Huskers Sweep No. 17 Michigan State

Lincoln ?The fifth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team used its best offensive performance of the season to defeat No. 17 Michigan State, 30-20, 30-20, 30-24, Saturday afternoon at the NU Coliseum. With the win, Nebraska improved to 8-0 overall and has two wins against ranked teams.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Following the noon match between Michigan State and Santa Clara tomorrow, Nebraska concludes tournament play at 3 p.m. when it faces 10th-ranked Georgia Tech. The match will be televised live statewide on NETV and can also be heard on the Pinnacle Sports Network and B1073. FM.

 

Against MSU, the Huskers swung for a season-best .331 hitting percentage. Four Huskers posted at least 10 kills, including sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer, junior outside hitter Ally Rebholz, senior outside hitter Anna Schrad and sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua. Husker setters Michelle Lynch and Dani Busboom recorded 27 and 20 assists, respectively.

 

Kim Schram led the Spartans with 10 kills. Lincoln native and MSU setter Nikki Colson had 31 assists and 10 digs.

 

In game one, Nebraska led 12-8 when Saleaumua pounded a kill to the back left corner. From there, the Huskers out-scored Michigan State, 9-4, taking a commanding 21-12 lead with a run that included two kills by Fautsch. Rebholz put up a solo block against Megan Wallin to give NU its largest lead of the game at 23-13. The Huskers wrapped up the 30-20, first-game win.

 

Nebraska hit an impressive.516 in game one, led by freshman outside hitter Kelsey Fautsch, who posted four kills while swinging at an .800 clip.

 

In the second game, Michigan State closed the game to 20-15 with the help of an NU blocking error. However, Nebraska began to pull away after that. Elmer produced a kill, and the Huskers out-scored the Spartans 10-5 there rest of the way. Rebholz recorded her ninth kill of the match to secure the 30-20, NU win.

 

Game three was much tighter, as Nebraska struggled offensively early. The score was tied 13 times before NU began to pull away. Freshman middle blocker Christina Houghtelling had two key kills down the stretch. NU eventually closed the match with a 30-24, third-game win.

 

 

#10 Georgia Tech 3, #13 Santa Clara 0

Junior outside hitter Lynnette Moster posted 17 kills and four service aces to lead No. 10 Georgia Tech to a 30-22, 31-29, 30-24, win over No. 13 Santa Clara Saturday afternoon in the US Bank/Arby's Classic. Moster hit .317 in the winning effort, and the Yellowjackets (7-0) recorded a .313 team hitting percentage.

 

Junior outside hitter Lauren Sauer added 14 kills and led Georgia Tech with a .444 hitting percentage.

 

The highlight of the victory was Georgia Tech's come-from-behind victory in game two. Trailing 29-26, the Yellowjackets reeled off five straight points to win, 31-29. Three of Georgia Tech's final five points were off Moster kills. Moster scored the final point of the game when she pounded a kill off the Santa Clara block.

 

Cassie Perret and Toni Muratore each tallied 10 kills for Santa Clara (5-3), which hit .178 for the  match.