Schrad Stars in Senior Night Win

Lincoln ? Playing in the final regular-season home match of her career, right side hitter Anna Schrad tallied 16 kills, a career-high eight blocks and five digs to lead lead No. 10 Nebraska to a 30-19, 30-24, 28-30, 30-27 win over Baylor in front of 4,063 fans at the NU Coliseum on senior night.

Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer pounded 18 kills and swung for a .412 hitting percentage to go along with six blocks and three service aces. Sophomore setter Michelle Lynch tied her career-high with five service aces, while senior middle blocker Sara Westling, who was honored after the match along with Schrad and Jenae Dowling, had eight kills on .467 hitting and six blocks.

With the win, the Huskers improved to 25-4 overall and 16-3 in the Big 12. Senior outside hitter Stevie Nicholas posted 22 kills for the Bears, who fell to 12-20 overall and 4-14 in the league with Saturday's loss.

Nebraska cruised to a 30-19 win in game one while swinging for a .432 hitting percentage. Four players hit over .400, led by Elmer’s .667 mark (4-0-6). The Huskers took control early when Lynch ripped three straight service aces in a row to give NU a 7-4 lead. Nebraska led 23-13 after a kill by redshirt freshman right side hitter Kelsey Fautsch, who also produced the game-winning kill.

In game two, Baylor cut the Huskers’ lead to 21-17 after three consecutive NU hitting errors. Nicholas and setter Emily Huston followed with kills to make it 21-19, NU. Freshman Dani Mancuso finally stopped the run on the next rally with a kill. Nebraska eventually took a 30-24 win on a kill by Westling.

In game three, Nebraska trailed, 26-20, before tying the match at 27 with a furious rally in which Schrad posted a block and kill, and Lynch served two straight service aces. Baylor led, 29-27, after a block of Fautsch, but Fautsch produced a kill on her next swing to bring the Huskers back within one. Baylor’s Andrea Vakulya pounded a kill on the next rally to secure the 30-28, third-game win for the Bears.

Nebraska again fell behind in game four and trailed, 23-17, before Elmer sparked a 3-0 run with a kill. But a kill by Vakulya and an NU hitting error gave Baylor a 25-20 advantage. But Fautsch pounded a kill, and Elmer combined with Schrad and then Mancuso on back-to-back blocks cut the advantage to two. Mancuso notched a kill off a tip, and Elmer tied the game at 25 on a kill. The score was tied three more times before Elmer secured a 30-28 win with two ace serves.

The Huskers return to action Wednesday, Nov. 26, when they travel to Colorado for their last regular-season match of 2003. First serve at the Coors Events Center is schedule for 8 p.m. CST.