Volleyball

Nebraska Offense Rolls in 3-0 Win Over Creighton

Lincoln -- The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team produced an amazing .567 hitting percentage en route to a 15-5, 15-1, 15-0 defeat of Creighton before 3,701 fans Tuesday night at the NU Coliseum in a break from Big 12 Conference action. NU (14-0 overall and 6-0 in the league) committed just two errors in the match, and six Huskers hit .500 or better. Nebraska's team hitting percentage was its best in at least seven seasons.

Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski led Nebraska's offensive barrage with 12 kills and a .750 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Anna Schrad added eight kills on .667 hitting. Senior setter Jill McWilliams totaled 20 assists as Nebraska's primary setter in games two and three. McWilliams also added four blocks and five digs.

Defensively, the Huskers held CU to minus -.105 hitting, marking the third time this season that NU has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage. Nebraska also out-blocked the Bluejays 14-1.

Creighton, which fell to 7-5 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, was led by Erin Swanson, who posted six kills. Melissa Walsh added five kills for the Bluejays.

With the win, the Huskers improved their all-time record when competing as the nation's top-ranked team to 48-2. Nebraska has swept 12 of its 14 opponents this season and has not lost a game in over three weeks.

The Huskers jumped to a 4-1 in the first game before a kill by CU's Erin Swanson returned possession to the Bluejays. Creighton proceeded to score four unanswered points, taking a 5-4 lead. Nebraska tied the score on a kill by junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp, and the Huskers didn't allow Creighton to score again. Nebraska finished the first game with Kropp serving the final six points for the 15-5 win. NU hit .625 in the first game while holding the Bluejays to minus -.120.

Nebraska carried its defensive dominance into the second and third games, holding Creighton to a minus -.035 hitting efficiency while out-blocking the Bluejays 3-0 in the 15-1 victory. The Huskers hit .650, as every player who attempted a kill hit .500 or better. Pilakowski led both teams with eight kills in the second game.

NU blanked the Bluejays in the third game, taking its fourth 15-0 win of the season. Schrad led the Huskers with four kills in the third.

The Huskers return to Big 12 Conference action against Iowa State Sunday at 1 p.m. in Ames.