying the game at 6 with a kill by junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp. The Buffaloes would not score again as the Huskers went on a 9-0 run for the 15-6 second-game victory. Schrad served game point for the Huskers, who hit.429 in the second game after hitting .216 in the first.

NU carried its momentum into the third game, taking an 8-2 lead before losing possession on a kill by Gerlach. CU's Gower took advantage, serving five straight points, including two aces, to cut Nebraska's lead to one. The two teams traded possessions before the Buffaloes tied the game at eight on a block by Gerlach. NU and Colorado each scored before the Huskers went on a 3-0 run for a 14-9 lead. The Huskers failed to convert their game-point attempt twice before Kropp sealed the 15-9 win with an ace serve.

The Huskers return to action Saturday when they play host to No. 22 Texas A&M in a 2 p.m. match at the NU Coliseum.