The Lady Cornhuskers roller-coaster ride seems to be back on the right track. On Halloween night, the #14 Huskers frightened the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers into submission. Big Ten newcomer Rutgers kept it close but there was no denying the Children of the Corn brought out the brooms for the sweep.
Huskers faced Rutgers one other time back in 1978 when side-out volleyball was the way to score. Rutgers won the best of three back then, 14-16 and 8-16.
Time jump ahead 36 years and it’s Big Red’s turn. Huskers swept the Knights 25-23, 25-21, and 25-18. As a team Nebraska hit at .292, while Rutgers hit .198.
The Huskers had two players with double digit kills: Kadie Rolfzen with 20 kills and Kelsey Fien with 12 kills. Setter Mary Pollmiller also had 42 assists.
Next stop on block was newcomer Maryland and the Lady Huskers kept out the brooms. This was the first time since 2011 that the Huskers have swept two opponents on the same weekend while on the road.
Before Saturday’s match, the Huskers led the series 3-0 against the Terrapins, but they had not faced one another since 2004.
Nebraska Lady Cornhuskers Volleyball v Purdue (photo credit: Elaine Menzel)
As a team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers hit .329 while Maryland hit a dismal .100. It was a dominating performance by the Huskers as they outscored Maryland 25-23, 25-22, and 25-16.
Kadie Rolfzen was the only Husker to hit in double digits with 11 kills, but twin sister, Amber had 5 of the Huskers 9 blocks in the match. Setter Pollmiller had 28 assists.
Huskers are now 8-4 in the Big Ten and 14-7 overall and advanced in the AVCA Volleyball poll one spot to #13.
Four Big Ten teams remain ranked ahead of the Huskers (Purdue #12, Illinois #9, Penn State #6, and Wisconsin #4).
For the first time this season, a Husker was named as a Big Ten Player of the Week, Mary Pollmiller as Co-Setter of the Week. Pollmiller ended the week with 70 assists, 8 digs, 7 kills, and 2 blocks.
Next are 2 televised home matches. On Wednesday at 6:30 pm the Huskers will play against #12 Purdue who comes in with a 9-3 Big Ten record and an overall record of 19-5. Catch it on the B1G Ten Network.
It’s a must win game for the Huskers.
On Saturday evening, the Huskers meet unranked Indiana. The Hoosiers are currently 5-7 in the Big Ten and 14-10 overall.
The 7:00 pm match against the Hoosiers will air on Nebraska Public Television.
Those unable to watch the match can listen on the Husker radio network affiliates or on Huskers.com.
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