Nebraska Sweeps Cyclones at Devaney Center

Lincoln ?  Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua pounded 14 kills and hit .429 with a team-high 15 digs Saturday, leading the No. 11 Nebraska volleyball team to a 30-17, 30-18, 30- 28 victory over Iowa State at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The double-double was Saleaumua's team-leading ninth of the season.

 

A season-high crowd of 6,142 watched the Huskers’ only home match this season away from the NU Coliseum. Nebraska (17-3 overall, 9-2 Big 12 Conference) improved to 64-0 all time against ISU (10-11, 2-8).

 

The Huskers hit .307 Saturday as a team and held the Cyclones to a .016 percentage, the second-lowest mark by an NU opponent this season.

 

Freshman right-side hitter Dan Mancuso hammered 11 kills, as she started in place of junior Ally Rebholz, who missed practice this week with an illness. Freshman right-side hitter Kelsey Fautsch tied her career-best with 10 kills on .438 hitting, while freshman libero Amanda McCormick had 11 digs. Freshman setter Dani Busboom led the Huskers with five service aces, and sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer had six blocks.

 

For Iowa State, senior outside hitter Renae Pruess recorded a team-high seven kills. Junior outside hitter Brittany Dalager led the Cyclones’ defensive effort with 14 digs. No ISU player hit better than .138.

 

Nebraska led throughout game one and held a commanding 25-13 advantage after Busboom served five straight points, including two service aces. Fautsch, Saleaumua and senior middle blocker Sara Westling all picked up kills in a four-point run that made it 28-17 in favor of Nebraska. Fautsch closed the game with back-to-back kills to secure a 30-17 win. NU hit .531 in game one, as Mancuso, Saleaumua, Elmer and Fautsch all had at least three kills and hit .800 or higher.

 

Busboom again made a difference with her serve in game two. With Nebraska leading, 7-6, Busboom reeled off seven straight points, including two more service aces, to give NU a 14-6 lead. The Huskers led by at least seven the rest of the way, and it was Fautsch again who drilled the final kill of the game, as Nebraska wrapped up a 30-18 win.

 

In game three, Iowa State pulled within four after a kill by Ashlie McWee. An ace serve by McWee later brought the Cyclones within four again at 28-24, but Schrad responded with a kill to put the Huskers at match point. ISU then scored four straight points off an NU serving error, a kill by Pruess, and two Husker hitting errors. Westling hammered the decisive kill to the Iowa State floor on the last of Busboom’s 20 set assists.

 

The Huskers return to action Wednesday, Oct. 29, when they travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech. First serve at the United Spirit Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.