The Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team is off to a 6-0 start after a win over #16 Creighton and while they didn’t sweep it was still an impressive win.
John Cook and company are rolling right along in what has been an impressive somehow Cinderella season in 2023. With Volleyball Day in Nebraska fully in the rearview mirror, it’s all about continuing to rack up wins.
On Wednesday night, the Nebraska volleyball team did get another win. In the process, they beat up a Top 25 team that showed just how good this version of the Nebraska Cornhuskers is despite many changes to the roster from last year.
In the process of beating #16 Creighton, 25-9, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20 the Huskers suffered a first this year. It was the first match in which Nebraska didn’t sweep its opponent.
You read that correctly. In six matches, NU has lost one set.
They did, however, show who is the best team in the state as they’ve beaten both Omaha and Creighton now. And they set another record.
The 8,656 fans in attendance were the most at the Bob Devaney Sports Center since the arena was reconfigured for volleyball in 2013. The arena had been used by the Nebraska basketball team up until they moved to the Pinnacle Bank Arena.
UNK joins the party
Speaking of records, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are not the only program in the state that broke an attendance record this year.
👂Sounds like a record-breaking crowd. 👀 Looks like a record-breaking crowd. That’s right @UNKvolleyball just set the @NCAADII regular-season attendance record with 4,003 fans at tonight’s match. Way to represent Loper fans! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/uekV0uWOIC
— University of Nebraska at Kearney (@UNKearney) September 6, 2023
The University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers set the NCAA Division II record in attendance with 4,003 fans. That record-breaking crowd got to see UNK sweep Peru State, 25-10, 25-17, 25-21 in order to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Nebraska Cornhuskers soccer gets ranked
The 5-0-1 Nebraska soccer team is getting recognition for its success. This week, for the first time since October 2018, the Huskers are ranked in the Top 25 as they broke into the United Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer polls at No. 24.
They’ll be able to demonstrate that they deserve that ranking in their final non-conference tilt of the season on Thursday night against UC Davis.
Finding Billy Kemp IV
Virginia transfer Billy Kemp IV was supposed to be a secret weapon for the Nebraska football team this year thanks to his veteran presence.
However, against the Miinnesota Golden Gophers, he didn’t get a catch. During his post practice press conference on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield made it clear that he knows the Huskers need to find Kemp in its game against Colorado.
All is not lost when it comes to Kemp even if they can’t get the receiver some catches. He did have two punt returns for 8 yards against the Gophers and looks far more competent at that position than NU has had for years.
Nebraska Cornhuskers star shining in the minors
Former Nebraska baseball star Spencer Schwellenbach is continuing his excellent rookie season. On Wednesday night, he threw six shutout innings to improve to 5-2 on the season while lowering his ERA in High-A ball to 2.49.
Well, that's some perfection.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 7, 2023
No. 3 @Braves prospect Spencer Schwellenbach goes 18 up, 18 down for @TheRomeBraves: pic.twitter.com/YHRIkH7xiB
Spencer Schwellenbach is currently considered the #3 prospect in the Braves organization. Considering just how good Atlanta is these days, that’s a pretty high honor for the former member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team.