Pilakowski Leads Nebraska to Sweep of Colorado

Boulder, Colo. -- Junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski produced her third double-double of the season to lead the top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-27, 30-16, 30-23, victory over Colorado Wednesday night at the Coors Event Center.

Pilakowski posted a match-high 12 kills on a .458 hitting percentage while notching 12 digs in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. Senior right side hitter Nancy Metcalf also posted a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.

The Huskers (7-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12), playing in their first match since sweeping UCLA Sept. 9, stifled the CU attackers with one of their most dominant defensive performances of the season. NU totaled a season-high 21 blocks to Colorado’s 4.5 and the Huskers held the Buffaloes (4-3, 0-1) to a .007 hitting percentage, the lowest mark by an NU opponent this season. Junior setter Griechaly Cepero posted a season-high 10 blocks, and Amber Holmquist also recorded season-high block numbers with 12.

Junior defensive specialist Lindsay Wischmeier came up with a season-high 13 digs.

Nebraska built a 22-21 lead in the game one, benefiting from five kills by Pilakowski. The Huskers then went on a 5-1 run on the strength of two kills from Metcalf before Kim Taskey halted the run with a kill. Schrad answered with a crosscourt strike to give the Huskers a 28-23 lead. But Colorado pulled within one after a kill by Gerlach and two from Gower. Holmquist pounded her first kill of the game to bring the Huskers to game point, and Nebraska wrapped up the 30-27 first-game victory with a solo block of Gerlach by Pilakowski.

The Huskers dominated the second game, claiming a 30-16 win. NU out-blocked the Buffaloes 6.5-1.0 while holding them to a minus - .149 hitting percentage.

Nebraska carried its momentum into the third game. With the score tied at 7-7, the Huskers reeled off seven straight points with Schrad behind the service line. The Huskers lead was never less than six in the 30-23 third-game win. Pilakowski sealed the match with her 12th kill of the night.

The Huskers’ match against Colorado was their first since sweeping then-No. 7 UCLA Sept. 9. Nebraska’s first two Big 12 matches at Kansas State and against Texas Tech were rescheduled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

The Huskers return to action Tuesday, Sept. 25, when they face Creighton in a 7 p.m. match at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln.