Husker Sand Volleyball Season Begins in Hawaii

Husker Sand Volleyball season began on Thursday March 19 for the Huskers at the Queen’s Beach Sandbox in Hawaii. The 19th ranked Huskers had a tough task ahead of them as they had to face the 3rd ranked Trojans of the University of Southern California. The previous day USC swept number 1 ranked Hawaii 5-0.

The sand @Huskervball team is in Hawaii today! A few showers, partly cloudy. Near 70 in the AM, near 80 in the afternoon. #paradise
— Husker Weather (@HuskerWeather) March 20, 2015

Huskers first official match of the season against USC pitted the #1 duo of Alicia Ostrander and Justine Wong-Orantes against USC’s Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes. USC won in two sets 21-17 and 21-11. Huskers Melanie Keil and Amber Rolfzen faced USC’s Sophie Bukovec and a familiar opponent in Alexa Strange, who was once a Husker but transferred to USC giving up indoor volleyball and concentrating on sand volleyball.

Kadie Rolfzen v Illinois (photo courtesy of NateOlsen/NU Media Relations)

At one time Strange was the only setter on the Husker’s roster for the 2013 Spring Season as Lauren Cook’s eligibility came to an end and the Papillion-La Vista South Husker commit, Kelly Hunter, had not arrived on campus. As a freshman, Strange also played Sand Volleyball for the Huskers and was partnered with former Husker Kelsey Robinson. The duo went 6-3. Melanie Keil and Amber Rolfzen fell to Bukovec and Strange, 29-27 and 21-14.

Huskers Alexa Ethridge and Kira Larson faced Trojans Eve Ettinger and Meg Norton and were defeated, 21-8 and 21-14. Huskers Kelly Hunter and Kadie Rolfzen faced off against USC’s Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler, losing 21-10 and 21-17. The final Husker duos to play were Annika Albrecht and Cecilia Hall, who dropped their match to USC’s Jenna Belton and Bria Russ, 21-18 and 21-19. The good news was that the Huskers actually played better than in last season’s USC game, scoring 35 more points total.

The other good news that came out of Thursday’s matches was that the Huskers faced 2 more teams earlier in the day in exhibition matches and won both. Huskers swept Hawaii Pacific 5-0 and swept Chaminade, 5-0 (both Honolulu universities). No scores were made available for posting in the exhibition matches.

Nebraska may not have sandy beaches like the teams they are facing during the Sand Volleyball season, but the question is will the Huskers dive in head first after their 4th season and actually have a coaching staff and players strictly devoted to sand. This is what Alexa Strange is doing at USC. Or will they continue to use the current indoor Husker Volleyball players and coaches in the same capacity?

I guess the downside is that if Nebraska changes nothing, then they will most likely be underdogs in most of their matches against the top teams. So does the university have enough room and money for a sand volleyball team with its own coaching staff and players solely devoted to playing in the sand? Could Nebraska bring in the top recruits to just play just sand volleyball practicing indoors, or will the recruits choose the warmer weather and sandy beaches instead? As cool as it might be having an official Sand Volleyball team in Nebraska, it might be just as well to leave things as they are. When the sand season is over with, the Huskers will be evaluating and making a decision.

More from Husker Corner

Husker duos continue in the Sandbox Friday and Saturday for the Queen of the Beach Challenge. On Sunday, March 22nd, the Huskers will face California and #1 Hawaii at the Ching Complex . The match on Sunday against Hawaii will be live streamed over OCSports.tv, but you will need to create an account to sign in to watch it; OCSports.tv airs Hawaii’s athletics.

Huskers are off to Arizona to finish their short season with games on March 25, 26, 27, and 28. Here is a look at the schedule. Until then, best of luck ladies, we are proud of you, and Go Big Red!

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