Huskers Top No. 18 Kansas State

Manhattan, Kan. ? Nebraska’s senior class shined on one of the toughest stages in the Big 12, as second-ranked Nebraska downed No. 18 Kansas State (25-18, 21-25 , 25-22, 25-19) in front of a crowd of 2,876 at Ahearn Field House Wednesday night.

All-American Jordan Larson led the way, matching her career high with 21 kills on .372 hitting and 10 digs, as Nebraska (9-0, 1-0 Big 12) got big efforts from Larson, Amanda Gates and Rachel Schwartz in posting their ninth consecutive win over the Wildcats.

“It was an unbelievable performance,” Nebraska Coach John Cook said. “We went with a different lineup tonight and dug down deep to get this win. Our seniors were unbelievable tonight.”

Larson also earned her name into Husker record books, as she matched Val Novak’s school record with her 161th career ace and also picked up her 40th career double-double.

Gates totaled eight kills and matched her career best with 10 blocks, as the Huskers totaled a season-high 16 blocks and held Kansas State (10-2, 0-1 Big 12 to just .117 hitting. Rachel Schwartz started at libero for the first time this season and came up with a match-high 17 digs, as five Huskers recoded at least 10 digs in the win, NU’s third win over a ranked team this season.

Nebraska found contributions across the lineup, as Brooke Delano had 16 digs, seven kills and four blocks in her first career start, while Sydney Anderson totaled her second double-double of the season with 46 assists and 10 digs to help NU out-hit KSU, .220-.117.

The Huskers got the spark they needed from Delano in the opener, as the redshirt freshman led Nebraska to a 25-18 victory.  Delano had four kills, five digs and three blocks in the opening set, as the Huskers totaled five blocks and held the Wildcats to .054 hitting. Trailing 4-2, Delano got the Huskers back into the match, sparking a 9-3 spurt with two kills sandwiched around a stuff block to helped  NU take an 11-7 lead on an Gates block. KSU pulled to within 11-9, but Nebraska pulled away, winning five of the next six rallies to extend the lead to 16-10. The Wildcats pulled within 20-16, but Gates came big to stuff the rally, coming up with a kill before combining with Delano on a block to make it a six-point advantage. Moments later, kills from Cooper and Delano gave the Huskers a 25-18 win.

In the second set, the Huskers fell behind early and made a strong bid, but fell short by a score of 25-21. K-State out-hit the Huskers, .205-.194 and totaled 4.5 blocks in the second set. The Wildcats used a 7-2 spurt early on, turning a 6-5 lead into a 13-7 advantage after a Rita Liliom ace. Nebraska trailed 20-14 before mounting a comeback, winning four of the next five rallies to pull within 21-18. The Huskers continued to chip away, getting to  22-20 on a block by Delano and Gates, but a kill from Natalya Korobkova and a Husker attack error made it a four-point lead and sent the teams to the locker room tied at one set apiece.

The third set was full of ebbs and flows before the Huskers closed strong to take a 25-22 victory. Nebraska’s middle blockers were the story, as Cooper and Gates combined for seven kills without an error and four blocks. The teams traded points early on before kills from Delano and Cooper spotted NU a 9-7 advantage. With the score tied at 12, Nebraska ran off three straight points to take a 15-12 lead on a Larson kill, but the lead would be short-lived. KSU regrouped and ran off five unanswered points of their own, regaining the lead at 17-15 after a Liliom kill. Trailing 20-18, the Huskers seized the momentum, winning seven of the last nine rallies to stun the Field House crowd. Cooper started the rally with a kill before Larson ran off three straight points to give NU a 22-20 lead. Korobkova made it 22-21 with a kill, but could get no closer, as two kills from Larson gave the Huskers a three-point lead.

Nebraska kept the momentum going in the finale, jumping to a 6-1 lead and never looking back in a 25-19 victory. Larson totaled four kills and a solo stuff, as Nebraska held KSU to .000 hitting on 40 swings.  Nebraska jumped out to an early 11-4 lead and led 16-7 after the Wildcats’ second timeout. The Huskers eventually pushed the margin to 21-10 on a Cooper kill, only to see KSU run off four unanswered points to force a timeout. That would be the Wildcats’ final burst, as Nebraska traded points down the stretch, winning the match on Delano’s seventh and final kill of the night.

Korobkova led Kansas State with 15 kills and six blocks, while Liliom, who led the Big 12 in kills, had 11 kills and 10 digs in a losing effort.

The Huskers return to action Saturday night, as they take on the third-ranked Texas Longhorns. First serve at the NU Coliseum Saturday night is set for 7p.m.