Huskers Face Wolverines at NCAA Regional

NCAA Regional Semifinals:
No. 19 Michigan (26-8) vs. No. 4 NU (29-2)
Friday, Dec. 12 ? Bank of America Arena ? 8 p.m.
Live Stats: Huskers.com and NCAASports.com
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Video: NCAAsports.com and Gohuskies.com

NCAA Regional Semifinals:
No. 18 Utah (26-5) at No. 5 Washington (26-4)
Friday, Dec. 12 ? Bank of America Arena ? 10 p.m.
Live Stats: NCAASports.com

NCAA Regional Finals: Friday’s Winners
Saturday, Dec. 13 ? Bank of America Arena ? 10:30 p.m.
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Live Stats: Huskers.com and NCAASports.com
TV: ESPNU (Ch. 614; DISH Network Ch. 148; Time Warner Cable Ch. 235; Cox Cable Ch. 220)

The Nebraska volleyball team continues its postseason quest, as the fourth-ranked Huskers travel to Seattle, Wash., for this weekend’s NCAA Regionals. Nebraska will depart on Wednesday in their bid to make the national semifinals for the 11th time in school history and the first time since back-to-back appearances in 2005 and 2006.

The Huskers (29-2) will open up regional action on Friday night, when they take on No. 19 Michigan (26-8) at the Bank of America Arena on the University of Washington campus. First serve is set for 8 p.m. central and will be the first of two matches on Friday. No. 5 Washington (26-4) will take on No. 18 Utah (26-5) at 10 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the NU-UM contest. Friday’s winners will square off Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. (central) with a trip to the national semifinals in Omaha on the line.

All of Nebraska’s matches this weekend will be carried across the state on the IMG Husker Sports Network with John Baylor and Lindsay Peterson calling all of the action. Saturday’s regional championship match will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Maggie Gray and Cathy Nelson.

Nebraska is no stranger to the NCAA regionals, as the Huskers are the only program in the country to reach the round of 16 every year since the current 64-team bracket began in 1998. The Huskers have qualified for the NCAA regionals in 15 consecutive years, the longest active streak in the country, and are 29-13 all-time in regional play. This weekend’s Seattle regional marks the first time that NU has been on the West Coast for a regional since 1999.

Worth Noting
?-Nebraska is 11-1 against the NCAA Tournament field, trailing only Penn State among teams with more than 10 matches against NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

?-The Huskers’ streak of 15 straight NCAA Regionals is the longest active in the country. Only three programs (NU, UCLA and Penn State) have advanced to an NCAA Regional in each of the past six seasons. Nebraska is the only program in the country to reach a regional every year since the 64-team bracket began in 1998.

?-The Big 12 has turned in an impressive showing in the NCAA Tournament, going 6-1 in the first two rounds and placing three teams in the NCAA Regional for the third straight year. It marks the fourth time in the last six seasons (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008) and the sixth time in Big 12 history that three teams advanced to a regional.

?-NU finished 14-0 at the NU Coliseum in 2007, which marked the 18th time - and sixth time in nine years - that NU has had a perfect home record.

?-NU will look to reach the 30-win plateau for the fifth consecutive year and the 20th time in school history on Friday against Michigan. During the 13 years of Big 12 competition, the Huskers have reached 30 wins nine times, while the other 10 teams in the league have accomplished the feat once - K-State in 2003.

?-The Huskers lead the Big 12 in kills (14.68/set), and opponent hitting percentage (.142) and also rank second in hitting percentage (.275), assists (13.48/set), blocks (2.60/set) and service aces (1.30/set).

?-The Huskers are 6-1 against ranked opponents this season, including wins against national seeds Stanford, Texas and Tulane. NU is 92-14 (.868) versus ranked opponents under John Cook.

?-Two-time All-American Jordan Larson is on pace to become the first Husker to average more than three kills and digs per set in a career. She enters the NCAA Regional averaging 3.59 kills and 3.17 digs per set in 130 career matches.

?-The Huskers have swept 20 of their 31 opponents during the 2008 season.

?-The Huskers have won at least 20 matches every year in program history (a total of 34 years). The second-longest active streak in the Big 12 is five by Texas.

?-Nebraska has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 27 years. Missouri owned the second-longest active streak with eight, but did not qualify in 2008.

??Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz will go for their 126th career win Friday against Michigan. NU could tie its most wins in a four-year stretch in the NCAA era, originally set by last year’s senior class.

?-NU’s nine non-conference opponents are a combined 187-80 (.700) with four teams (Stanford, USC, Tulane and LSU) reaching the NCAA Tournament. 

Scouting This Weekend’s Teams
Michigan: Under 10th-year coach Mark Rosen, Michigan is 26-8 and reached the round of 16 for the second consecutive year. The Wolverines reached Seattle following five-set wins over nationally ranked Kentucky and St. Louis. Sophomore Lexi Zimmerman guides the Michigan offense, as the first-team All-Big 12 performer averages 11.45 assists amd 2.64 digs per set. Juliana Paz (3.33 k/set) and Beth Karpiak (3.20 k/set) lead a balanced attack that features four players averaging over two kills per set. Series History: Nebraska is 2-0 all-time against Michigan, posting sweeps in 2002 and 2005. Nebraska has won its last 16 matches against Big Ten teams dating back to 1999, and NU Coach John Cook is 14-0 versus the league since 2000.

Washington: Former K-State coach Jim McLaughlin is in his eighth year at Washington and has the Huskies poised for their fourth NCAA semifinal appearance in five years. Washington is 26-4 on the year and finished second in the Pac-10 with a 15-3 mark. Washington has a trio of All-Pac-10 perfermers including outside hitter Becky Perry (3.84 k/set), middle blocker Jessica Swarbrick (2.06 k/set and 1.08 b/set) and libero Tamari Miyashiro (5.15 d/set). Series History: The  two teams have split their only two contests and have not met since the 2005 NCAA title match in San Antonio, a 3-0 Huskies victory

Utah: Longtime Utah coach Beth Launiere has built the Utes into a perennial NCAA team in her 19 years at the school. Utah, which is making its second Sweet 16 appearance, is 26-5 and riding an 11-match win streak. Lori Biard was named co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. as she averages 3.09 kills and 1.42 blocks per set. Baird was joined on the All-MWC team by Kathryn Haynie (2.80 k/set), Emillie Toone (2.29 k/set and 1.36 b/set) and Karolina Bartkowiak (2.00 k/set and 0.77 b/set). Series History: NU leads the series, 2-0-1, but the Huskers and Utes have not met since the Huskers earned a four-set victory in second round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

Husker Probable Starters
MB - #17 Amanda Gates: 6-2, Sr., Columbus, Neb. - Gates is in her first year as a full-time starter for NU after being the Huskers’ top backup. The honorable-mention All-Big 12 pick averages 1.79 kills and a team-best 1.12 blocks per set, ranking fourth in the league in blocks and fifth in hitting percentage (.444). Gates averaged 2.57 kills on .400 hitting and 1.14 blocks last weekend, matching her career high in kills with 11 against Liberty. She had 10 kills on .694 hitting and four blocks against Texas Tech on Nov. 22, one of five matches in double figures in 2008. Gates matched her career high in kills for the second time at No. 4 Texas, coming up with 11 kills on .450 hitting. She had eight kills on a career-best .727 hitting and two blocks at Kansas on Nov. 15. Gates has led NU in blocks 15 times, including a career-high 10 stuffs at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17. Gates had 10 kills on .571 hitting at Texas Tech on Oct. 1 and totaled a personal-best 11 kills at Iowa State on Sept. 27. Earlier in the year, Gates tied career highs in both blocks (10) and kills (eight) at Kansas State on Sept. 17. Last year, she averaged 1.29 kills and 0.81 blocks per set over 16 matches. Gates appeared in 23 matches as a sophomore and had 10 blocks against San Diego in her first career start in 2006. Gates is a first-team Academic All-American, carrying a 3.96 GPA in communication studies.

MB - #6 Jordan Wilberger: 6-1, R-Fr., Scottsbluff, Neb. - Wilberger has started at middle blocker in recent weeks, averaging 1.15 kills on .465 hitting and 1.14 blocks per set in nine matches. Wilberger averaged 1.57 kills and 1.14 blocks per set during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by seven kills on .700 hitting against Liberty on Dec. 5. She turned in a solid effort at Baylor with a career-high eight blocks to lead NU in stuffs. Wilberger made her first start against Texas Tech on Nov. 22, contributing three kills and three blocks against the Red Raiders. Wilberger played the majority of the final set at No. 4 Texas, coming up with a pair of kills and a block. She also had two kills in limited duty against Oklahoma on Oct. 8. She redshirted in 2007 after earning second-team all-state honors as a senior, delivering 311 kills and 158 blocks to help Scottsbluff to a 25-9 record and state tournament appearance in 2006.

S - #1 Sydney Anderson: 6-0, So., Salt Lake City, Utah - Anderson is in her first season at NU after spending 2007 with the U.S. National Team in Colorado Springs. A first-team All-Big 12 selection and the league’s Newcomer of the Year, Anderson averages 11.73 assists, 2.02 digs and 0.30 aces per set, ranking second in the Big 12 in assists and eighth in service aces. She is fifth in the country in assists and has six double-doubles on the year, including 50 assists and 11 digs in NU’s first-round win over Liberty on Dec. 5. She has helped NU rank in the top 15 nationally in kills, assists and hitting percentage, helping the Huskers hit .300 or better 14 times. She had 45 assists and four blocks in NU’s Big 12 clinching win at Baylor on Nov. 29. Anderson had 42 assists, nine digs and four kills, while helping the Huskers hit .447 at Kansas on Nov. 15. She had 42 assists and two blocks in helping NU hit .352 against No. 15 K-State on Nov. 8. Anderson dished out a season-high 53 assists and added 10 digs while helping NU hit .319 versus No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. She began her collegiate career at Utah, earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2006. That year, she averaged 12.45 assists, 2.77 digs and 0.76 blocks per set en route to being named both the MWC Setter and Freshman of the Year.

L - #2 Kayla Banwarth: 5-10, So., Dubuque, Iowa - Banwarth is in her first full season as NU’s libero, averaging 4.20 digs and 0.84 assists per set, ranking third in the Big 12 in digs. She has reached double figures in digs in 26 matches and has topped NU in digs 24 times this season. Banwarth enjoyed a career night at Texas A&M on Nov. 5, setting personal bests in both digs (27) and aces (three) and chipping in four assists. It is one of 11 matches with at least 15 digs, including 22 digs at Baylor on Nov. 29. Banwarth had 17 digs and tied her career best with three aces against Liberty on Dec. 5. She also had 20-dig efforts at Creighton on Oct. 4 and against USC on Aug. 31. Banwarth earned a spot on the Runza/AVCA Showcase All-Tournament team after averaging 4.85 digs per set in wins over No. 2 Stanford and No. 4 USC. Banwarth closed the 2007 season as Nebraska’s libero and averaged 2.75 digs, 0.45 assists and 0.17 service aces per set. She was a three-time all-state selection at Wahlert Catholic High School in Iowa and was a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection.

OPP - #4 Lindsey Licht: 6-5, So., Aurora, Colo. - Licht is in her first year as a full-time starter, averaging 2.59 kills and 0.89 blocks per set. Licht has hit .450 or better six times, including a season-high .667 with nine kills on 12 swings at Texas Tech on Oct. 1, and has reached double figures in kills in 12 matches. Licht had 12 kills on .556 hitting and four blocks in NU’s sweep of UAB on Dec. 6. She added 12 kills and six blocks in the regular-season finale at Baylor on Nov. 29. She had 10 kills and a team-high three blocks at Kansas on Nov. 15 and 11 kills in NU’s sweep of No. 15 K-State on Nov. 8. Licht turned in a strong effort in the win over Iowa State, coming up with 12 kills on .435 hitting and two blocks. She had team bests in both kills (14) and blocks (six) at Colorado on Oct. 29 and had eight kills and five blocks, including three solo stuffs, at Oklahoma on Oct. 25. She established personal bests in kills (17) and attempts (30), hitting .500 against No. 3 Texas on Sept. 20. Licht had 10 kills on .450 hitting against No. 2 Stanford and had a career-high eight blocks against No. 4 USC. As a freshman, Licht was a two-time Mizuno/Volleyball Magazine All-American and was a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection.

-or- - DS - #5 Rachel Schwartz: 5-9, Sr., Lincoln, Neb. - Schwartz is NU’s starting defensive specialist, averaging 1.98 digs, 0.22 assists and 0.12 service aces per set. She has reached double figures in digs five times this year, including a season-best 17 at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17. Schwartz had 11 digs at Baylor on Nov. 29 and 11 digs and three assists at No. 4 Texas on Nov. 19. She also had 15 digs and a service ace in the win over Texas A&M on Nov. 5 and had 11 digs off the bench in the win over Iowa State on Nov. 1. She has nine matches with at least eight digs, as she replaces the right side hitter in the back row.  Her best performance of 2008 came at No. 18 Kansas State on Sept. 17, when she had a season-high 17 digs while handling nearly all of the Huskers’ passing duties as NU’s libero against the Wildcats. In 2007, Schwartz ranked 11th in the Big 12 in digs, averaging a career-high 3.66 digs and 0.16 service aces per set. She totaled double figures in digs 17 times in 200, including a career-best 21 digs against Missouri.

OH - #10  Jordan Larson: 6-2, Sr., Hooper, Neb. - A two-time All-American, Larson averages 3.95 kills, 3.19 digs and 0.33 service aces per game, ranking among the league leaders in aces (second), points (4.62, third), kills (fourth) and digs (10th). Larson was chosen as the Big 12’s Player of the Year, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time that any player has earned both honors in one year. She has a team-high 15 double-doubles, including nine of NU’s last 10 contests. Larson averaged 4.43 kills and 3.00 digs per set in last weekend’s opening rounds, picking up a pair of double-doubles. Larson helped NU clinch a share of the Big 12 title at Baylor on Nov. 29, finishing with 20 kills and 18 digs. She led NU in both kills (15) and digs (16) at Texas on Nov. 19. Larson had 16 kills, 13 digs and three service aces against Missouri on Nov. 12 and 10 kills and 14 digs in a sweep of No. 15 K-State on Nov. 8. Larson totaled 17 kills, 18 digs and a career-high eight blocks in the win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. She was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Oct. 27, averaging 4.17 kills and 2.67 digs per set in sweeps of Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Larson had 13 kills on .407 hitting in a sweep of Texas A&M on Oct. 22. She was named AVCA National Player of the Week on Sept. 22, as she averaged 5.00 kills on .319 hitting, 2.62 digs and 0.50 blocks per set in wins over Texas and K-State. Larson had a match-high 19 kills and 10 digs in the win over the Longhorns on Sept. 20. Larson carried the Huskers to a win at K-State, matching her career best with 21 kills and adding 10 digs. She was named to the all-tournament teams in each of NU’s first three events and was chosen as MVP of the Players Challenge after averaging 3.83 kills, 0.60 aces and 0.67 blocks per set. Larson was a third-team AVCA All-American in 2007 after averaging 3.45 kills, 3.18 digs, 0.51 aces and 0.63 blocks per set. The 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Larson averaged 4.13 kills and 3.50 digs per set and was the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top 10 in kills and digs.

OH - #19 Tara Mueller: 6-0, So., Scottsdale, Ariz. - A first-team All-Big 12 pick, Mueller is in her first year starting at outside hitter and averages 3.50 kills and 2.33 digs per set. She ranks seventh in the league in both kills and points and is tied for second on the team with six double-doubles. She had 15 kills and six digs in NU’s first-round win over Liberty. Mueller had 12 kills, eight digs and four blocks at Baylor on Nov. 29. She had 10 kills on .381 hitting and eight digs at Kansas on Nov. 15. Mueller established career bests in kills for the second straight match against No. 15 Kansas State on Nov. 8, finishing with 20 kills on .613 hitting. She set personal bests with 19 kills and 16 digs in the five-set win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. Mueller had strong effort against Texas A&M on Oct. 22, drilling 13 kills and setting career bests in both hitting percentage (.478) and blocks (five). She was selected to the Cal Poly all-tournament team after averaging 3.67 kills, 1.67 digs and 0.78 blocks per set. Mueller opened the year with 15 kills in a sweep of No. 2 Stanford on Aug. 29.  As a freshman, Mueller averaged 1.27 kills and 0.95 digs per set. A Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection, Mueller was the 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona and started for the U.S. Junior National Team in 2007.

Opening Weekend Recap
vs. Liberty: The Nebraska volleyball team cut down its errors and turned up its defensive intensity in the final two sets of a 3-1 win over Liberty in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. After dominating the first set 25-11, Nebraska committed 10 hitting errors as Liberty took set two, 25-21. Big 12 Player of the Year Jordan Larson then put down seven kills on 10 swings as Nebraska hit .448 to take the third set, 25-15. The Huskers closed out the match by recording four blocks and pounding out 14 kills in a 25-19 victory in set three. Larson led NU with a double-double, finishing with a match-high 16 kills, 11 digs and three blocks. Amanda Gates chipped in a career-high 11 kills and four blocks, while Tara Mueller totaled 15 kills. NU also got a big boost from Jordan Wilberger, who had seven kills on .700 hitting and four blocks.

vs. UAB: The Huskers put on a dominant display, sweeping UAB (25-14, 25-15, 25-12) to reach an NCAA Regional for the 15th consecutive year. The victory was Nebraska’s 87th straight home win, tying the NCAA record for consecutive home victories set by Penn State between 1995 and 2000. Nebraska’s senior class also finished with a 72-0 career record at home, the first class in program history to never lose a home match.

Nebraska dominated all facets of the match, hitting at a season-best .467 clip and committing just five hitting errors. Jordan Larson paced Nebraska with 15 kills, and she also added 10 digs to pick up her ninth double-double in her last 10 matches. Lindsey Licht enjoyed the best postseason performance of her career, pounding 12 kills on only 18 swings for a whopping .556 attack percentage.

Larson Leads Big 12 Honors
Two-time All-American Jordan Larson led five Nebraska volleyball players that earned Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches on Dec. 1. Larson became the first player in Big 12 history to win two league awards in one year, as she was chosen as both the Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Larson paced a Huskers’ contingent that also included the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in sophomore setter Sydney Anderson and the Big 12 Coach of the Year in John Cook. The Huskers placed a league-high five members on the All-Big 12 teams, including first-team selections Larson, Anderson, Kori Cooper and Tara Mueller. Senior Amanda Gates rounded out NU’s honorees, as she was named honorable-mention by the league’s coaches.

It is the fourth All-Big 12 award for Larson and the first for Anderson, Cooper, Mueller and Gates. The All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Cook was chosen as the league’s top coach for the third time in his nine years at Nebraska (also 2001 and 2005) after guiding the Huskers to an 18-2 league mark and a share of the Big 12 title. The Huskers have won or shared the last five Big 12 titles and have captured eight league crowns in Cook’s nine years at Nebraska.

Larson and Mueller Provide 1-2 Punch
Nebraska’s outside hitting duo of Jordan Larson and Tara Mueller has been one of the nation’s top outside hitting duos. The pair combines for 7.45 kills per set, as Nebraska and Texas A&M are the only two Big 12 schools with multiple hitters in the top 10 in kills.

The Husker duo joins Penn State’s All-American duo of Megan Hodge and Nicole Fawcett as the only pair of hitters averaging more than 3.50 kills apiece for ranked teams.

Either Larson or Mueller has led the Huskers in kills in 30 of 31 matches this season, as Larson has topped NU 20 times, while Mueller has enjoyed team-high honors in 12 contests. They have tied on two occasions, most recently against Texas A&M on Oct. 22. Lindsey Licht is the only other Husker to lead NU in kills in a match, as she totaled 14 at Colorado on Oct. 29.

Three Huskers Named Academic All-American
Three Nebraska players were honored on Nov. 24, as Kori Cooper, Amanda Gates and Jordan Larson were chosen to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American team.

Gates and Cooper were both chosen as first-team selections while Larson was a second-team selection. NU was the only school with two first-team selections and three Academic All-Americans in 2008. The two first-team selections marked the third time in the last four years that Nebraska has placed multiple members on the six-member first team.

Gates earns the first honor of her career as she carries a 3.96 GPA in communication studies. A two-time academic All-Big 12 pick, Gates has been active in NU’s community outreach efforts and was selected to the Big 12 Good Works Team the past two years. On the court, Gates is averaging 1.79 kills and 1.12 blocks per set, ranking among league leaders in blocks (fourth) and hitting percentage (.344, fifth).

Cooper joined Gates on the six-member first-team after putting together a solid year. A speech-language pathology major with a 3.82 GPA, Cooper is a two-time academic All-Big 12 pick, Cooper averaged 2.09 kills and 0.88 blocks per set, ranking second in the Big 12 with a .396 hitting percentage before suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 19.

Larson earned the first academic All-America honor of her career, as she was chosen to the second team. A three-time academic All-Big 12 pick, she carries a 3.31 GPA in communication studies and will graduate in December. Larson ranks among the conference leaders in kills, service aces, digs and points.

The 2008 Senior Class
Nebraska’s senior class of Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz has already forged an impressive legacy. The trio has helped Nebraska win four straight Big 12 titles and reached the NCAA title match in both 2005 and 2006.
?-The group became the first Husker senior class in program history to go an entire career without losing a regular-season non-conference match. They went 34-0, including 16 wins over ranked teams and a perfect 8-0 versus top-five foes.
?-They became the first senior class to never lose a home match, going a perfect 72-0 in home contests. They have helped NU tie the NCAA record for most consecutive home wins with 87. 
?-They are just the fourth class of Huskers to win four consecutive Big 12 volleyball titles, joining the 2001, 2002 and 2007 senior classes.
?-The 2008 seniors are now a combined 125-7 (.947) over the last four years, posting three 30-win seasons and helping the Huskers to a national title in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2005. They can tie the school mark for most wins in a four-year stretch with a victory over Michigan on Friday night.

Sophomores Step Up in 2008
After replacing four All-Americans, Nebraska needed its sophomore class to step to the forefront this fall. Nebraska lost over 60 percent of its kills and total points from 2007.

To offset those losses, the Huskers have relied on a quartet of sophomore starters - setter Sydney Anderson, libero Kayla Banwarth, right side hitter Lindsey Licht and outside hitter Tara Mueller - and all four have helped the Huskers to a 29-2 record and a Big 12 title.
Prior to this season, the group combined for 11 starts at Nebraska - including 10 starts at libero by Banwarth and Mueller. The group has combined for nearly half of Nebraska’s total of kills and aces, as well as most of the Huskers’ assists and digs.

No Place Like Home
Nebraska has enjoyed an overwhelming home court advantage across the state. The Huskers have won their last 96 matches inside the state’s borders dating back to 2004, including matches in Lincoln (82), Omaha (13) and North Platte (1).

With the victory over UAB on Dec. 6, the Huskers tied the NCAA record for most consecutive home wins with 87. The total matched Penn State’s streak of 87 consecutive home wins between 1995 and 2000.

NU is the only program to have a pair of home win streaks of at least 60 matches, as Nebraska won 63 consecutive home matches between 1999 and 2002. The Huskers are 500-32 (.940) all-time at home and have lost just six home matches this decade.

Air Jordan Climbs Husker Career Lists
Jordan Larson has continued to climb the Husker career charts, jumping into the top 10 in kills, digs and solo blocks during the 2008 campaign. Larson has moved from 14th to fifth on NU’s kills list, passing Eileen Shannon with her 20 kills in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29.  In digs, Larson moved from eighth to second this year, passing former teammate Dani Busboom against K-State on Nov. 8. Larson now only trails another former teammate, as Jennifer Saleaumua holds the school mark with 1,568. Larson is also seventh on NU’s career solo blocks list, joining Greichaly Cepero as the only non-middle blockers on the top-10 list.

Larson is New Queen of Aces
Jordan Larson took sole possession of one of the oldest marks in the NU record book earlier this season, as she overtook Val Novak’s school mark for career aces. Larson now has 182 career aces, surpassing Novak’s total of 161 set between 1987 and 1990.

The record for Larson is impressive considering that only 33 of the 131 matches she played has gone longer than three sets.

Since Mary Buysse’s career ended in 1984, four players have held the school record for aces at one time or another. Novak held the mark for 18 years, and it may take a long time for someone to eclipse Larson, especially since several scoring changes have occurred since the start of the decade.

1,000-1,000 Club
Outside hitter Jordan Larson is part of another exclusive club in Husker volleyball, as she is one of only three players in school history with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Larson joined Jennifer Saleaumua and Eileen Shannon on the prestigious list in 2007, as Larson became the first Husker to reach the 1,000-1,000 plateau prior to her senior campaign.

Larson is now poised to become the first player at Nebraska to ever average more than 3.00 kills and 3.00 digs in an entire career. Larson is currently at 3.59 kills and 3.17 digs per set entering Friday’s NCAA Regional match against Michigan.

Larson Doubles Up
With double-doubles in nine of her last 10 matches, two-time All-American Jordan Larson raised her career total to 53. That is the most by a Husker in the Big 12 era, breaking the previous high of 44 established by three-time All-American Nancy Metcalf from 1997 to 2001. Larson has a team-best 15 double-doubles this season, including 12 in league play. The Huskers are 14-1 in 2008 and have won 51 of 53 matches when Larson earns a double-double.

Anderson Sets Her Sights on Big 12
Sydney Anderson has made an immediate impact in her first season as a Husker. The Salt Lake City, Utah, native enters the postseason ranking second in the Big 12 in assists (11.72) and ranking eighth in aces (0.30). She has helped the Huskers hit .300 or better 14 times, including .350 or better in five of the last eight contests.

A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Anderson is making a strong bid to become the first Husker to ever lead the Big 12 in assists, an impressive fact considering that NU has had three multiple All-American setters in Big 12 Conference history (Fiona Nepo, Greichaly Cepero and Rachel Holloway). In fact, the last Husker to lead a conference in assists is current Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson in 1995.

Anderson has lived up to her billing as the league’s top newcomer, earning the weekly honor five times in 2008 and being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She is fifth in the country in assists and has helped NU rank in the top 15 nationally in kills, assists and hitting percentage despite losing a trio of All-America hitters from 2007.

She was tabbed for all-tournament teams in all three of Nebraska’s tournaments and has six double-doubles, including three versus ranked foes. Anderson dished out a season-best 53 assists in NU’s win over No. 3 Texas on Sept. 17, helping the Huskers hit .319 as a team. Anderson reached the 50-assist plateau for the second time against Iowa State on Nov. 1, and had 51 assists and 10 digs in NU’s first-round win over Liberty on Dec. 5

Tara’s Just Getting Better
Outside hitter Tara Mueller has performed admirably replacing two-time All-American and former AVCA National Player of the Year Christina Houghtelling. Mueller is one of the league’s top outside hitters, ranking seventh in the league with 3.50 kills per set, while chipping in 2.33 digs and 0.47 blocks per set.

Mueller, who has steadily increased her numbers each month, raising her kills per game each month during the regular season. Mueller had 15 kills in NU’s NCAA opener, but took just 16 swings against UAB. She made the most of her attempts, finishing with six kills on .375 hitting.

She established career bests in both kills (19) and digs (16) at Texas A&M on Nov. 5, before racking up a career-high 20 kills on .615 hitting against No. 15 Kansas State on Nov. 8. She is tied for second on the squad with Sydney Anderson with six double-double.

Gates Gains During Big 12 Action
One of the most overlooked aspects of the Huskers’ Big 12 success has been the play of middle blocker Amanda Gates. The Columbus, Neb., native is averaging nearly two kills per set and finished among the conference leaders in both blocks (1.10, fourth) and hitting percentage (.376, second) in league play. Gates raised her totals significantly in conference play, including an amazing 151 point jump in hitting percentage, helping her earn honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors.

Gates continued her late-season surge in the postseason, averaging 2.57 kills on .400 hitting in two NCAA wins. She tied her career best with 11 kills against Liberty, one of five matches where she reached double figures. Gates also had 11 kills against NCAA Sweet 16 qualifiers Texas (Nov. 22) and Iowa State (Sept. 27). Defensively, Gates tied her personal best with 10 blocks at No. 18 K-State on Sept. 17.

Super Duper Cooper is Efficient
Kori Cooper has been one of the Huskers’ most efficient hitters during her Husker career. She has a career .366 hitting percentage in 86 matches and has ranked among the Big 12 hitting leaders all three years before suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 19.

With her 500th career kill on Nov. 1 against Iowa State, Cooper now ranks among the most efficient hitters in school history. Her .366 hitting percentage is tied for sixth among all Huskers with at least 500 career kills. Cooper has 40 career matches where she has hit .400 or better (with a minimum of 10 swings) and is hitting a personal-best .396 in 2008 to rank second in the Big 12 and 12th nationally.

A first-team All-Big 12 pick, Cooper reached double figures for the fourth time this year against Missouri on Nov. 12, drilling 10 kills on .363 hitting and had six kills on eight swings. All four double-figure efforts have come in conference play. She enjoyed one of her best matches against Iowa State on Nov. 1, chipping in nine kills on .467 hitting and equaling her season best with six blocks against the Cyclones. Her season best is 12 kills on .524 hitting against Iowa State on Sept. 27.

KGB Spies on Opposing Hitters
For Kayla Grace Banwarth, shutting down the opposition has been her speciality. Banwarth enters the NCAA Regional ranked third in the Big 12 in digs with 4.20 digs per set and is bidding to be only the third Husker to ever average at least four digs per set. Her defensive efforts have been instrumental, as Nebraska has limited 19 opponents to under .150 hitting and has allowed only four teams to hit .200 this season. She is also second among Big 12 liberos in assists (0.84/set) and is a primary reason NU has allowed a Big 12-low 0.69 service aces per set.

Banwarth has reached double figures in digs in 34 of her 39 career starts, including a career-best 27 digs in the win at Texas A&M on Nov. 5. It is the fourth time Banwarth has collected at least 20 digs in a match, with the others coming against No. 4 USC (Aug. 31), at Creighton (Oct. 5) and in the regular-season finale at Baylor (Nov. 29).

Huskers Continue Big 12 Dominance 
Nebraska’s Big 12 title in 2008 continues one of the most successful runs in NCAA history. The Huskers have won or shared 11 Big 12 titles in the last 13 years and own 30 Big Eight/Big 12 crowns in 33 years of conference action. The five straight Big 12 titles ties the longest streak in Big 12 history, as NU also won five straight crowns between 1998 and 2002.

Nation’s Best Since 2000
John Cook has been amazingly successful during his Husker tenure, posting a 279-17 record (.939 winning pct.) to lead all programs this decade. A two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, Cook has enjoyed greater success in the Big 12, going 172-8 in conference matches over the past nine seasons. NU has won eight Big 12 titles, including each of the past five years.

Huskers Rank Second All-Time in Wins
The Nebraska volleyball team is one of only six programs to reach the 1,000-win plateau and rank second in NCAA history with 1,058 wins.

Larson Captures AVCA National Honor
Jordan Larson received a national honor on Sept. 23, as she was selected as the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Player of the Week. She earned the accolade after lifting NU to wins over No. 18 Kansas State and No. 3 Texas. Larson averaged 5.0 kills, 2.62 digs and 5.44 points per set, collecting a pair of double-doubles in the process. At No. 18 Kansas State, Larson matched a career high with 21 kills, while also getting 10 digs, two blocks and an ace.

The honor marked the 10th time a Husker volleyball player has been chosen for the  AVCA’s weekly national honor, while Larson becomes the seventh different Husker to receive the accolade.

Crowd Pleasers
Nebraska has traditionally shown the ability to draw big crowds, and 2008 has been no different. Not only did the Huskers break the NCAA regular-season single-match record for attendance against LSU on Sept. 12, but they have been involved in four of the seven largest crowds of 2008.

The Huskers are second nationally in average attendance (4,769) and that total does not include the Runza/AVCA Showcase matches in Omaha, which both drew crowds in excess of 7,000. Nebraska has now broken the NCAA regular-season single match attendance mark three times over the last two years and has been involved in the eight largest regular-season crowds in NCAA history.

Four Huskers Named Academic All-Big 12
Four Huskers were among the 48 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team Nov. 18. All four Huskers were chosen to the first team, which consists of players with a 3.20 or better GPA.

Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz are three-time selections, while Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper were honored for the second time. Gates, Larson and Cooper also became Academic All-Americans on Nov. 24.

Nebraska Coliseum: Sold Out for 2008
One school record has already been established this fall, as it took just 10 minutes to sell out the entire 2008 ticket allotment at the 4,030-seat NU Coliseum. It was the quickest that the single-match Coliseum allotment had ever sold out. In 2007, it took 45 minutes to sell out the entire allotment.

The Huskers will carry a streak of 120 consecutive sellouts entering the 2009 home opener.  The Huskers are 114-6 at home during the sellout streak and 501,876 fans have been to the Coliseum since the sellout streak began in 2001.

Nebraska’s streak marks only the second time in NCAA history that a women’s sport has enjoyed a sellout streak of at least 100 matches. The only other one was UConn women’s basketball, which had a streak of 113 straight regular-season sellouts between 1999 and 2005.

Huskers in the Polls
The Nebraska program is a fixture in the Bison/AVCA Coaches poll. The Huskers are ranked third in this week’s poll and have been ranked in all 382 polls since its inception in 1982.  NU is one of only two schools to hold that distinction, joining Stanford. In addition, the Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 for 349 weeks, which trails only Stanford’s 353 weeks in the top 10.

Nebraska has been ranked in the top 10 for the last 79 polls, dating back to the start of the 2004 season.

The Huskers head all programs at the top of the all-time polls, spending 81 weeks all-time at No. 1, including an incredible 26-poll stretch over the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The 81 weeks at No. 1 is 30 more than runner-up UCLA in that category.  NU has spent 62 weeks at No. 1 since the start of the 2000 season. That total is more than any other program has spent in the top spot since the AVCA Poll began in 1982.

Huskers Continue Academic Success in ?08
The Nebraska volleyball team placed three members on the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year on Nov. 24. The group included first-team selections Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper and second-team honoree Jordan Larson. It is the first Academic All-America award for all three players, while Nebraska was the only school in the nation with three selections or two first-team honorees.

Nebraska volleyball has had 16 Academic All-Americans under Head Coach John Cook, including seven players who have combined for 10 first-team certificates. In all, Nebraska has now had 35 academic All-Americans in volleyball, a total that leads the nation by a large margin.

Nebraska: All-America U 
NU continued its string of All-America success in 2007 with a school-record five Huskers earning AVCA All-America accolades. Rachel Holloway, Christina Houghtelling, Jordan Larson, Sarah Pavan and Tracy Stalls were all selected, increasing Nebraska’s NCAA-leading totals to 29 players and 62 certificates, respectively. Nebraska has had at least one All-American every season since 1983, a total of 26 straight seasons, including 27 in Cook’s eight seasons.

Huskers on Television
The Huskers received plenty of television exposure during the 2008 season, as 17 NU matches have been televised this season. NU has enjoyed the bright lights of TV, going 42-3 in televised matches since the start of the 2006 season, including a 16-1 mark this season.

Huskers Announce Recruiting Class
Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook announced on Nov. 14 that four high school seniors have decided to join Husker volleyball program. The recruiting class features outside hitters Gina Mancuso and Hannah Werth, libero Megan Pendergast and middle blocker Hayley Thramer. All four players are rated among the top-70 players by recruiting services.

Huskers Battle Injuries
A trio of injuries have limited the Huskers’ depth during recent weeks. Middle blockers Kori Cooper and Brooke Delano are out for the season, while true freshman Kaitlynn James has yet to play this season following off-season shoulder surgery.

Cooper suffered the injury in the Huskers’ match at Texas on Nov. 19, and underwent knee surgery two days later. Cooper averaged 2.09 kills and 0.88 blocks per game while ranking second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally with a .396 hitting percentage. Delano underwent surgery on Nov. 13 following a bout with appendicitis. She had been NU’s backup at all three front row positions, averaging 1.00 kills and 0.67 blocks per set in 13 matches.

Husker Quick Hits
?-The 2008 Huskers feature 10 players (Anderson, Banwarth, Cooper, Delano, Gates, Larson, Licht, McNeal, Mueller and Yanz) who were previously named to Volleyball Magazine’s Fab 50 List, signifying the top 50 players in their respective classes.
?-Entering 2008, Nebraska has won 30-or-more matches in each of the last four seasons, the only program in the country with that distinction.