Elmer Leads NU to Nokia Sugar Bowl Title Match

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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>New Orleans, La. ?  Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer pounded 10 kills to lead the fifth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-22, 30-24, 30-22 win over Louisiana State Saturday morning at the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic hosted by Tulane. Elmer, who also had a match-high six blocks, swung for a .348 hitting percentage and added five digs.

 

Nebraska improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in the tournament, while LSU fell to 2-3. The Huskers conclude tournament action tonight when they faced Tulane at 7 p.m. at Fogelman Arena.

 

'We've been really pleased with Melissa Elmer,' Cook said. 'She's already proven that she is an exceptional blocker, and she has been hitting very well. We're doing a good job of recognizing when we need to get her the ball.'

 

In additional to Elmer, four other Huskers recorded at least nine kills. Right side hitters Ally Rebholz and Kelsey Fautsch combined for 19 kills and hit .300 and .353, respectively. NU posted a .272 team hitting percentage and held Louisiana State to .109 at the net.

 

Nebraska never led by more than four points in game one until Elmer and Anna Schrad drilled kills on consecutive possessions and increased the Huskers advantage to 23-17.  NU used a service ace by Sara Westling and kills from Fautsch, Jennifer Saleaumua and Elmer to force a game point situation. Leading 29-21, Nebraska stalled momentarily after a hitting error, but the Huskers took a 30-22 win on the next possession.

 

In game two, LSU took advantage of several Nebraska offensive miscues to make it close. The Tigers cut NU's lead to 18-17 with the help of back-to-back hitting errors by Westling and Schrad. The Huskers continued to struggle but began to pull away after two key kills by Saleaumua. Rebholz pounded a kill down the middle to give Nebraska a 30-25 lead. NU captured the 30-24, second-game win when Westling produced her fourth kill of the match.

 

The Huskers hit just .159 in game two after swinging at a .362 clip in game one, but got back on track in game three. A kill by Rebholz sparked an 8-0 Nebraska run. Dani Busboom served seven straight points during the stretch, as the Huskers took a commanding 14-4 lead. Elmer and Saleaumua combined for a block to make it 29-21, Nebraska. Elmer slammed her 10th kill of the match for the 30-22, third-game win and the match victory.

 

'I thought we turned it up a notch in that last game,' Busboom said, 'and that was really good to see.'