Huskers Return Home for Texas A&M

After playing four of its last five matches on the road, the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team returns home this week for a pair of matches. The Huskers, who are 23-1 after a five-game loss at Colorado on Saturday night, open the week by taking on Texas A&M on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. The match - the 86th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum - will be carried across the state on the  Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha, and on Huskers.com. The match will also be shown live for HuskersNside subscribers. For more information on HuskersNside, visit Huskers.com.

No. 1 Nebraska (23-1, 15-1 Big 12)
vs. Texas A&M (11-14, 4-13 Big 12)

Wednesday, Nov. 15
NU Coliseum ? 7 p.m.

Radio:  Husker Sports Network
(B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Free Audio: Huskers.com  
Television: None
Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)

No. 1 Nebraska vs. Texas A&M

Saturday, Nov. 18
NU Coliseum ? 2 p.m.

Radio:  Husker Sports Network
(B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Omaha)
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Free Audio: Huskers.com  
Television: None
Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)

Wednesday’s match is Read to Succeed Night, as Husker student-athletes are asking fans to contribute new or in good condition picture and chapter books. All fans who donate books on Wednesday will be eligible for a drawing for an autographed volleyball. The books will be given to Title 1 Lincoln Public Elementary Schools to encourage families to practice reading and develop a love for reading.

The Huskers (23-1, 15-0 Big 12) look to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 3-2 setback at Colorado on Saturday. Nebraska totaled a season-high 23.5 blocks, including 12 by Tracy Stalls, who also had a career-high 16 kills. Stalls was one of four Huskers to record double-doubles against CU, but NU hit just .229 in the loss.

Texas A&M (11-14, 4-13 Big 12) looks to snap a two-match losing streak, as the Aggies fell at Iowa State in five games on Sunday afternoon. In that match, Sarah Ammerman totaled a career-high 27 kills and 15 digs, while Christi Hahn had 21 kills on .400 hitting aginst the Cyclones. Texas A&M, which has made the last 13 NCAA Tournaments, needs to win its last three matches to finish at .500 in hopes to keep its NCAA streak alive. Their streak is the second-longest active streak in the Big 12.

Did You Know?
?-Nebraska’s 23.5 blocks against CU on Saturday was its highest total of the year and the fifth-highest match total since 2000.

?-Middle blocker Tracy Stalls has been on a tear of late, averaging 2.83 kills on .415 hitting and 1.89 blocks per game over Nebraska’s last five matches.

?-With 19 digs at Colorado, Dani Busboom became only the third Husker to total 400 digs in a season and is now four digs shy of passing  Lindsay Wischmeier (1,111, 1999-02) for second place on NU’s career digs list.

?-While Jordan Larson averages 0.71 blocks per game, her 22 solo blocks this season are the third-highest total in the Big 12, trailing only Oklahoma’s Eliane Santos (34) and Texas’ Destinee Hooker (27).

Worth Noting
?-Nebraska looks to bounce back from last Saturday’s five-game loss to Colorado. The Huskers have only dropped consecutive matches under John Cook one time in the last seven seasons, dropping five-game matches to Kansas State and Missouri during the 2003 season.

?-If it seems like Nebraska has been on the road for a while, it is because the Huskers have played only two home matches since Oct. 15. In fact, the Huskers have played nine of their last 13 matches away from Lincoln dating back to Sept. 24.

?-The Nov. 15 match against Texas A&M will be the 86th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum. The Huskers are 79-6 at the NU Coliseum during the current sellout streak which dates back to 2001.

?-NU has won its last 49 home matches, dating back to the 2004 season, including its last 43 at the NU Coliseum. The current home streak is nation’s longest active streak and is one win away from cracking the NCAA’s top-10 list. NU has also won its last 32 Big 12 home matches dating back to 2003.

?-Middle blocker Tracy Stalls has reached double figures in kills in each of the last three matches - the first time that has happened in her Husker career. Stalls totaled a career-high 16 kills at Colorado on Saturday, while matching her career best with 12 blocks.

?-Nebraska had four players record double-doubles in Saturday’s match at Colorado (Tracy Stalls, Jordan Larson, Rachel Holloway and Sarah Pavan), the first time NU has had four double-doubles in a match this season.

?-Nebraska has won 58 of its last 60 Big 12 matches dating back to the 2003 season.

?-Dani Busboom has reached double figures in digs in each of the Huskers’ last 21 contests, the longest streak by a libero in school history. Busboom is the only player in the Big 12 averaging at least five digs per game.

?-With the No. 1 ranking in Monday’s AVCA poll, the Huskers have spent 67 weeks all-time at No. 1, the most of any Division I program. UCLA is second with 51 weeks. NU has been ranked No. 1 in 27 of the last 28 polls dating back to the start of 2005.

?-NU has held opponents to a Big 12-low .138 hitting percentage, as only four teams have hit over .200 against the Husker defense.  NU ranks fourth among this week’s CSTV/AVCA Top 25 in opponent hitting percentage.

Scouting Texas A&M
Under Coach Laurie Corbelli (305-201 in 14 seasons at Texas A&M), the Aggies have been a perennial NCAA qualifer, making the postseason in each of the last 13 seasons. The 2006 Aggies are one of the youngest teams in the Big 12 with eight true freshmen and three sophomores on a 15-player roster. Texas A&M, which got off to a great start, going 7-1 with the lone loss coming to now No. 11 LSU, has struggled in Big 12 play.

The Aggies are led by freshman Mary Batis, who averages a team-high 3.47 kills per game and is one of three Aggies averaging over three kills per game. Senior middle blocker Christi Hahn averages 3.39 kills per game and ranks third in the Big 12 with a .371 hitting percentage, while Sarah Ammerman averages 3.22 kills per game, including a career-high 27 kills in a five-game loss to Iowa State. The Aggies have started as many as four freshmen during the course of the season, as Courtnee Rhodes as assumed the starting setter role of the Aggies, along with libero/defensive specialist Zanny Castillo.

Nebraska leads the series, 24-6 and has won the last 14 meetings, the longest winning streak in the series. NU has won the last five meetings all by sweeps.

Oct. 7,  Nebraska 3, Texas A&M 0
Sarah Pavan pounded a match-high 17 kills, while Jordan Larson recorded her seventh straight double-double, powering No. 1 Nebraska to a 30-25, 30-24, 30-20 sweep of Texas A&M on Oct. 7. Pavan totaled 17 kills on .394 hitting and four blocks to pace the Huskers to a .342 hitting performance.

Larson joined Pavan in double figures in kills with 11 and added a match-high 15 digs, as she became the first Husker to record seven straight double-doubles since Jennifer Saleaumua in 2003.

The Huskers also received strong performances from both middle blockers, as Tracy Stalls and Kori Cooper combined for 15 kills on just 25 swings.

Husker Probable Starters
MB - #15 Kori Cooper: 6-2, Fr., Amarillo, Texas - Cooper splits time with Amanda Gates at middle blocker, averaging 1.73 kills and 1.02 blocks per game, while ranking fourth in the Big 12 with a .357 hitting percentage. Cooper totaled 21 kills and 12 blocks in two matches last week, including a career-high 12 kills and five blocks at Iowa State on Nov. 8. She is averaging a team-high 1.40 blocks over NU’s last seven matches. She had one of her best matches of the year at No. 9 Texas on Oct. 18, totaling seven kills while adding a career-high eight blocks against the Longhorns. Against Kansas State on Oct. 4, she set then-career bests in both kills (eight) and blocks (five). A Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 pick, Cooper enrolled at NU in January after graduating from Amarillo High School a semester early. Cooper was a co-captain of the 2005 U.S. Youth National Team, helping Team USA to a fourth-place finish.

MB - #11 Tracy Stalls: 6-3, Jr., Denver, Colo. - Stalls has been one of the Big 12’s top middle blockers, averaging 2.72 kills and 1.46 blocks per game. She tops the Big 12 in hitting percentage and is fourth in the league in blocks. Stalls has been in double figures in kills in each of the last three matches, including a career-high 16 kills and a season-best 12 blocks at Colorado on Nov. 11. It marked the ninth time Stalls has had at least 10 kills in a match this season, including a 14 kills against Minnesota on Sept. 10 and against Long Beach State on Sept. 3. She has also had nine matches where she has hit .500 or better, including a season best .727 vs. Texas Tech on Sept. 23. At No. 9 Texas on Oct. 18, Stalls had 13 kills on .417 hitting, while posting 12 kills and hitting .571 against Colorado on Oct. 14. She keyed NU’s win over No. 15 Missouri on Oct. 11 with nine kills and matched her season high with eight blocks. Last season, Stalls ranked third in the Big 12 with 1.59 blocks per game and ranked 11th nationally in blocking as a freshman at 1.65 blocks per game. Before enrolling at NU, Stalls was a two-year member of the U.S. National Developmental Program and a member of Team USA.

OPP - #9 Sarah Pavan: 6-5, Jr., Kitchener, Ontario - A two-time, first-team AVCA All-American, Pavan leads the Big 12 in both kills (5.05) and points per game (5.97), ranking 11th nationally in kills. She has five 20-kill performances this season, including a season-high 24 kills at Iowa State on Nov. 8. She has reached double figures in kills in NU’s last 21 matches and 23 of 24 times in 2006.  Pavan had 13 kills and six blocks against No. 17 Oklahoma on Nov. 4. She posted a strong effort against No. 16 Missouri on Oct. 25 with 18 kills on .424 hitting, six digs and three blocks. Pavan has three double-doubles on the year, with her most recent coming with 17 kills, 10 digs and eight blocks at Colorado on Nov. 11. She earned MVP honors in both of NU’s early-season tournaments and was the Big 12 Player of the Week on Sept. 11, averaging 6.70 points and 5.90 kills (.409 hitting percentage) in three matches. She had one of the best matches of her career against Long Beach State on Sept. 9, totaling 24 kills on .400 hitting against the 49ers, including eight kills on eight swings in the opener. Pavan was the 2005 Big 12 Player of the Year, averaging 3.82 kills, 1.66 digs and 1.25 blocks per game. She established her career high in kills as a freshman with 35 in the NCAA Regional against USC. Pavan, who carries a 4.0 GPA in biochemistry, was a member of the Canadian National Team at age 16.

OH - #10 Jordan Larson: 6-2, So., Hooper, Neb. - Larson has become one of the Big 12’s top all-around performers in 2006 after earning Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year accolades in 2005. She averages 4.21 kills and 3.55 digs per game, ranking in the Big 12’s top 10 in aces (0.45/gm, third), points (5.16, third), kills (fourth) and digs (ninth). She has a team-high 18 double-doubles, including a stretch of 10 in a row earlier this season. Larson had 13 kills, 17 digs and matched her career high with six blocks at Colorado on Nov. 11 and had a match-high 16 kills in a sweep of No. 17 Oklahoma on Nov. 4. She earned the Big 12 weekly honor after averaging 5.17 kills and 4.17 digs in two matches, including a career-high 20 kills against Kansas State on Oct. 4.  Against No. 20 Louisville, she set a career high with five aces while adding 14 kills on .440 hitting. As a freshman, Larson averaged 2.82 kills, 2.79 digs and 0.38 service aces per game, topping all conference freshmen in kills, digs, hitting percentage and service aces. She was rated the No. 2 player in the country by Prepvolleyball.com and spent two years on the U.S. Junior National Team.

DS - #5 Rachel Schwartz: 5-9, So., Lincoln, Neb. - Schwartz is a former walk-on who is used as a defensive specialist and averages 2.45 digs and 0.16 aces per game. She has tied or set career highs in digs seven times this season, and has reached double figures in digs nine times in the last 14 contests. Schwartz came up with a career-high 15 digs in NU’s win at No. 9 Texas on Oct. 18 and had 13 digs at Iowa State on Nov. 8. She enjoyed her best match of the year at Baylor on Sept. 30, totaling a then-career high 14 digs and a career-high three aces. She also had 14 digs in a win over Creighton on Sept. 24 and 12 digs against Texas Tech on Sept. 23. Schwartz appeared in 30 matches as a freshman as NU’s defensive specialist, finishing with 18 digs and five aces. She was a first-team all-state selection at outside hitter at Lincoln East High School in 2004.

-or- OH - #7 Dani Mancuso: 6-2, Sr., Omaha, Neb. - Mancuso moved into the outside hitter position vacated after Christina Houghtelling’s season-ending injury. Mancuso averages 2.41 kills, 0.69 blocks and 0.77 digs per game, primarily playing the front row. She has notched at least eight kills in 13 of NU’s last 17 matches, including .333 or better three times in the last six matches. Mancuso matched her season high with 11 kills and added five blocks at Colorado on Nov. 11. She enjoyed her best week of the season three weeks ago, hitting .444 in wins over No. 16 Missouri and Kansas State, including seven kills on .455 hitting at KSU on Oct. 28. Mancuso had nine kills and matched her career best with six blocks in NU’s win over No. 9 Texas on Oct. 18 and nine kills on .400 hitting against Missouri on Oct. 11. She also had 11 kills in wins over Creighton and Saint Mary’s. In 2005, Mancuso was NU’s backup at all three outside hitter spots, averaging 1.38 kills, 1.15 digs and 0.68 blocks per game. She shared the outside hitter spot with Houghtelling in 2004, averaging 2.77 kills and 0.29 service aces per game, including a career-high 22 kills in a win at Kansas State.

S - #12 Rachel Holloway: 5-10, R-Fr., Franklin, Tenn. - Holloway is the first Husker freshman to start in a 5-1 system in the NCAA era (1981-present). She averages 13.42 assists, 2.64 digs and 1.16 kills per game, ranking third in the Big 12 and 11th nationally in assists. Holloway had nine double-doubles, including one in each of the last two matches. She tied her career high with 57 assists and added 13 digs and four blocks at Colorado on Nov. 11. Holloway tied her career high with 57 assists and added four blocks at Iowa State on Nov. 8. She was chosen as the Big 12’s Player of the Week on Oct. 16, after averaging 16.00 assists per game in sweeps of Colorado and Missouri. Holloway, who leads all freshmen nationally in assists, totaled 57 assists, eight digs and seven kills against Minnesota,  helping NU hit .337. Last summer, Holloway captained the U.S. Youth National Team to a gold medal at the NORCECA Junior Championships in Mexico. Holloway, who graduated high school a year early, was the Colorado Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2004.

L -  #18 Dani Busboom: 5-11, Sr., Cortland, Neb.  - Busboom makes the shift to libero after sharing time at setter in her first three years at NU. She leads the Big 12 with 5.09 digs per game and has reached double figures in digs 23 times in 24 matches, including each of NU’s last 21 matches. Busboom, is now in third place on NU’s career digs list with 1,108 and is four digs away from passing Lindsay Wischmeier for second place in NU’s career list. She has totaled at least 20 digs in six matches, including 23 digs at Iowa State on Nov. 8, at Kansas State on Oct. 28 and at Creighton on Sept. 24. Against No. 20 Louisville on Sept. 8, Busboom had 14 digs and three aces while helping to hold Louisville to .044 hitting. Last season, she averaged 6.45 assists and 1.82 digs in NU’s 6-2 offense, helping NU hit .322 as a team. She is seventh on NU’s career assists list with 2,895 and is the second player in school history on top-10 lists in both assists and digs, joining former NU All-American Val Novak.

Last Time Out: Colorado 3, No. 1 Nebraska 2
Despite a career night from Tracy Stalls, the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling in five games (19-30, 30-28, 15-30, 30-27, 15-12) to Colorado in front of a Coors Event Center record crowd of 4,111.

Colorado, (15-9, 11-6 Big 12) not only snapped the Huskers’ 23-match win streak, but downed a No. 1 team for the first time in program history. CU’s win also snapped an 18-match losing streak to Nebraska (23-1, 15-1 Big 12) that dated back to 1997.

Stalls was one of the lone bright spots for the Huskers in a losing effort, recording a career-high 16 kills while matching her personal best with 12 blocks, while hitting .357.  Behind the efforts of Stalls, Nebraska dominated the overall stats, out-hitting Colorado, .229-.162, while totaling a season-high 23.5 blocks, but the Huskers were out-hit in each of the final two games, including a .308-.214 total in the finale.

Stalls was one of four Huskers to finish in double figures, as Sarah Pavan totaled 17 kills and 10 digs, while Jordan Larson and Dani Mancuso chipped in 13 and 11 kills, respectively. In all four Huskers - Stalls, Pavan, Larson and Rachel Holloway (57 assists and 13 digs) - totaled double-doubles in the loss.

What to Watch For on Wednesday
 ?-Sarah Pavan has averaged 5.67 kills on .500 hitting in five career matches against Texas A&M.
 ?-Dani Busboom needs four digs to move into sole possession of second place on NU’s career digs. She also is 30 digs away from third place on NU’s single-season digs list.
 ?-If Tracy Stalls reaches double figures in kills on Wednesday against Texas A&M, it would mark only the second time in the last four seasons that a Husker middle blocker recorded 10 or more kills in four straight contests.