Huskers Blast Cal, Push Hawaii to Limit in Duals

Honolulu, Hawaii - The No. 19 Nebraska sand volleyball team wrapped up its stay in Hawaii with an impressive display in dual matches against No. 1 Hawaii and California late Sunday night into Monday morning.

The Huskers improved their dual record to 1-2, crushing California 5-0 before falling just short of a historic upset against the top-ranked Rainbow Wahine in a 3-2 loss.

The Huskers, in just their third year of a sand volleyball program, had Hawaii (6-1) on the ropes after taking a 2-1 lead with two chances to clinch the win. But Hawaii battled back with wins at Nos. 2 and 1 to escape the Huskers' upset attempt. Hawaii went 20-4 last season and reached the AVCA national semifinals. UH's only loss so far this season was to unbeaten No. 3 USC.

No. 1 Hawaii 3, No. 19 Nebraska 2
Hawaii's Hannah Rooks and Sammie Brown began the match by defeating Kira Larson and Alexa Ethridge, 21-11, 21-11.

But the Huskers answered with wins from the Nos. 4 and 5 pairs to take a 2-1 lead. Kadie Rolfzen and Kelly Hunter knocked off London Chow and Hannah Zalopany, 19-21, 21-15, 15-8. Annika Albrecht and Cecilia Hall defeated Heather Boyan and Lara Schreiber, 21-18, 22-20.

The Huskers had a great chance to clinch the match in the fourth contest, especially after Amber Rolfzen and Kelsey Fien claimed a 1-0 lead in their match with Katie Spieler and Olivia Urban with a 21-18 first-set win. But Spieler and Urban survived by taking the next two sets, 21-16, 15-10, to force a deciding fifth match with each team's No. 1 pair.

NU's Justine Wong-Orantes and Alicia Ostrander took on Brittany Tiegs and Nikki Taylor for the match in front of the packed house at T.C. Ching Complex late Sunday night. Taylor and Tiegs took set one, 21-14, before holding off Wong-Orantes and Ostrander 23-21 in the second set, as Hawaii clinched the match 3-2. 

Hawai‘i 3, Nebraska 2 (Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5, 2, 1) 
Flight 1: Nikki Taylor/Brittany Tiegs (UH) def. Justine Wong-Orantes/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) 21‐14, 23‐21 
Flight 2: Katie Spieler/Olivia Urban (UH) def. Amber Rolfzen/ Kelsey Fien (NEB) 18‐21, 21‐16, 15‐10 
Flight 3: Hannah Rooks/Sammie Brown (UH) def. Kira Larson/Alexa Ethridge (NEB) 21‐11, 21‐11 
Flight 4: Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rolfzen (NEB) def. London Chow/Hannah Zalopany (UH) 19‐21, 21‐15, 15‐8 
Flight 5: Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall (NEB) def. Heather Boyan/Lara Schreiber (UH) 21‐18, 22‐20 

No. 19 Nebraska 5, California 0
The Huskers' match against California (3-6) was not nearly as close, as NU took control from start to finish in the sweep. Annika Albrecht and Cecilia Hall crushed Teya Neff and Sabrina Blackwell, 21-8, 21-6, to set the tone. 

Kelly Hunter and Kadie Rolfzen followed suit, blasting Katie Regalia and Ashley Johnson, 21-11, 21-9. Justine Wong-Orantes and Alicia Ostrander then clinched the match for the Big Red with a comeback 19-21, 21-11, 15-11 win against Sara Cole and Emily Lunt.

With the match already decided, Amber Rolfzen and Melanie Keil then beat Bryce Bark and Emily Schultz, 21-18, 21-13,  to put the Huskers up 4-0.

Kira Larson and Alexa Ethridge finished off the sweep, rallying to beat Inanna Eshoo and Ali Leong, 10-21, 21-15, 15-11.

The sweep was just the fourth official 5-0 win for the Huskers in program history. The others came in the inaugural season against Grand Canyon, Loyola Marymount and Irvine Valley College. 

The Huskers will now travel to Arizona five dual matches in three days, beginning on Wednesday at Arizona State.

Nebraska 5, California 0 (5, 4, 1, 2, 3) 
Flight 1: Justine Wong-Orantes/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) def. Sara Cole/Emily Lunt (CAL) 19‐21, 21‐11, 15‐11
Flight 2: Amber Rolfzen/Melanie Keil (NEB) def. Emily Shults/Bryce Bark (CAL) 21‐18, 21‐13
Flight 3: Kira Larson/Alexa Ethridge (NEB) def. Inanna Eshoo/Ali Leong (CAL) 10‐21, 21‐15, 15‐11
Flight 4: Kelly Hunter/Kadie Rolfzen (NEB) def. Ashley Johnson/Katie Regalia (CAL) 21‐11, 21‐9
Flight 5: Annika Albrecht/Cecilia Hall (NEB) def. Sabrina Blackwell/Teya Neff (CAL) 21‐8, 21‐6