Match: #28: No. 1 NU (27-0, 18-0 Big 12) vs. Colorado (14-10, 10-9 Big 12)
Wednesday, Nov. 23 ? 7 p.m. ? NU Coliseum
"Senior Night" & "Read to Succeed Night"
Husker student-athletes are asking for fans to donate new or in good condition picture and chapter books. All fans who donate will be entered to win a drawing for an autographed volleyball
Radio: Pinnacle Sports Network (B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Live Stats/Audio: Huskers.com
Live Internet Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)
Series Info: Nebraska leads, 40-5 (won last 15 matchups)
No. 1 Huskers Host CU on Senior Night
Nebraska looks to wrap up a perfect undefeated home season on Wednesday, as No. 1 Nebraska (27-0, 18-0 Big 12) plays host to Colorado (14-10, 10-9) at a sold out Nebraska Coliseum. First serve between the Huskers and Buffaloes is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be carried on selected Pinnacle Sports Network stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, and on Huskers.com. HuskersNside subscribers can also watch Wedneday’s match live, as it will be the final regular-season video webcast of the regular season.
Following the match, Nebraska seniors Melissa Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua, along with Michelle Lynch, who was forced to retire because of injury prior to the season, will be honored for their many contributions to Husker volleyball. Over the last four years, NU has recorded a 115-9 record (.927) and won three Big 12 titles, including an outright title in 2005.
Wednesday’s match is also Read to Succeed Book Drive night, as Husker student-athletes will be collecting books for elementary schools in the Lincoln community. Fans who bring a book on Wednesday will be entered in a drawing to win a free autographed team volleyball.
Did You Know?
? Melissa Elmer is the first player in Big 12 history to record 200-or-more blocks in consecutive seasons.
? Elmer needs nine blocks to break Amber Holmquist’s Big 12 record for total blocks (728, 1999-02).
? Jennifer Saleaumua has three of the four highest single-season dig averages in school history.
? Saleaumua need seven kills to pass Laura Pilakowski (1,183, 1999-02) for ninth on NU’s career list.
? Nebraska has started 27-0 for the fourth time in school history (also 1976, 1994 and 2000).
? NU has hit .350 or better in 13 of 27 matches this season.
Worth Noting
? Nebraska had six players (Maggie Griffin, Christina Houghtelling, Sarah Pavan, Jordan Larson, Jennifer Saleaumua and Melissa Elmer) all record double-doubles against Kansas State on Nov. 18, the first time in the John Cook era that at least five players had double-doubles.
? Nebraska has held 12 of its last 13 foes to under .150 hitting, as NU leads the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.119),
? Nebraska will be shooting for its first undefeated home campaign since the 2001 season and the 15th in school history.
? Christina Houghtelling is hitting .414 over NU’s last six matches, averaging 4.10 kills, 2.57 digs and 1.05 blocks per game.
? Nebraska owns a 28-match home winning streak, which also includes seven wins over ranked teams.
? Wednesday’s match will be the 69th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum. Nebraska is 63-5 at home during its Coliseum sellout streak.
? The Huskers have won their last 41 matches in Big 12 play, dating back to Nov. 19, 2003.
? Nebraska has won its last 51 regular-season matches dating back to Sept. 11, 2004.
Husker Probable Starters
MB - #8 Melissa Elmer: 6-2, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind. - Elmer is a two-time All-American and arguably the country’s top middle blocker. She leads the nation in blocking (2.26/gm) and is sixth nationally in hitting percentage (.413, second in Big 12), as she averaged 2.73 kills per game. She has totaled 10 or more blocks eight times, including an 11-block effort against No. 12 Missouri on Nov. 13 and 10 block against Kansas State on Nov. 19. In Big 12 matches, she is first in both blocks (2.17) and hitting percentage (.414). Elmer has 720 career blocks and is eight away from tying Amber Holmquist’s Big 12 mark of 728 (1999-02). She has four double-doubles on the year, including two in NU’s last three matches. She recorded a season-best 17 kills on .546 hitting at No. 7 Missouri on Oct. 5. Elmer tied a Big 12 record with 16 blocks at Kansas on Oct. 8. She has been named MVP of the Sports Imports Classic and InfoUSA/Arby’s Players Challenge.
MB - #11 Tracy Stalls: 6-3, So., Arvada, Colo. - Stalls averages 1.63 blocks and 1.37 kills per game, ranking third in the league and 14th nationally in blocks. Stalls comes off her best blocking effort of the season, recording a career-high 12 stuffs, including five solo blocks against KSU. Her five solo blocks were the most by a Husker since Angie Oxley in 2000. She has averaged 1.57 kills and 1.83 blocks over NU’s last nine matches. She posted a season-high nine kills on .500 hitting at Iowa State on Nov. 5 and eight kills vs. No. 12 Missouri on Nov. 13. Stalls ranked 11th nationally in blocking as a freshman at 1.65 blocks per game. Before enrolling at NU, Stalls served a two-year stint in the U.S. National Developmental Program and was on the U.S. National Team.
OPP - #9 Sarah Pavan: 6-5, So., Kitchener, Ontario - The 2004 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and first-team All-American, Pavan averages 3.81 kills, 1.67 digs, 1.29 blocks and 0.32 service aces per game, ranking among the league leaders in hitting percentage (.370, sixth), kills (seventh), blocks (eighth), aces (12th) and points per game (4.81, fifth). Over NU’s last 12 matches, Pavan, who was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Monday, is hitting .421 and averaging 4.10 kills per game. She had 14 kills on .667 hitting at Baylor on Wednesday and a season-high 22 kills, six blocks and two aces against No. 12 Missouri on Nov. 13. Pavan, who earned first-team academic all-district honors on Nov. 10, has three double-doubles, including 14 kills, 10 digs and five blocks against Kansas State on Nov. 19. She posted her second double-double of the year with 12 kills and 12 digs against Creighton on Oct. 11. Pavan had 11 kills and nine blocks at Kansas on Oct. 8 and had a season-high 18 kills and 11 digs at Missouri on Oct. 5. Against Pepperdine on Sept. 9, Pavan recorded her first career triple-double with 11 kills, 11 blocks and 10 digs, becoming the first Husker outside hitter since Nancy Metcalf in 1999 to accomplish the feat. Pavan, who carries a 4.0 GPA in biochemistry, was a member of the Canadian National Team at age 16.
OH - #3 Christina Houghtelling: 6-2, Jr., Cambridge, Neb. - Houghtelling has emerged as an All-American and academic All-American candidate in 2005, ranking among the Big 12 leaders in kills (3.67, 10th) and hitting percentage (.359, eighth). She has reached double figures in kills 21 times, including 19 kills in two of her last three matches. She had a double-double with 19 kills and set career highs with 20 digs and six blocks against Kansas State on Nov. 19. She has hit .414 over NU’s last six matches, averaging 4.10 kills, 2.57 digs and 1.05 blocks per game, and has hit over .400 in 14 of NU’s 26 matches. She had 14 kills on .462 hitting at No. 23 Kansas State on Oct. 19. Houghtelling picked up her third double-double of 2005 at Kansas on Oct. 8 with 14 kills on .454 hitting and 10 digs. Houghtelling starred in NU’s win at OU on Sept. 28, delivering a career-high 20 kills and hitting .404. Houghtelling has earned all-tournament honors two times, including MVP honors of the AVCA/NACWAA College Volleyball Showcase, where she averaged 4.83 kills on .404 hitting, 2.33 digs and 1.67 blocks per game in wins over No. 4 Hawaii and No. 3 Stanford. Houghtelling spent the summer in the USA Volleyball training program, competing with the A-2 National team in Switzerland.
OH - #26 Jennifer Saleaumua: 5-11, Sr., National City, Calif. - A returning AVCA All-American and three-time All-Big 12 performer, Saleaumua’s all-around abilities key the NU attack. She is fifth in the Big 12 with 3.84 digs per game and has reached double figures in digs 19 times, including four matches of at least 20 digs. She had a career-high 27 at Minnesota on Sept. 5. The senior ranks 10th in school history in kills (1,177) and is six away from tying Laura Pilakowski for ninth place. She moved into NU’s top-10 list with nine kills and 22 digs against No. 12 Missouri on Nov. 13. At Texas Tech on Oct. 29, Saleaumua had seven kills, six blocks and a match-high nine digs. She had seven kills on .375 hitting, 10 digs and four blocks in a sweep of Kansas on Oct. 26. Saleaumua shined against No. 20 Texas A&M on Sept. 21 with 10 kills, 13 digs and seven blocks. She totaled 12 kills on 16 swings, while adding 14 digs vs. No. 4 Hawaii on Aug. 26. She holds NU’s record in digs (1,478) and has 37 career double-doubles. The Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, she was in the USA Volleyball Program last summer.
OH - #10 Jordan Larson: 6-2, Fr., Hooper, Neb. - One of two newcomers in the Huskers’ starting lineup, Larson is one of the Big 12’s top freshman performers. She averages 3.01 kills on .293 hitting and 2.87 digs per game, topping all Big 12 rookies in kills, digs and hitting percentage and ranking second in service aces (0.35). Larson has five double-doubles, including three against top-10 teams and had 12 kills and 14 digs against Kansas State on Nov. 19. She has led NU in kills eight times, including a 14-kill effort on .420 hitting against No. 18 Texas on Oct. 15 and a 13-kill, 14-dig, four-ace effort on Oct. 12 against Texas Tech. Larson also had a match-high 14 kills on .480 hitting against No. 4 Penn State on Sept. 11 and 14 kills against No. 20 Texas A&M on Sept. 21. The Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, Larson was rated the No. 2 player in the country by Prepvolleyball.com. Larson set a Class C-1 state record with 501 kills on .490 hitting in 2004 while establishing an all-class record with 179 service aces. She also spent two years on the U.S. Junior National Team.
S - #18 Dani Busboom: 5-11, Jr., Cortland, Neb. - Busboom is in her third season as Nebraska’s starting setter and splits time with Maggie Griffin in the Huskers’ 6-2 offense. Busboom averages 6.48 assists and 1.93 digs per game, helping the Huskers rank fourth nationally in team hitting and seventh in assists. Busboom is seventh on NU’s career assist list with 2,672. She has three double-doubles, including a 30 assist, 13-dig effort against No. 10 Missouri on Nov. 10. She also has double-doubles against No. 15 Texas (31 asst./11 digs) and at No. 5 Minnesota (31 asst./11 digs). She split time with Michelle Lynch in NU’s 6-2 offense in 2003 before taking over the full-time role last season. She averaged 13.10 assists per game in 2004, the highest total by a Husker in seven years, to earn honorable-mention AVCA All-Midwest Region honors.
S - #1 Maggie Griffin: 6-0, So., St. Charles, Ill. - A transfer from Michigan State, Maggie Griffin is in her first season at Nebraska. She splits time with Dani Busboom in running NU’s 6-2 offense, averaging a team-high 7.50 assists and 1.68 digs per game. Griffin, who has helped NU rank fourth nationally in hitting, has four double-doubles, including two in her last three matches. She has posted two double-doubles against Missouri, including the first meeting when she established season highs in assists (37) and digs (15). Griffin spent her freshman year at MSU, ranking sixth in the Big Ten with 12.98 assists per game to earn All-Freshman honors. She had eight double-doubles and 50 or more assists 12 times. Griffin was a Fab 50 selection at Rosary (Ill.) High School.
Scouting Colorado
The Buffaloes rallied from a 1-5 start in league play to guarantee themselves at least a .500 finish in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes are 14-10 on the season before taking on the Huskers and No. 4 Florida this week. CU has played an incredible 10 five-game matches in conference play and has played well against the league's best, winning a five-gamer at No. 8 Missouri and dropping another five-gamer to Texas.
Colorado features on of the Big 12's best offensive attacks, as Allie Griffin ranks second in the league with 4.71 kills per game, while Amber Sutherland averages 3.76 kills per game. The Buffalo attack is led by setter Ashley Nu'u, who averages 13.22 assists, 1.04 kills, 1.77 digs and 0.64 blocks per game.
Nebraska leads the all-time series, 40-5, and has won the last 15 matches in the series, dating back to 1997. A Husker win on Wednesday would give NU its longest winning streak in the series.
Last Time Out: NU 3, Kansas State 1
Christina Houghtelling’s 19 kills led five Huskers in double figures, as No. 1 Nebraska clinched the Big 12 title with a 30-16, 32-34, 30-15, 30-26 victory over Kansas State on Nov. 19.
Houghtelling led Nebraska with a team-high 19 kills on .333 hitting, as the junior outside hitter also established career highs in both digs (20) and blocks (six), helping the Huskers to their eighth Big 12 crown in 10 seasons.
Tracy Stalls and Melissa Elmer totaled 12 and 10 blocks, respectively, as the Huskers recorded a season-high 24 blocks. Stalls’ 12 stuffs set a career best, while Elmer, who reached double figures in blocks for the eighth time in 2005, broke All-American Amber Holmquist’s school record for block assists.
A season-high six Huskers recorded double-doubles in the victory, including Elmer (10 kills, 10 blocks), Houghtelling, All-Americans Sarah Pavan (14 kills, 10 digs) and Jennifer Saleaumua (11 kills, 17 digs), Maggie Griffin (31 assists, 12 digs) and freshman Jordan Larson (12 kills, 14 digs).
Huskers Help "Read to Succeed" Book Drive
The University of Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is sponsoring the "Read to Succeed" Book Drive on three dates in November, including Wednesday night’s volleyball match against Colorado.
Husker student-athletes ask fans to donate new or good condition picture or chapter books. The books will be given to Title 1 Lincoln Public Elementary Schools to encourage familiies to develop a love for reading together.
The books will be collected by Husker volunteers at the NU Coliseum before the Colorado match, as well as the men’s basketball game against Marquette on Nov. 30.
The Lincoln Public Schools Ventures in Partnership will assist the student-athletes with the distribution of the books to make sure they get into the hands of youngsters in need of books in their homes.
At each book drive location, fans who donate a book will be entered to win a prize awarded the night of each contest. The prizes will include a volleyball autographed by the 2005 Huskers.
First Matchup: No. 1 NU 3, Colorado 0
All-American Sarah Pavan had 13 kills on .579 hitting, as No. 1 Nebraska opened defense of its Big 12 title with a 30-22, 30-20, 30-23 sweep of Colorado at the Coors Event Center on Sept. 17.
The Huskers (9-0, 1-0) made an emphatic statement with the sweep, hitting .394 as a team, while holding the potent Buffalo attack to just .153 hitting in posting their 15th straight win over Colorado.
Pavan, whose .579 hitting performance was the second-best of her career, was one of four Husker attackers to hit .450 or better in the win. Christina Houghtelling had 12 killls on .500 hitting, while middle blockers Melissa Elmer and Tracy Stalls hit .462 and .455 respectively, as they combined for 13 kills. Elmer also had a match-high six blocks, as NU enjoyed a 12-3 advantage in blocking.
It marked the second straight match where NU had at least three hitters above .450, as the duo of Dani Busboom and Maggie Griffin combined for 39 assists in the sweep.
Husker Title Talk
Nebraska’s victory over Kansas State on Saturday, coupled with Missouri’s sweep of Texas the following day gave NU the outright Big 12 title for the eighth time in 10 years. NU has now won an incredible 27 titles in 30 years of competition. No other conference school has won more than one Big 12 title.