After a week that did not go well for the Husker ladies, a week that ended their 8-game winning streak, there was some light at the end of the tunnel. Huskers lost to #11th ranked Illinois 2-3, and then was swept by Penn State.
The Lady Huskers traveled to Illinois last Wednesday sole possession of third place in the Big Ten at stake. The match did not disappoint as it went a full five sets, (16-25, 25-22, 18-25, 26-24, 10-15). Illinois took the first, third and final sets to grab 3rd place in the Big Ten.
Husker Kadie Rolfzen ended the match with a team high 19 kills and Kelsey Fien recorded 13. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes had a team high 20 digs and Middle Blocker Cecilia Hall had 10 blocks. It was the service errors that did the Huskers in though as they ended the match with 11. Fein and Rolfzen were named to the All-Big Ten Team yesterday. Pollmiller garnered an honorable mention and sportsmanship award. The HUSKERS have had at least 2 1st Team all conference honorees every year since 1982! GO BIG RED!!!
Devaney Center (Photo Credit Elaine Menzel)
Next the Huskers traveled on Saturday to face #4 ranked Penn State. The Huskers were dominated by Penn State, ending their hope of a last game regular season win as they were swept 21-25, 15-25, and 16-25. The Huskers hit .133 for the match, while Penn State hit .257. Kelsey Fien led the team with 10 kills. Kadie Rolfzen’s game was not impressive as Coach Cook pulled her in the first set where she remained the rest of the night. It’s not often a team’s All-American is benched.
Although the Huskers lost their last two games, they remained 11th ranked in the latest AVCA poll. What was the light you ask? The light was being named the 14th seed in the NCAA tournament that begins Friday.
Next up for the 20-9 Huskers is the post-season matchup with unranked, 28-5, Hofstra Pride out of Long Island, NY. The Hofstra girls finished their regular season with a Colonial Athletic Association Conference title. Hofstra is led by the CAA Player of the Year, Senior Outside Hitter Kelsey Wills who is the career leader for the Pride in kills, and ranks second in the CAA for hitting percentage and kills per set. Hofstra Senior Middle Blocker Nuria Lopes Da Silva made first team all conference and Sophomore setter Hannah Klemm is the CAA Setter of the Year with 1,253 total assists, and leads the CAA in total assists by a margin of 225.
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1st & 2nd rounds of the playoff will be at the DEVANEY CENTER in front of the home crowd. Should Nebraska beat Hofstra Friday night at 7:00 pm CST, the Huskers play the winner of the Kansas State v Utah game from earlier that afternoon. The second round game is set for Saturday at 7:00 pm CST. Should the Huskers win the second round they will be heading to Seattle to most likely play against the #3 seed Washington Huskies. Some have picked Washington to win the NCAA championship so it will be a tough road for the Huskers if they get that far. Good luck Lady Huskers!! We will be pulling for you!
Print off your tournament bracket here and follow the Huskers’ journey. http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/volleyball-women/d1