Mancuso, Thramer Shine at All-Star Match

Lincoln ? A pair of Husker incoming freshmen starred Tuesday night in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star volleyball match at Lincoln North Star High School.

Gina Mancuso totaled a match-high 16 kills to lead the Blue squad to a 25-18, 16-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12 victory. Mancuso, the Gatorade High School Player of the Year, highlighted a talented roster of the top high school players in the state.  In addition to Mancuso, incoming freshman Hayley Thramer totaled four blocks, four kills and two service aces.

The event caps a busy summer for both players, as they teamed up to win the Junior Olympic National title last month in Miami, the first national title for a Nebraska club program in the highest level of club volleyball. Mancuso was the MVP of the tournament and a member of the all-tournament team

Mancuso, who was a finalist for Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year, was selected as the national High School Player of the Year by Gatorade and Volleyball Magazine after pounding home 721 kills on .452 hitting and 373 digs for Papillion-LaVista High School’s state title team. A three-time first-team All-Nebraska outside hitter, Mancuso totaled 2,371 career kills to rank second all-time in Class A.

Thramer was one of the nation’s top middle blocker recruits and was a Fab 50 selection by Volleyball Magazine after totaling 1,511 kills and 513 blocks in her career. A first-team All-Nebraska selection as a senior, she totaled 478 kills on .515 hitting, 110 blocks and 98 aces to lead Ewing High School to a 36-0 record and a Class D-2 state title.

Mancuso and Thramer will join their future teammates when practice begins on Monday, Aug. 10. Tickets for the upcoming season go on sale next Wednesday, Aug. 5, beginning at 8 a.m. on Huskers.com or by calling the Nebraska Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.