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Honolulu, Hawaii - The 19th-ranked Nebraska sand volleyball team opened the season on Thursday at Queen's Beach. The Huskers fell to No. 3 USC, 5-0, in its first official match of the season, but swept exhibition matches in straight sets against both Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade.
The Huskers (0-1) began play in the morning against Hawaii Pacific and breezed to a 5-0 win. NU then took care of Chaminade in another 5-0 victory. NU's pairs of Alicia Ostrander/Justine Wong-Orantes, Melanie Keil/Amber Rolfzen and Alexa Ethridge/Kira Larson won matches against both teams. Kadie Rolfzen/Kelly Hunter won a match, as did Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall. Kelsey Fien filled in as an alternate with Kadie Rolfzen against Hawaii Pacific and with Albrecht against Chaminade for the other victories.
In the last match of the day, third-ranked USC improved to 5-0 on the season with the sweep of the Huskers. USC also swept No. 1 Hawaii on Wednesday. Nebraska was much more competitive than in a 5-0 loss to USC last season. NU's pairs combined for 155 points on Thursday, 35 more than against the Trojans last year. The Huskers' No. 2 pairing of Melanie Keil and Amber Rolfzen nearly won their first set, falling to Sophie Bukovec and former Husker Alexa Strange, 29-27, 21-14. Annika Albrecht and Cecilia Hall also took their match down to the wire in both sets, falling to Jenna Belton and Bria Russ, 21-18, 21-19.
Nebraska will play in the Queen of the Beach Challenge on Friday and Saturday. Action begins at 1 p.m. (CT) each day.
No. 3 USC 5, No. 19 Nebraska 0
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Alicia Ostrander/Justine Wong-Orantes (NEB); 21-17, 21-11
2. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Melanie Keil/Amber Rolfzen (NEB); 29-27, 21-14
3. Eve Ettinger/Meg Norton (USC) def. Alexa Ethridge/Kira Larson (NEB); 21-8, 21-14
4. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rolfzen (NEB); 21-10, 21-17
5. Jenna Belton/Bria Russ (USC) def. Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall (NEB); 21-18, 21-19
NU's Pairings vs. Hawaii Pacific (W, 5-0, Exh.)
Alicia Ostrander/Justine Wong-Orantes
Melanie Keil/Amber Rolfzen
Alexa Ethridge/Kira Larson
Kelsey Fien/Kadie Rolfzen
Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall
NU's Pairings vs. Chaminade (W, 5-0, Exh.)
Alicia Ostrander/Justine Wong-Orantes
Melanie Keil/Amber Rolfzen
Alexa Ethridge/Kira Larson
Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rolfzen
Annika Albrecht/Kelsey Fien