NSAA Softball Sub-District assignments

Story by NU Athletic Communications

• The second-ranked Nebraska volleyball team plays its first conference road match of the season when it travels to Champaign, Ill., for a 6 p.m. match on Thursday against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Huff Hall.

• Thursday’s match will be televised nationally on FS1 and streamed on the Fox Sports App. &nbsp;

• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has won nine matches in a row since a loss at SMU on Sept. 3. Seven of the nine wins have been sweeps.&nbsp;

• The Huskers rank 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team hitting percentage of .291.

• NU ranks 15th nationally in kills per set (14.00).

• Outside hitter Harper Murray is leading the Huskers with 3.19 kills per set.&nbsp;

• Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is averaging 2.84 kills per set for the Big Red. Over her last seven matches, Beason is averaging 3.17 kills per set with a .298 hitting percentage.

• Outside hitter Lindsay Krause adds 2.33 kills per set and has served a team-high 15 aces.&nbsp;

• Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.66 kills with a team-best .475 hitting percentage, which ranks sixth nationally.&nbsp;

• Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.76 kills per set on .368 hitting with 1.41 blocks per set.&nbsp;

• Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 10.98 assists per set, which ranks eighth nationally. She also adds 3.05 digs per set and has 11 aces.&nbsp;

• Three-time All-American Lexi Rodriguez guides the Husker back row with 3.73 digs per set. Rodriguez was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

• Illinois (8-4, 0-2 Big Ten) opened conference play last week with a 3-0 loss at No. 11 Oregon and 3-0 loss at Washington.&nbsp;

• The Fighting Illini have only played one home match this season, a 3-1 win over Illinois State on Sept. 3.&nbsp;

• Illinois is hitting .230 on the season and holding opponents to .193.&nbsp;

• Raina Terry averages 4.11 kills per set and has 32 service aces on the season, seventh-most in the nation.&nbsp;

• Former Nebraska assistant coach Chris Tamas is in his eighth year as head coach at Illinois and is 139-85 overall. Tamas was an assistant at Nebraska from 2015-16 and was on the staff of the Huskers’ 2015 NCAA Championship team. &nbsp;

• Nebraska is 34-8-1 all-time against Illinois and has won nine in a row in the series, including 3-1 last year on Nov. 12 in Lincoln.&nbsp;

• Illinois is one of Nebraska’s three Big Ten double-play opponents this season. The teams will meet again on Oct. 25 in Lincoln.&nbsp;

• Cook is 11-1 all-time against Tamas, his former assistant. Cook is 25-2 all-time coaching against his former assistant coaches. &nbsp;

• Nebraska opened Big Ten action last weekend with a pair of home wins over new conference members UCLA (3-1) and USC (3-0). The Huskers held the Bruins to a season-low .153 hitting percentage and the Trojans to a season-low .137 hitting percentage. The Huskers had 13 blocks against the Bruins, their second-most of the season.&nbsp;

• Nebraska led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in both 2022 (.128) and 2023 (.137).

• This year, the Huskers are holding all opponents to a .160 hitting percentage, which ranks 31st nationally.&nbsp;

• In conference play, the Huskers are holding Big Ten opponents to .147 hitting, which is second behind Washington (.093).&nbsp;

• Nebraska has turned up its defense of late, holding its last five opponents to a combined .126 hitting percentage.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has allowed just 26 service aces this season, which ranks second in the nation behind Pittsburgh (24). Over the last six matches, the Huskers have yielded just five aces and have not allowed more than two in a single match in that stretch.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.76 and 3.19 kills per set, led by Harper Murray’s 3.19 kills per set.&nbsp;

• Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match in the first 13 matches of the season.&nbsp;

• Setter Bergen Reilly ranks eighth nationally averaging 10.98 assists per set.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has won 33 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022.&nbsp;

• The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013.&nbsp;

• Nebraska’s longest all-time home winning streak was 88 matches from 2004-09. Since then, NU also has a home win streak of 38 matches in a row from 2009-11.&nbsp;

RODRIGUEZ AMONG ALL-TIME GREAT NU LIBEROS

• Lexi Rodriguez is in her final year of a stellar career as the Huskers’ libero. A four-year starter and a three-year team captain, Rodriguez will go down in history as one of the all-time greats in Nebraska volleyball history.&nbsp;

• Rodriguez has 1,588 career digs, which ranks third in school history. In the home wins over UCLA and USC, she passed Jennifer Saleaumua and Nicklin Hames to move to No. 3 on NU’s all-time digs list. U.S. Olympian Justine Wong-Orantes is the career leader in digs at NU with 1,890. Kayla Banwarth is second with 1,706 career digs.&nbsp;

• On Sept. 30, Rodriguez was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the sixth time in her career. She averaged 4.71 digs per set in the first weekend of conference play, helping the Huskers hold UCLA and USC to season-low hitting percentages at the time.&nbsp;

• Rodriguez is a three-time AVCA All-American, earning first-team honors in 2021 and 2023, and second-team honors in 2022. She will look to join Kadie Rolfzen (2013-16) and Sarah Pavan (2004-07) as the only four-time All-Americans in program history.&nbsp;

• Rodriguez made her mark instantly as a freshman in 2021, earning AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Over the last two seasons, Rodriguez has guided the Huskers to the No. 1 defense in the country, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year again in 2023 to become the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive the honor twice in a career.&nbsp;

• Opposite hitter Merritt Beason put together a sensational season in 2023 - her first as a Husker after transferring from Florida - earning AVCA first-team All-America honors and AVCA North Region Player of the Year, becoming just the second Husker (Kelly Hunter) to earn that honor.&nbsp;

• Beason averaged a team-leading 3.76 kills per set on .282 hitting with 2.05 digs per set. She was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 23 after averaging 4.25 kills per set and 1.75 digs per set in wins against Northwestern and top-ranked Wisconsin.&nbsp;

• Beason was the MVP of the NCAA Lincoln Regional after 19 kills, 11 digs and a career-high eight blocks in a regional final win over Arkansas.&nbsp;

VERSATILE MURRAY HIGHLIGHTS SOPHOMORE CLASS

• Sophomore outside hitter Harper Murray is the team leader in kills with 3.19 per set and adds 2.14 digs per set and 12 aces.&nbsp;

• Along with Bergen Reilly, Andi Jackson and Laney Choboy, Murray made an instant impact at Nebraska in 2023, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and AVCA All-America Third Team honors.&nbsp;

• Murray finished her freshman campaign with 3.23 kills per set, the highest kills per set average by a Husker freshman since Kadie Rolfzen (3.46) in 2013. One of the Big Ten’s best six-rotation players, Murray also added 2.07 digs per set with a team-high 36 aces. She was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.&nbsp;

• Senior outside hitter Lindsay Krause has been NU’s best threat at the service line this season with a team-high 15 aces. Krause is also averaging 2.33 kills per set.

• Krause was having the best year of her Husker career in 2023 before it ended in mid-October with an ankle injury. At the time of her injury, Krause was averaging 2.50 kills per set and was hitting .285 for the season.&nbsp;

• Not only that, Krause was putting up 2.82 kills per set on .366 hitting through six Big Ten matches, which led all Big Ten outside hitters in conference action at the time.&nbsp;

• Krause was named Big Ten Player of the Week last year on Oct. 9 following a season-high 15 kills on .519 hitting at Michigan and nine kills on .381 hitting at Michigan State. &nbsp;

• Sophomore setter Bergen Reilly ranks eighth nationally with 10.98 assists per set this season.&nbsp;

• Reilly was the Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2023, becoming the first freshman to win the award since it originated in 2012. Reilly was also an AVCA second-team All-American and an All-Big Ten first-team selection.&nbsp;

• Reilly led all Big Ten setters with 10.51 assists per set in 2023, and she has received six career Big Ten Setter of the Week honors, including on Sept. 2 and Sept. 16 this season.&nbsp;

• Reilly was named Best Setter at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Louisville, Ky., as she guided the Huskers to a 3-1 win over No. 9 Kentucky with 39 assists and 11 digs.&nbsp;

• Sophomore middle blocker Andi Jackson has elevated her game to new heights in 2024, as she is averaging 2.66 kills per set with a .475 hitting percentage, which ranks sixth in the nation and first among Big Ten players.&nbsp;

• Jackson showed enormous athleticism and potential the first time she stepped on the floor as a Husker, and she followed through with a strong debut season that included AVCA All-Region, All-Big Ten Second Team, and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.&nbsp;

• Jackson averaged 2.01 kills per set and 1.09 blocks per set with a .399 hitting percentage in 2023, which ranked third in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation. Her hitting percentage was the best ever by a Husker freshman and ranked seventh all-time in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;

• Along with Reilly, Jackson helped the U.S. U21 National Team win the gold medal at the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship in Toronto this summer, hitting .654 throughout the tournament with 39 kills and 10 blocks.&nbsp;

• Junior middle blocker Rebekah Allick leads the Huskers with 1.41 blocks per set so far this season. Offensively, she has provided 1.76 kills per set on .368 hitting.&nbsp;

• Allick’s career 1.19 blocks per set ranks No. 5 in school history in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;

• Allick is a two-time AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten second-team selection. Last season, she averaged 1.76 kills per set with a team-high 1.50 blocks per set, which ranked second among Big Ten players and seven in the nation. Her 1.50 blocks per set was also the No. 2 mark in school history in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;

• Allick was at her best at the end of the 2023 season, registering a career-high 12 blocks in the NCAA regional final win over Arkansas and 10 blocks in the NCAA semifinal sweep of Pittsburgh.&nbsp;

• In the season-opening victory over Kentucky, Allick had 11 kills and hit .667 while tying her career high with 12 blocks. Her performance earned her Best Middle Blocker and Most Valuable Player honors at the AVCA First Serve Showcase. She averaged 1.90 blocks per set in the first three matches of the season, which earned her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

HALL OF FAME COACH COOK IN YEAR 25 AT NU &nbsp; &nbsp;

• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 25th season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2024. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 11 final fours, 13 conference championships and 22 top-10 final rankings since 2000.&nbsp;

• Cook has 862 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (701-101).&nbsp;

• On Sept. 10, 2024, the Huskers defeated No. 9 Creighton 3-2 for Cook’s 695th win at Nebraska, which moved him past Terry Pettit for most wins all-time as the Nebraska volleyball head coach.&nbsp;

• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 68 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000, 2005 and 2023, and an eight-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2023.

• In 2023, Cook was voted AVCA National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading a young Nebraska team with no seniors to its first Big Ten title since 2017. The Huskers finished the regular season 28-1 overall, their best regular season record since going 28-1 in 2005. After going 26-6 last year and missing the NCAA regional finals for the first time since 2011, the Huskers started over with a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer (Beason). Cook’s Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season. Despite having no seniors on the roster for just the second time in Cook’s time at Nebraska - as well as starting a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure - the Huskers earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the sixth time overall under Cook.

• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsMATCH PREVIEW• The second-ranked Nebraska volleyball team plays its first conference road match of the season when it travels to Champaign, Ill., for a 6 p.m. match on Thursday against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Huff Hall.• Thursday’s match will be televised nationally on FS1 and streamed on the Fox Sports App. &nbsp;• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.&nbsp;ABOUT THE HUSKERS• Nebraska has won nine matches in a row since a loss at SMU on Sept. 3. Seven of the nine wins have been sweeps.&nbsp;• The Huskers rank 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team hitting percentage of .291.• NU ranks 15th nationally in kills per set (14.00).• Outside hitter Harper Murray is leading the Huskers with 3.19 kills per set.&nbsp;• Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is averaging 2.84 kills per set for the Big Red. Over her last seven matches, Beason is averaging 3.17 kills per set with a .298 hitting percentage.• Outside hitter Lindsay Krause adds 2.33 kills per set and has served a team-high 15 aces.&nbsp;• Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.66 kills with a team-best .475 hitting percentage, which ranks sixth nationally.&nbsp;• Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.76 kills per set on .368 hitting with 1.41 blocks per set.&nbsp;• Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 10.98 assists per set, which ranks eighth nationally. She also adds 3.05 digs per set and has 11 aces.&nbsp;• Three-time All-American Lexi Rodriguez guides the Husker back row with 3.73 digs per set. Rodriguez was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.SCOUTING REPORT: ILLINOIS• Illinois (8-4, 0-2 Big Ten) opened conference play last week with a 3-0 loss at No. 11 Oregon and 3-0 loss at Washington.&nbsp;• The Fighting Illini have only played one home match this season, a 3-1 win over Illinois State on Sept. 3.&nbsp;• Illinois is hitting .230 on the season and holding opponents to .193.&nbsp;• Raina Terry averages 4.11 kills per set and has 32 service aces on the season, seventh-most in the nation.&nbsp;• Former Nebraska assistant coach Chris Tamas is in his eighth year as head coach at Illinois and is 139-85 overall. Tamas was an assistant at Nebraska from 2015-16 and was on the staff of the Huskers’ 2015 NCAA Championship team. &nbsp;SERIES HISTORY• Nebraska is 34-8-1 all-time against Illinois and has won nine in a row in the series, including 3-1 last year on Nov. 12 in Lincoln.&nbsp;• Illinois is one of Nebraska’s three Big Ten double-play opponents this season. The teams will meet again on Oct. 25 in Lincoln.&nbsp;• Cook is 11-1 all-time against Tamas, his former assistant. Cook is 25-2 all-time coaching against his former assistant coaches. &nbsp;LAST TIME OUT• Nebraska opened Big Ten action last weekend with a pair of home wins over new conference members UCLA (3-1) and USC (3-0). The Huskers held the Bruins to a season-low .153 hitting percentage and the Trojans to a season-low .137 hitting percentage. The Huskers had 13 blocks against the Bruins, their second-most of the season.&nbsp;DOMINANT DEFENSE• Nebraska led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in both 2022 (.128) and 2023 (.137).• This year, the Huskers are holding all opponents to a .160 hitting percentage, which ranks 31st nationally.&nbsp;• In conference play, the Huskers are holding Big Ten opponents to .147 hitting, which is second behind Washington (.093).&nbsp;• Nebraska has turned up its defense of late, holding its last five opponents to a combined .126 hitting percentage.&nbsp;SERVE AND PASS• Nebraska has allowed just 26 service aces this season, which ranks second in the nation behind Pittsburgh (24). Over the last six matches, the Huskers have yielded just five aces and have not allowed more than two in a single match in that stretch.&nbsp;BALANCED ATTACK• Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.76 and 3.19 kills per set, led by Harper Murray’s 3.19 kills per set.&nbsp;• Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match in the first 13 matches of the season.&nbsp;• Setter Bergen Reilly ranks eighth nationally averaging 10.98 assists per set.&nbsp;HOME SWEET HOME• Nebraska has won 33 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022.&nbsp;• The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013.&nbsp;• Nebraska’s longest all-time home winning streak was 88 matches from 2004-09. Since then, NU also has a home win streak of 38 matches in a row from 2009-11.&nbsp;RODRIGUEZ AMONG ALL-TIME GREAT NU LIBEROS• Lexi Rodriguez is in her final year of a stellar career as the Huskers’ libero. A four-year starter and a three-year team captain, Rodriguez will go down in history as one of the all-time greats in Nebraska volleyball history.&nbsp;• Rodriguez has 1,588 career digs, which ranks third in school history. In the home wins over UCLA and USC, she passed Jennifer Saleaumua and Nicklin Hames to move to No. 3 on NU’s all-time digs list. U.S. Olympian Justine Wong-Orantes is the career leader in digs at NU with 1,890. Kayla Banwarth is second with 1,706 career digs.&nbsp;• On Sept. 30, Rodriguez was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the sixth time in her career. She averaged 4.71 digs per set in the first weekend of conference play, helping the Huskers hold UCLA and USC to season-low hitting percentages at the time.&nbsp;• Rodriguez is a three-time AVCA All-American, earning first-team honors in 2021 and 2023, and second-team honors in 2022. She will look to join Kadie Rolfzen (2013-16) and Sarah Pavan (2004-07) as the only four-time All-Americans in program history.&nbsp;• Rodriguez made her mark instantly as a freshman in 2021, earning AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Over the last two seasons, Rodriguez has guided the Huskers to the No. 1 defense in the country, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year again in 2023 to become the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive the honor twice in a career.&nbsp;BEASON BACK TO LEAD HUSKER ATTACK AGAIN• Opposite hitter Merritt Beason put together a sensational season in 2023 - her first as a Husker after transferring from Florida - earning AVCA first-team All-America honors and AVCA North Region Player of the Year, becoming just the second Husker (Kelly Hunter) to earn that honor.&nbsp;• Beason averaged a team-leading 3.76 kills per set on .282 hitting with 2.05 digs per set. She was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 23 after averaging 4.25 kills per set and 1.75 digs per set in wins against Northwestern and top-ranked Wisconsin.&nbsp;• Beason was the MVP of the NCAA Lincoln Regional after 19 kills, 11 digs and a career-high eight blocks in a regional final win over Arkansas.&nbsp;VERSATILE MURRAY HIGHLIGHTS SOPHOMORE CLASS• Sophomore outside hitter Harper Murray is the team leader in kills with 3.19 per set and adds 2.14 digs per set and 12 aces.&nbsp;• Along with Bergen Reilly, Andi Jackson and Laney Choboy, Murray made an instant impact at Nebraska in 2023, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and AVCA All-America Third Team honors.&nbsp;• Murray finished her freshman campaign with 3.23 kills per set, the highest kills per set average by a Husker freshman since Kadie Rolfzen (3.46) in 2013. One of the Big Ten’s best six-rotation players, Murray also added 2.07 digs per set with a team-high 36 aces. She was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.&nbsp;KRAUSE PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF• Senior outside hitter Lindsay Krause has been NU’s best threat at the service line this season with a team-high 15 aces. Krause is also averaging 2.33 kills per set.• Krause was having the best year of her Husker career in 2023 before it ended in mid-October with an ankle injury. At the time of her injury, Krause was averaging 2.50 kills per set and was hitting .285 for the season.&nbsp;• Not only that, Krause was putting up 2.82 kills per set on .366 hitting through six Big Ten matches, which led all Big Ten outside hitters in conference action at the time.&nbsp;• Krause was named Big Ten Player of the Week last year on Oct. 9 following a season-high 15 kills on .519 hitting at Michigan and nine kills on .381 hitting at Michigan State. &nbsp;REILLY SETS THE TONE• Sophomore setter Bergen Reilly ranks eighth nationally with 10.98 assists per set this season.&nbsp;• Reilly was the Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2023, becoming the first freshman to win the award since it originated in 2012. Reilly was also an AVCA second-team All-American and an All-Big Ten first-team selection.&nbsp;• Reilly led all Big Ten setters with 10.51 assists per set in 2023, and she has received six career Big Ten Setter of the Week honors, including on Sept. 2 and Sept. 16 this season.&nbsp;• Reilly was named Best Setter at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Louisville, Ky., as she guided the Huskers to a 3-1 win over No. 9 Kentucky with 39 assists and 11 digs.&nbsp;JACKSON IN ACTION• Sophomore middle blocker Andi Jackson has elevated her game to new heights in 2024, as she is averaging 2.66 kills per set with a .475 hitting percentage, which ranks sixth in the nation and first among Big Ten players.&nbsp;• Jackson showed enormous athleticism and potential the first time she stepped on the floor as a Husker, and she followed through with a strong debut season that included AVCA All-Region, All-Big Ten Second Team, and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.&nbsp;• Jackson averaged 2.01 kills per set and 1.09 blocks per set with a .399 hitting percentage in 2023, which ranked third in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation. Her hitting percentage was the best ever by a Husker freshman and ranked seventh all-time in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;• Along with Reilly, Jackson helped the U.S. U21 National Team win the gold medal at the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship in Toronto this summer, hitting .654 throughout the tournament with 39 kills and 10 blocks.&nbsp;ALLICK BRINGS THE BLOCK• Junior middle blocker Rebekah Allick leads the Huskers with 1.41 blocks per set so far this season. Offensively, she has provided 1.76 kills per set on .368 hitting.&nbsp;• Allick’s career 1.19 blocks per set ranks No. 5 in school history in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;• Allick is a two-time AVCA All-Region and All-Big Ten second-team selection. Last season, she averaged 1.76 kills per set with a team-high 1.50 blocks per set, which ranked second among Big Ten players and seven in the nation. Her 1.50 blocks per set was also the No. 2 mark in school history in the rally scoring era.&nbsp;• Allick was at her best at the end of the 2023 season, registering a career-high 12 blocks in the NCAA regional final win over Arkansas and 10 blocks in the NCAA semifinal sweep of Pittsburgh.&nbsp;• In the season-opening victory over Kentucky, Allick had 11 kills and hit .667 while tying her career high with 12 blocks. Her performance earned her Best Middle Blocker and Most Valuable Player honors at the AVCA First Serve Showcase. She averaged 1.90 blocks per set in the first three matches of the season, which earned her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.HALL OF FAME COACH COOK IN YEAR 25 AT NU &nbsp; &nbsp;• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 25th season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2024. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 11 final fours, 13 conference championships and 22 top-10 final rankings since 2000.&nbsp;• Cook has 862 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (701-101).&nbsp;• On Sept. 10, 2024, the Huskers defeated No. 9 Creighton 3-2 for Cook’s 695th win at Nebraska, which moved him past Terry Pettit for most wins all-time as the Nebraska volleyball head coach.&nbsp;• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 68 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000, 2005 and 2023, and an eight-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2023.• In 2023, Cook was voted AVCA National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading a young Nebraska team with no seniors to its first Big Ten title since 2017. The Huskers finished the regular season 28-1 overall, their best regular season record since going 28-1 in 2005. After going 26-6 last year and missing the NCAA regional finals for the first time since 2011, the Huskers started over with a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer (Beason). Cook’s Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season. Despite having no seniors on the roster for just the second time in Cook’s time at Nebraska - as well as starting a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure - the Huskers earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the sixth time overall under Cook.• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.&nbsp;

Huskers face first B1G road test at Illinois

Seniors Juwan Gary and Brice Williams will join Coach Fred Hoiberg at Big Ten Basketball Media Day Presented by TIAA on Thursday.&nbsp; Coach Hoiberg and the Husker players will meet with local, regional and national media in preparation for the 2024-25 season.

The Big Ten Network will have seven hours of coverage on Thursday.&nbsp; B1G Live: Men’s Basketball Coaches Roundtable will be from 9-11 a.m. as Dave Revsine and Rick Pizzo will interview all 18 coaches in six panel discussions. Hoiberg will join USC’s Eric Musselman and Indiana’s Mike Woodson at 10 a.m. (central).

Revsine, Pizzo and analysts Rapheal Davis, Andy Katz, Bruce Weber and Don MacLean will be joined at the BTN set by the coaches and student athletes on B1G Live: Men’s Basketball Media Day Special from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.&nbsp; The Nebraska contingent will be on the broadcast at 1:15 p.m. (central).

Gary is entering his third season as a starter for the Huskers and has played a major role in the Huskers’ success the past two seasons. Last year, Gary played in 28 games, including 20 starts, and averaged 11.6 points per game on 50 percent shooting and 6.1 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-6 forward has made a name for himself as one of the Big Ten’s best defensive players as he helped NU rank in the top 50 nationally in defensive efficiency in 2023-24. Gary topped NU in both blocks and steals and ranked second on the Huskers with five double-doubles in 2023-24.

Williams enters his second season at Nebraska after starting all 34 games a year ago, as Nebraska won 23 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, ranking second on the team in scoring, steals and blocked shots and third in both rebounds and assists per game. Williams closed the season with a flourish, averaging 23.3 ppg on 50 percent shooting in the Huskers’ three postseason games, as he closed the year with three straight 20-point efforts. Williams has scored over 1,250 points in his college career, which included three seasons at Charlotte.

The BTN broadcast will also be available on the Fox Sport app.&nbsp; Additional coverage will be on Nebraska men’s basketball social media channels (HuskerMBB on X and Instagram) and via&nbsp;the Big Ten Network’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/x.com/BigTenNetwork__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskaXT8ydaQ$">X</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.facebook.com/BTN/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskal85HxSU$">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LeRw7pIZ_kseS4Krn_DQA__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskatmGJ55o$">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.instagram.com/bigtennetwork/?hl=en__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskaLcfm4C8$">Instagram</a>&nbsp;platforms.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsSeniors Juwan Gary and Brice Williams will join Coach Fred Hoiberg at Big Ten Basketball Media Day Presented by TIAA on Thursday.&nbsp; Coach Hoiberg and the Husker players will meet with local, regional and national media in preparation for the 2024-25 season.The Big Ten Network will have seven hours of coverage on Thursday.&nbsp; B1G Live: Men’s Basketball Coaches Roundtable will be from 9-11 a.m. as Dave Revsine and Rick Pizzo will interview all 18 coaches in six panel discussions. Hoiberg will join USC’s Eric Musselman and Indiana’s Mike Woodson at 10 a.m. (central).Revsine, Pizzo and analysts Rapheal Davis, Andy Katz, Bruce Weber and Don MacLean will be joined at the BTN set by the coaches and student athletes on B1G Live: Men’s Basketball Media Day Special from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.&nbsp; The Nebraska contingent will be on the broadcast at 1:15 p.m. (central).Gary is entering his third season as a starter for the Huskers and has played a major role in the Huskers’ success the past two seasons. Last year, Gary played in 28 games, including 20 starts, and averaged 11.6 points per game on 50 percent shooting and 6.1 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-6 forward has made a name for himself as one of the Big Ten’s best defensive players as he helped NU rank in the top 50 nationally in defensive efficiency in 2023-24. Gary topped NU in both blocks and steals and ranked second on the Huskers with five double-doubles in 2023-24.Williams enters his second season at Nebraska after starting all 34 games a year ago, as Nebraska won 23 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, ranking second on the team in scoring, steals and blocked shots and third in both rebounds and assists per game. Williams closed the season with a flourish, averaging 23.3 ppg on 50 percent shooting in the Huskers’ three postseason games, as he closed the year with three straight 20-point efforts. Williams has scored over 1,250 points in his college career, which included three seasons at Charlotte.The BTN broadcast will also be available on the Fox Sport app.&nbsp; Additional coverage will be on Nebraska men’s basketball social media channels (HuskerMBB on X and Instagram) and via&nbsp;the Big Ten Network’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/x.com/BigTenNetwork__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskaXT8ydaQ$">X</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.facebook.com/BTN/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskal85HxSU$">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LeRw7pIZ_kseS4Krn_DQA__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskatmGJ55o$">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.instagram.com/bigtennetwork/?hl=en__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!BjMuQaGvNdOYmaZ7fq7Ca6RUkQk4W177cDYjyKMStPi1iQahJnOGNQOQto4ZgcoqRg_22-xnKhxsPskaLcfm4C8$">Instagram</a>&nbsp;platforms.

Gary, Williams to represent Huskers at Big Ten Basketball Media Day

CSC Football Head Coach Jay Long breaks down Saturday's game at Mesa, the team's "Tell the Truth Sunday" meeting, highlights an incredible special teams effort, looks ahead to the Adams State game and more!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666116284028.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CSC Football Head Coach Jay Long breaks down Saturday's game at Mesa, the team's "Tell the Truth Sunday" meeting, highlights an incredible special teams effort, looks ahead to the Adams State game and more!<div><iframe title="Jay Long Show - October 1, 2024" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=9aebi-16ef22d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=c73a3a" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎙 PODCAST: Jay Long Show - October 1, 2024

Alliance, Neb. - The Alliance Girls Golf team hosted the Alliance Girls Golf Invite on Monday featuring teams from around the Panhandle. The tournament featured two divisions, division one and division two. The invite was held at the Skyview Golf Course in Alliance. Below are the results from the invite.&nbsp;

3rd - Elliot Selzer (Scottsbluff) score: 91

To check out the pull results from the Alliance Girls Golf Invite, check out the results below.

***Results courtesy of Alliance Girls Golf

Alliance Girls Golf Invite Results (9/30/24)

North Platte St Patrick's won't have a game next week due to a forfeit by Southern Valley. The Eagles announced Tuesday that they have cancelled the rest of there season due to low player numbers at Southern Valley. Saint Patrick's does play Dundy County-Stratton Thursday night in Benkelman.

Story by North Platte Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727803003304.jpeg" alt="Statement provided by Southern Valley" />
 <figcaption>Statement provided by Southern Valley</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte St Patrick's won't have a game next week due to a forfeit by Southern Valley. The Eagles announced Tuesday that they have cancelled the rest of there season due to low player numbers at Southern Valley. Saint Patrick's does play Dundy County-Stratton Thursday night in Benkelman.

Southern Valley cancels the remainder of their Football season

Receiving Votes: Lincoln Southeast (3-1), RV; Omaha Central (2-3), NR

Receiving Votes: Gretna (2-3), RV; Blair (2-3), 9

Class C-1&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking

Receiving Votes: Auburn (4-1), RV; Roncalli Catholic (3-2), RV

Class C-2&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking

10. Grand Island Central Catholic (4-1), 10

Eight Man-1&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking

Receiving Votes: Lourdes Central Catholic (4-1), NR

Eight Man-2&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking

Receiving Votes: Ainsworth (2-3), RV; Axtell (1-4), NR;

Receiving Votes: Leyton (3-1), NR; Paxton (3-1), NR

Story by Hurrdat Sports<h2>Class A&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Millard South (4-1), 12. Omaha Westside (5-0), 23. Elkhorn South (5-0), 34. Papillion-La Vista (5-0), 55. Millard North (3-2), 66. Kearney (4-1), 47. Omaha North (3-2), 88. Bellevue West (3-2), 99. Creighton Prep (3-2), 710. Millard West (1-4), RVReceiving Votes: Lincoln Southeast (3-1), RV; Omaha Central (2-3), NR<h2>Class B&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Bennington (5-0), 12. Skutt Catholic (5-0), 23. Seward (5-0), 34. Elkhorn North (5-0), 45. Scottsbluff (4-1), 56. Waverly (3-2), 67. Norris (3-2), 78. McCook (4-1), 109. Lincoln Pius X (2-3), 810. York (4-1), RVReceiving Votes: Gretna (2-3), RV; Blair (2-3), 9<h2>Class C-1&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Wahoo (5-0), 12. Sidney (5-0), 23. Ashland-Greenwood (4-1), 34. Columbus Lakeview (5-0), 45. Boys Town (5-0), 66. Chadron (5-0), 87. Central City (4-1), 78. Cozad (4-1), 59. Fort Calhoun (4-1), 910. Scotus Central Catholic (4-1), 10Receiving Votes: Auburn (4-1), RV; Roncalli Catholic (3-2), RV<h2>Class C-2&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Norfolk Catholic (5-0), 12. Battle Creek (5-0), 23. Bishop Neumann (4-1), 34. Oakland-Craig (4-1), 45. Boone Central (3-2), 56. Hartington Cedar Catholic (4-1), 67. Malcolm (4-1), 78. Kearney Catholic (5-0), 89. Raymond Central (5-0), 910. Grand Island Central Catholic (4-1), 10Receiving Votes: None<h2>Eight Man-1&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Stanton (5-0), 12. Sandy Creek (5-0), 23. Summerland (4-1), 34. Arapahoe (5-0), 45. Crofton (4-1), 56. North Platte St. Patrick’s (5-0), 77. Shelby Rising City (4-1), 88. Dundy County Stratton (4-1), 69. Plainview (3-2), 910. Johnson-Brock (4-1), NRReceiving Votes: Lourdes Central Catholic (4-1), NR<h2>Eight Man-2&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Sandhills/Thedford (5-0), 12. Central Valley (4-1), 23. Archangels Catholic (5-0), 34. Bruning-Davenport/Schickley (5-0), 45. Howells-Dodge (5-0), 56. Overton (5-0), 77. Riverside (3-2), 68. Loomis (5-0), 89. Weeping Water (5-0), RV10. Hitchcock County (4-1), 10Receiving Votes: Ainsworth (2-3), RV; Axtell (1-4), NR;<h2>Six Man&nbsp;(Record), Previous Ranking</h2>1. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (4-0), 12. Hay Springs (4-0), 23. Pawnee City (4-0), 34. Arthur County (4-0), 45. Stuart (3-1), 56. Red Cloud (4-0), 67. Garden County (4-0), 78. Hampton (3-1), 99. Sliver Lake (3-1), RV10. Wallace (3-1), NRReceiving Votes: Leyton (3-1), NR; Paxton (3-1), NR

Nebraska High School Football Coaches Poll 9.30.24

Receiving Votes:&nbsp;York (12-5), RV.

Receiving Votes:&nbsp;Chase County (11-4), NR; Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (14-2), RV; Wahoo (9-5), NR.&nbsp;

Receiving Votes:&nbsp;Alma (14-5), 8; Burwell (9-8), NR; Cedar Catholic (9-11), NR; High Plains (13-5), RV.&nbsp;

Receiving votes:&nbsp;Garden County (12-3), RV

Story by Hurrdat SportsClass A (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Omaha Westside (16-2), 2&nbsp;</li><li>Papillon-LaVista South (20-3), 1&nbsp;</li><li>Lincoln Southwest (12-4), 6&nbsp;</li><li>Millard West (17-7), 4</li><li>Elkhorn South (13-5), 3</li><li>Millard North (11-9), 5</li><li>Grand Island (13-6), 8&nbsp;</li><li>Fremont (16-3), 7</li><li>Lincoln North Star (10-7), 9</li><li>Omaha Marian (12-10), 10</li>
 </ol>Receiving Votes:&nbsp;none.Class B (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Skutt Catholic (15-4), 1</li><li>Norris (22-1), 2</li><li>Elkhorn North (16-5), 3</li><li>Gretna East (17-4), 4</li><li>Waverly (14-5), 5</li><li>Bennington (13-6), 7&nbsp;</li><li>Seward (13-3), 8</li><li>Gretna (14-10), 6</li><li>Northwest (11-7), 9</li><li>Lincoln Pius X (6-16), 10</li>
 </ol>Receiving Votes:&nbsp;York (12-5), RV.Class C-1 (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Minden (22-0), 1</li><li>Columbus Scotus (14-2), 4&nbsp;</li><li>Clarkson/Leigh (17-2), 2&nbsp;</li><li>Pierce (10-3), 5</li><li>Columbus Lakeview (6-4), 10</li><li>David City (9-5), RV</li><li>Kearney Catholic (9-2), 3</li><li>Battle Creek (9-4), 7&nbsp;</li><li>Holdrege (7-1), RV</li><li>Milford (10-5), NR</li>
 </ol>Receiving Votes:&nbsp;Chase County (11-4), NR; Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (14-2), RV; Wahoo (9-5), NR.&nbsp;Class C-2 (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Lincoln Lutheran (16-1), 1</li><li>Yutan (18-0), 2</li><li>Freeman (16-1), 6&nbsp;</li><li>Oakland-Craig (18-4), 3&nbsp;</li><li>Thayer Central (10-0), 4&nbsp;</li><li>Humphrey/Lindsay Academy (17-2), 7</li><li>Norfolk Catholic (12-2), 9</li><li>Hastings St. Cecilia (14-4), 5</li><li>Crofton (12-4), 8</li><li>Bishop Neumann (14-6), NR</li>
 </ol>Receiving Votes:&nbsp;none.Class D-1 (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Southwest (17-0), 1</li><li>Superior (16-3), 2</li><li>Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (10-3), 4&nbsp;</li><li>Brady, (13-4), 3</li><li>Kenesaw (14-4), 9&nbsp;</li><li>Howells-Dodge (10-5), 7&nbsp;</li><li>Ansley-Litchfield (14-6), 6</li><li>Diller-Odell (8-7), 5&nbsp;</li><li>Tri-County (12-6), 10</li><li>Exeter-Milligan/Friend (6-3), RV</li>
 </ol>Receiving Votes:&nbsp;Alma (14-5), 8; Burwell (9-8), NR; Cedar Catholic (9-11), NR; High Plains (13-5), RV.&nbsp;Class D-2 (Record), Previous<ol>
 <li>Overton (16-2), 1</li><li>Shelton (11-2), 3&nbsp;</li><li>Leyton (19-0), 5</li><li>Central Valley (12-4), 4&nbsp;</li><li>Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (15-3), 2</li><li>Amherst (14-5), 6</li><li>Meridian (9-4), 7</li><li>Stuart (15-3), 10</li><li>Loomis (12-5), 9</li><li>Wynot (7-3), 8</li>
 </ol>Receiving votes:&nbsp;Garden County (12-3), RV

Nebraska High School Volleyball Coaches Poll 9.30.24

Story by NU Athletic Communications&nbsp;

On Coach Greg Schiano “There’s lots of coaches who are regarded as the best coaches in college football. Not many could do what he’s done. Speaking as a guy who won at Temple, you go win at Rutgers, not many people have won there. He won at a high level and he came back and he’s winning on a high level. He’s a great football coach zero point blank. He’s a great builder. He’s elevated that entire university. I have the utmost respect for him. When he speaks, I listen. I just have a lot of respect for him.”&nbsp;

On Gunnar Gottula “I think Gunnar (Gottula) played well. There’s some things he wants to continue to work his anchor on. He’s getting more speed and power on him. He continues to work on it. That’s the really important thing this week. There’s no better coached defensive front you’ll see than the Rutgers D-Line. I think our guys know that from playing them two years ago. What I like about Rutgers is that there’s not a lot of transfers. There’s a lot of homegrown talent. A lot of tough northeast kids that play really hard. Gunnar (Gottula) will have to do better. That’s credit to our guys on our scout team. We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of football on our scout team that give them a really good look.”&nbsp;

On Javin Wright “Javin (Wright) went in as a nickel and dime role. When this first happened we never thought he’d be able to play at this point. Dr. (Tabatha) Matthias and our team doctor and the work he’s done with our specialists. We were hoping for maybe USC. The hard part about my job is that I only get called in when it’s the heartbreaking conversations. I’m not the position coach, I’m not there for the day-to-day good ones. I was there for that one with Javin (Wright) and his father, just like I was with Rahmir (Johnson) last year when his season was over. Those things are heartbreaking, so just to see the joy on Javin’s face to play was a moment that will stay with me for a while. How he played doesn’t necessarily even matter to be quite honest, but I think he played well. He’ll play more this week. He hasn’t been able to do a thing. It wasn’t like he was coming back from an ankle, he was dealing with blood clots so he hasn’t done a thing. He said, ‘I’m a ninth-year senior’ or whatever he is, so he has a lot of reps in the bank.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Tommi Hill’s status and other injuries “Tommi (Hill) went out like the NFL, about two hours before the game and worked out and just didn’t feel like he could quite go on it. He ran today and it felt good. I would anticipate Tommi (Hill) getting a chance to play this week. That will probably be another gametime decision. The plantar fasciitis is all pain threshold so it’s not like you can tough it out. I’ve seen guys miss a long time with it. He’s doing everything he can to play, so we’ll see.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Micah Mazzccua “I wouldn’t start him. He was a back up before this happened. When he came out of the Colorado game, Tossy was put ahead of him. I love Micah (Mazzccua). I’m working with him to make him the best that he can be. You guys talk a lot about him, but he’s a backup player for us. Micah (Mazzccua) was suspended last week, so he was reinstituted this week. That was the middle of the week that it happened, so that wasn’t something I was anticipating to be quite honest.”&nbsp;

On Stefon Thompson “Stefon Thompson has a sprained foot, but he ran quite well today. We’re anticipating him to practice tomorrow.”

On the officiating in the Purdue game “You send in questions you have. They’ll send you back whether they agree or disagree. There’s a weekly tape that they send you that has points of emphasis from the week before. It’s from the whole league, so you can hear what’s being said to the officials. If it’s something that rises to a higher level, you might get on the phone with someone. I got a penalty because I injected myself in the game so I made a call to figure out what I did right or wrong. You just send your plays in and get them back and they tell you what they agree or disagree. As much as anything, you’re trying to figure out as the rules change, can we do this can we not do this. What used to be a great play is now a penalty sometimes.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Alex Bullock “Alex (Bullock) was one of those guys we talked about in the team meeting. We ran that play earlier in the game. They run with motion so if you send a guy in jet motion, they chase them. Last week Oregon State had a lot of success with handing the ball off. For the past two years, that’s kind of one of the things you do against Purdue is you hand off jet sweeps. They made the decision, we actually practiced it, to rock and roll the safeties, which is a little more complex, but it’s better in terms of sweep speed. On the first one, Alex is going to go block the man-to-man guy, but the man-to-man guy doesn’t come. He sees a safety, he tries to veer off, he goes to block them and then misses them, so it’s a 4 yard gain. They get a 15 yard penalty for throwing his legs or whatever. I yelled at Alex on the sideline, he was about ready to fight me. They ran it again, Alex sees it and makes the block. Jacory runs for a touchdown. Alex turns around and does this passionate movement. I don’t know if he was telling me to get lost or if he was just fired up. It’s those kinds of things we’re really trying to build off of. Preparing through the event, seeing how people are playing you, what do we need to do differently this game based upon what they’re doing. We’re in warm-ups and number 4 goes from playing middle linebacker to edge player and figuring out how we’re going to play this. Now no longer is 31 the deep safety, now he’s down low, 32 is a deep safety. That’s the hard thing about playing a team that’s struggling. They’ve lost two games, so they’re probably going to make some fundamental changes. Alex is more and more and more becoming the guy who the coaches or Dylan (Raiola) will be like ‘can I have Alex on this play.’ He’s the guy that figures out how to get the job done, especially on special teams. He was excellent on special teams. The issue with special teams is that field goals were so front and center that it was a heck of a day for Brian Buschini. Five touchbacks in hurricane type conditions. Amazing tackle that lit the team up. He was able to field both those snaps that were really bad snaps, get them down, and then made both tackles on those plays. The first one should’ve been down at the 2, and one at the 10 and one at the 4.&nbsp; Buschini was magnificent. Bullock was an unsung hero, a guy that no one is noticing.”&nbsp;

On turnovers overall “Yes. I thought that if we could just not turn the ball over, we would have a chance. Games will be close, we’ll have a chance to win the game at the end. I didn’t probably prepare for us being as explosive as we are. Even in the first half, I showed our guys – forgive me, the numbers might be off – 32 plays for 210 yards in the first half, 27 plays for 208 yards in the second half. It wasn’t like we weren’t explosive. What you’re seeing, I think, is you’re seeing other people slow the game down, run the ball, try to bleed our defense, try to keep us off the field. You could see a quarterback going out there and saying ‘I’m going to be extra aggressive because I’m not getting a lot of plays.’ We played 57 plays on offense. What I like about Dylan (Raiola) is he’s checking the ball down, he’s getting completions, he’s moving the ball. I think the turnover margin, we’ve won it in every game except one where we tied it. Even in the game we lost, we won the turnover margin. I’d still love to see us get way more. We have five sacks, but no sacks with fumbles. That’s not good enough. I say that because the guys in our meeting – Ty Robinson – comes and barrels through and sacks the quarterback, he’s the first one to say ‘I should’ve knocked the ball out there.’ There are a lot of places we have to improve.”

On creating explosive plays and what the offense has done better than he thought they would “I think we’ve had the ability to get the ball to a bunch of different people. You can’t sit there and key in on ‘hey, they really like to favor (Isaiah) Neyor, hey they really like to favor this guy.’ If you throw in the pass interferences, I think we had seven 20+ yard plays, I think that would’ve been 10, 11, 12. We’re able to go out and throw general tempo dropbacks, and we’re holding up in protections. Emmett (Johnson) and Rahmir (Johnson) were excellent at blitzes. I think that’s allowed us to do some catch and run type things. There’s some things I’d like to see more of. We weren’t great in the red zone. The first half, we were 0-for-2 in the red zone and we were 2-for-2 in the second half, which is why the game changed. Third down was disappointing. You look at it, it was 4th and 1 and we false started. It was 3rd and 1 and we false started. I told our guys, it’s time for grown man football. ‘I thought I heard him call it’ – enough of that. If we can stay on the field a little bit more, maybe get a few more turnovers with the defense, we’ll really see some explosive things happen. You face some teams like Rutgers, who don’t give up explosive plays. They make you earn it. Coach (Greg) Schiano doesn’t give up explosive plays. They’re going to play quarters, they’re going to make you earn it. They will pressure you. We’re built like we want you to pressure us, we get the ball out of our hand. They sit there and play three or four quarters with rugged, rugged players and they’ll try to knock you back into the quarterback’s lap. It’s a whole different animal that we’re facing this week with the way they play.”

On if Rutgers’ game versus Washington is a template “I think they are in the top two or three. They convert third downs 51 percent. They have 33 minutes in time possession. They are top 10 in red zone defense. Washington had a ton of yards, but they were one for five for touchdowns in the red zone. Even the touchdown we scored, we had to go on fourth and inches to get it in. So, for us we are throwing the ball around decently. Can we get the tough yards? Can we get the fourth and one? Can we get the third and one without everything having to be a speed sweep? Can we line up and knock them back and go and get that yard. We need to look at the things that we are not doing well. So it’s hard tough yards that I am anxious to see.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Rutgers blocking kicks and how they will address it “Last week wasn’t the field goal protection team. It was the snapper. If you’re kicking the ball at one five. To me, it’s the snapper. We practice so much on special teams, on field goals, on punts, all those things. If there’s a problem, we will fix it. But if you have to start changing things now, then we are panicked. We know what to do. I mean that sincerely, we know what to do and we have the guys who can do it. They have to go do it. That’s the phase we are in. You have to hear me talk about winning football, championship football. You can’t be a different guy and practice than you are in the games. We’re making those kicks in practice everyday. I expect us to make them in the games. So, they are going to come after us. They should come after us. One thing we are doing is, after the first punt, if you go back to the last couple of games, the punters are getting the ball against us at 1.1, 1.2 in the balls are going 30 to 45 yards and going out of bounds. Our punt rush team hasn’t made the big play that everyone goes wow with. But the field is being tilted in our favor. We are getting the ball at the 35 yard line. They are getting the ball at the five. If anything, I am coachable. I watch Coach (Kirk) Ferentz and these guys. I am like, ‘Okay, how are the winning in these elements?’ The elements haven’t shown up yet but they are going to come after us. We have good players. They have to play well and that’s really been my message to the team is you can’t all of the sudden change who you are. If you’re going to be fast be fast. If you’re going to be tough be tough and it will be against a really good Rutgers team.”&nbsp;

On Ceyair Wright “He’s really smart. At the end of the day if you’re smart and you try, you have a chance. Some guys play football because they are talented. Some guys play because they are football players. I don’t know if that makes sense. Some people lift weights because they are lifters. Some people run because they are runners. Ceyair (Wright) is a football guy. He is a football player. He shows up and you’re not pulling teeth. We have some guys who are really talented and you’re trying to get to be a football player and they want to be everything else. Ceyair’s a football guy. He’s played a ton of football at a high level at USC. The moment is not too big for him. He likes to compete. He had to learn our way of doing things. Our way of practice. He’s a really good person. So when you do correct him on something like ‘hey, here’s what we expect.’ He does it. I think John Butler has done a really good job. (Rashaan) Melvin and Adam DiMichele and Tariq (Thompson) help him. They do a good job of getting him to represent. If you go back to that game we had Mario Buford in there playing. We rotated more guys. Jeremiah Charles got real reps, so we wanted to get more people in the games and be fresh in the fourth quarter.”&nbsp;

On Dylan Raiola going to a silent cadence and if this is rare “The thing we’ve done with Dylan is we’ve said everything in life happens for a reason. I had a chance to work with a guy named Ben McAdoo at the end of my Carolina time. It didn’t work out for us, but Ben had been with (Mike) McCarthy and all those guys in the Green Bay. The way they train you in Green Bay, they start the year off, here’s our four or five man beaters. Here’s our zero bit beaters. Here’s our cadences. When you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers you train them that way and pretty soon he has all the answers to the test. So what we do with Dylan from day one is however we want Dylan to play as a junior, we are trying to coach him that way now. Same thing with Danny Kaelin. Here’s your cadences. Here’s your checks. Here’s your audibles. Before the half, they brought 0 in and he checked the route to Rahmir (Johnson) and just missed him. We’re living with those things. I could have just won them but if we have coached them up and they’ve put the system in that’s really high level stuff because he can. He works at reps. I’m in my office earlier today, and he (Dylan) steps into my office and talks about things they do and asks ‘Can I do this? Can I do that?’ I think he’s rare. I think the confidence the coaching staff has given him to go do it and I think his preparation is way, way over here.”&nbsp;

On veteran receivers “They are growing too. They are in territory they haven’t been in before. They haven’t been 4-1 right? I don’t know how many road games they’ve won. They haven’t done those things. So, it’s this humble confidence to stand your ground. Be confident in the things you know you’re confident about, but also be humble and say ‘Hey, what do we need to improve on?’ Can you come in this week and can you have the same edge to you as you had last week about what we need to get better at. At the same time being confident. Knowing that they are good players. They have worked hard. A lot of those guys, they are all growing. I don’t think it’s age as much as it is ‘hey, what does this take?’ What does this require? You watch Purdue and they gave up, I don’t know how many yards they gave up to Notre Dame, but it was a bad day. They gave up 300 and some yards rushing to Oregon State. We don’t really have a running quarterback and their defensive head coach is not going to give up 200, 300 yards rushing three games in a row. He’s just not going to do it. They played man and left their guys on an island out there, so we went and threw those balls. I think our guys are learning that ‘Hey, just because we’re winning a few games, now people are going to be different against us.’ I’ve got to recognize what’s happening in the game. This is a cover two game. Them seeing the preparation. The things that we are working on showing up. Like, Barrett Liebentritt had the same play in practice, and it looked very good. We showed it to the whole team. He got in the game and he absolutely took out two guys. Practice matters. The guy that he hit in practice was Marques Buford, who is a two ACLs, bad shoulder, bad hit, bad neck, but he plays in every play, but he’s out there in his blackshirt competing. So I think, those older guys, being coachable. They still have a lot of say in things. Even some of the discipline issues that I’m dealing with guys on the team. I take those things like the leadership council like ‘hey, how do you guys think we should handle this?’ I haven’t done that in a long time but I am taking it to them because it matters. I don’t want to talk about the guys that aren’t doing things right. I have so many guys who are doing things right. I am just blessed to have guys like Tommi Hill battling to play and to get back out there.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Emmett Johnson and if he needs to rethink how he runs the running back group “I said last week that we’d like to get him more involved. Maybe a little bit earlier, we should’ve. I still think there’s a rhythm to it. Tackling Dante (Dowdell) is really hard. On the first touchdown drive, that’s a 2nd and 1 or 2nd and 2 and Dante bounces the ball outside and there’s two defenders there and he sets his pads and he runs right through them. If we ask Rahmir (Johnson) and Emmett to do all those things early in the game, they’re not going to be explosive late in the game. Having the big backs, you just have to understand that they’re setting the tone for the run game. What I loved about what Emmett did was that Emmett caught the ball out of the backfield, he picked up blitzes, the first guy never tackled him. We have our little keys to the game and one of the things for this week was get the ball to the perimeter and be untackleable. Don’t let them tackle you. Even an outside zone, when he cuts back, he gets nine yards because the first guy is never really tackling Emmett. I’m watching Gabe (Ervin Jr.) practice last week. Gabe came off of a major injury, he’s getting his swagger back. (Kwinten) Ives can go in and play. I like what Emmett did. Emmett deserves to keep playing. He was one of the ones we singled out out there, just because he did so many things. Maybe it wasn’t one huge play, he certainly built me up after my penalty, which I appreciate. I’m very grateful for that.”

On Rutgers’ Running Back Kyle Monangai&nbsp;&nbsp;“He’s like the Matrix. Nothing ever hits him. He’s running and he has such elite body balance and contact balance. He sees it coming, so no one ever gets a true shot on him. It’s always a glancing blow. I think he’s really, really, really a great player. Their offensive line coach, Pat (Flaherty), he was like my mentor when I was at New York. One thing I know about Flahts is that they’re going to set their pads and come off the ball. They’re going to be well-coached, they’re going to be physical. You watch their guys, when there’s a pile, their guys are running into the pile and trying to knock it forward. That’s the kind of offense people play against us – ‘we’re going to get 3, 4, 5 yards to stay on the field and try to wear you down.’ That’s a heck of a challenge for us, and he brings in the element – they had him backed up against Washington and three guys hit him and he can run for 60. When he gets tired, they can bring in Sam Brown and he’s 227 pounds and an excellent back. They’ve got two of the best backs we’ll see.”

On how the defense is handling that style of play “I think we wouldn’t have been pleased with it in games three and four. Last game, I thought we were better at it. The way we play, with the amount of movement and pressure and all that, a play is going to hit now and then because we’re moving. I thought, to hold them to 52 yards rushing, they came in and were averaging a lot more than that. We prepared for the outside zones. We knocked the outside zones out pretty quickly, and then it became some of the downhill stuff. I think it was that first drive of the third quarter, the guys on the headset said they were going with the Illinois plan. Our guys on defense understand, Illinois hasn’t shown this but they’re going to against us. Rutgers is a difficult run game for us because of the way they run the football. They’re going to run duo, they run zone, they run the quarterback a great deal. The quarterback might be coming out to throw RPOs, but he’s an athletic player. We played against him at Minnesota. There’s a lot of really difficult challenges this week. It’ll be quite a test for our defense.”

On John Bullock “I like the fact that he is a fifth or sixth-year player, and he just keeps getting better. He’s the Will linebacker in Tampa 2 when he picked off versus three by one. They ran that same play twice before, and he almost went and got it, then he finally just went and got it. While he is a fifth-year player, he’s only played linebacker about 14 games. Last year we had Luke (Reimer) and Nick (Henrich) out there a bunch, and they rotated a bunch. He’s still a young player in terms of his development as a linebacker, but he gets better, and better, and better. He’s always working on something. He’s working on getting off blocks, or striking, or blitz patterns, or playing man. If all of our team was like John in terms of the constant search for improvement and deliberate practice, we’d have a hard time losing. He’s always trying to get better. Hopefully we get Stefon Thompson this week, we got Javin Wright back in the mix, and Vincent Shavers is really stepping up. John doesn’t have to play as many snaps so his snaps, he can make impact plays like he did. He’s really affecting the ball, he got his hand on the ball three times against Colorado, one against UNI, last week he took the ball away when he ripped it out. This week he picks the ball off. When we’re talking about turnover margin, we’re saying ‘the defense is taking the ball away’ really he’s taking the ball away. Even the play that Tommi (Hill) picked off, they wanted to throw the ball to the number two option, he rolled in the window, so Shedeur (Sanders) had to go outside to number one and he picked that ball off. John has just done a lot of nuanced things.”&nbsp;

On Ndamukong Suh being inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame “I don’t even want to think about when I crossed paths with him in the NFL, he’s just so dominant. He was a Heisman candidate as a defensive player, he’s the most dominant defensive player at least in my recent college history. What I love about Ndamukong is as dominant as he’s been on the field, then he shows philanthropy giving back to the university which you don’t always see. The weight room is named after him because of him and his family’s generous gift. When you play against him in the NFL, he’s just vicious and an amazing competitor. He was in Tampa Bay, he was hard to block. Yet you look at the impact he’s having on young people in terms of saving, in terms of investments, coming back, helping guys with NIL in terms of how to manage their money. His purpose in life is way more than just football. I’m excited to have him back, I think it’ll be great for our players. Hopefully he can come visit with our guys, it’s really a great powerful message for our guys when your players see that the best days of their lives aren’t their recruiting rankings, or not how they were drafted. Each thing should be better than the next. Life after football should be the ultimate. Ndomukong comes in with a beautiful wife and great kids doing amazing things, he’s a tremendous role model.”

On his thoughts on what’s going on in North Carolina&nbsp;“I’ve had two stints of living in North Carolina, obviously I was in Charlotte with Carolina. I have a lot of great friends there and people we love. Our concern, our heart has been there. When Julie and I first left, we lived out in Western North Carolina. Just out past Asheville in Cullowhee, where Western Carolina University is. All those wonderful people in those small towns up through Tennessee and down through Georgia, my heart is certainly with them. As someone who has been part of a few of those kind of disasters, you see the absolute worst, and then sometimes you have a chance to see the absolute best. People picking up and leaving their lives to run and help. It’s sad, it’s unfortunate, and I met so many wonderful people during both my stints in North Carolina. My daughters still go to camp in Western North Carolina. All these people that we care about, we’ve been on the phone, we’ve been concerned. We’ve talked to a few people, some people we haven’t had a chance to talk to yet. We’ve been a little heavy-hearted over all that. Our hope is that the best part of man will step up at these times.”

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule pre-Rutgers press conference

Hamish Murray scorched the University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wisconsin for a collegiate career-best 66 (-6) to fly 45 spots up the leaderboard on Monday at the Badger Invitational.

Murray, a senior from Sydney, Australia, recorded seven birdies along with 10 pars against just one bogey to move from a tie for 62nd after Sunday's opening round to a tie for 17th. Murray played the back nine on Monday at 31 with four consecutive birdies on No. 10, 11, 12 and 13 before adding a birdie on No. 16.

Murray and teammate Rudy Sautron closed the day in a tie for 17th at 143 (-1) through 36 holes in the 90-player field on the 7,286-yard layout at University Ridge. Sautron, a sophomore from Reunion Island, France, produced a 71 (-1) on Monday that included his third eagle of the young season on the par-5 ninth hole.

Redshirt sophomore Evan McDermott continued his solid play with a one-under-par 71 of his own, as he moved to the final round in 25th at even-par 144.&nbsp;

True freshman Brodie Cunningham rounded out Nebraska's team score in the five-count-four format with an even-par 72. Cunningham opened the tournament with a 73 on Sunday, including an eagle on the par-5 second hole. Cunningham is tied for 29th at 145 (+1) heading to the final round.

Nebraska closed the day with a 280 (-8) team score to climb three spots in the standings to seventh in the 16-team field. The Huskers are 14 strokes behind the hosts from Wisconsin (561), but just five strokes from fourth place heading to the final round.

Long Beach State and Northern Illinois are tied for second at 563 (-13), while Illinois State sits in fourth at 571 (-5).

The Badger Invitational concludes with Tuesday's final round beginning at 9 a.m. (CT).

Badger InvitationalSeptember 29-October 1, 2024University Ridge GC (Par 72, 7,286 Yards)Verona, WisconsinTeam Standings (Two Rounds)1. Wisconsin - 281-280=561 (-15)T2. Northern Illinois - 283-280-563 (-13)T2. Long Beach State - 286-277=563 (-13)4. Illinois State - 282-289=571 (-5)5. Washington State - 288-284=572 (-4)6. Southern Miss - 289-285=574 (-2)7. Nebraska - 295-280=575 (-1)8. Memphis - 290-287=577 (+1)9. Minnesota - 292-288=580 (+4)10. South Dakota State - 294-296=590 (+14)11. Ball State - 304-288=592 (+16)T12. Western Kentucky - 306-287=593 (+17)T12. Southern Illinois - 295-298=593 (+17)14. Winthrop - 304-290=594 (+18)15. VCU - 303-295=598 (+22)16. Green Bay - 305-303=608 (+32)Individual Standings (Two Rounds)1. William Harned, Wisconsin - 66-68=134 (-10)T2. Sam Renner, Washington State - 69-67=136 (-8)T2. Felix Krammer, Northern Illinois - 64-72=136 (-8)T4. Alejandro De Castro, Long Beach State - 76-63=139 (-5)T4. TJ Barger, Illinois State - 69-70=139 (-5)T4. Patrick Raupp, Northern Illinois - 72-67=139 (-5)T4. Clay Seeber, Long Beach State - 69-70=139 (-5)*T8. Pattanan Bruminhent, Northern Illinois - 69-71=140 (-4)T8. Yixiang Wang, Memphis - 72-68=140 (-4)10. Jason Schwartz, Wisconsin - 70-71-141 (-3)Nebraska IndividualsT17. Hamish Murray - 77-66=143 (-1)T17. Rudy Sautron - 72-71=143 (-1)T25. Evan McDermott - 73-71=144 (E)T29. Brodie Cunningham - 73-72=145 (+1)T60. Quinn Yost - 78-73=151 (+7)

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsHamish Murray scorched the University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wisconsin for a collegiate career-best 66 (-6) to fly 45 spots up the leaderboard on Monday at the Badger Invitational.Murray, a senior from Sydney, Australia, recorded seven birdies along with 10 pars against just one bogey to move from a tie for 62nd after Sunday's opening round to a tie for 17th. Murray played the back nine on Monday at 31 with four consecutive birdies on No. 10, 11, 12 and 13 before adding a birdie on No. 16.Murray and teammate Rudy Sautron closed the day in a tie for 17th at 143 (-1) through 36 holes in the 90-player field on the 7,286-yard layout at University Ridge. Sautron, a sophomore from Reunion Island, France, produced a 71 (-1) on Monday that included his third eagle of the young season on the par-5 ninth hole.Redshirt sophomore Evan McDermott continued his solid play with a one-under-par 71 of his own, as he moved to the final round in 25th at even-par 144.&nbsp;True freshman Brodie Cunningham rounded out Nebraska's team score in the five-count-four format with an even-par 72. Cunningham opened the tournament with a 73 on Sunday, including an eagle on the par-5 second hole. Cunningham is tied for 29th at 145 (+1) heading to the final round.Nebraska closed the day with a 280 (-8) team score to climb three spots in the standings to seventh in the 16-team field. The Huskers are 14 strokes behind the hosts from Wisconsin (561), but just five strokes from fourth place heading to the final round.Long Beach State and Northern Illinois are tied for second at 563 (-13), while Illinois State sits in fourth at 571 (-5).The Badger Invitational concludes with Tuesday's final round beginning at 9 a.m. (CT).Badger InvitationalSeptember 29-October 1, 2024University Ridge GC (Par 72, 7,286 Yards)Verona, WisconsinTeam Standings (Two Rounds)1. Wisconsin - 281-280=561 (-15)T2. Northern Illinois - 283-280-563 (-13)T2. Long Beach State - 286-277=563 (-13)4. Illinois State - 282-289=571 (-5)5. Washington State - 288-284=572 (-4)6. Southern Miss - 289-285=574 (-2)7. Nebraska - 295-280=575 (-1)8. Memphis - 290-287=577 (+1)9. Minnesota - 292-288=580 (+4)10. South Dakota State - 294-296=590 (+14)11. Ball State - 304-288=592 (+16)T12. Western Kentucky - 306-287=593 (+17)T12. Southern Illinois - 295-298=593 (+17)14. Winthrop - 304-290=594 (+18)15. VCU - 303-295=598 (+22)16. Green Bay - 305-303=608 (+32)Individual Standings (Two Rounds)1. William Harned, Wisconsin - 66-68=134 (-10)T2. Sam Renner, Washington State - 69-67=136 (-8)T2. Felix Krammer, Northern Illinois - 64-72=136 (-8)T4. Alejandro De Castro, Long Beach State - 76-63=139 (-5)T4. TJ Barger, Illinois State - 69-70=139 (-5)T4. Patrick Raupp, Northern Illinois - 72-67=139 (-5)T4. Clay Seeber, Long Beach State - 69-70=139 (-5)*T8. Pattanan Bruminhent, Northern Illinois - 69-71=140 (-4)T8. Yixiang Wang, Memphis - 72-68=140 (-4)10. Jason Schwartz, Wisconsin - 70-71-141 (-3)Nebraska IndividualsT17. Hamish Murray - 77-66=143 (-1)T17. Rudy Sautron - 72-71=143 (-1)T25. Evan McDermott - 73-71=144 (E)T29. Brodie Cunningham - 73-72=145 (+1)T60. Quinn Yost - 78-73=151 (+7)

Murray fires career-best 66 in Wisconsin

Nebraska's Lauren Thiele put together rounds of 73 and 75 to close the first 36 holes tied atop the leaderboard at the Big O Classic in Omaha on Monday.

Thiele, a redshirt sophomore from Wahoo, Neb., shares the tournament lead with Omaha's Katie Ruge at 148 (+5) heading into Tuesday's final round on the par-72, 6,019-yard layout at the Oak Hills Country Club.

Thiele was joined in the top 10 by Husker teammates Danica Lundgren and Symran Shah. Lundgren, a freshman from Austin, Texas, matched Thiele with an opening-round 73, before adding a second-round 78. Lundgren is in sixth place at 151 (+7) through 36 holes.

Shah, a redshirt sophomore from Carrolltown, Texas, sits just one shot back of Lundgren in a tie for seventh at 152 (+8) after rounds of 73 and 79.&nbsp;

All three Huskers are playing as individuals in a 50-player field at the Big O Classic. They will challenge for the individual title on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. (CT). Live scoring is available from GolfStat.

Big O ClassicSeptember 30-October 1, 2024Omaha, NebraskaOak Hills Country Club (Par 72, 6,019 Yards)

Individual Standings (Two Rounds)T1. Katie Ruge, Omaha - 75-73=148 (+4)T1. Lauren Thiele, Nebraska - 73-75=148 (+4)3. Paula Sanchez, Lindenwood - 76-73=149 (+5)T4. Emily Karmazin, Omaha - 75-75=150 (+6)T4. Sydney Taake, Omaha - 74-76=150 (+6)6. Danica Lundgren, Nebraska - 73-78=151 (+7)T7. Olivia Holyoke-Church, Iowa Western CC - 76-76=152 (+8)T7. Symran Shah, Nebraska - 73-79=152 (+8)9. Isabelle Thrall, Drury - 78-75=153 (+9)10. Morgan Becker, Creighton - 79-75=154 (+10)&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsNebraska's Lauren Thiele put together rounds of 73 and 75 to close the first 36 holes tied atop the leaderboard at the Big O Classic in Omaha on Monday.Thiele, a redshirt sophomore from Wahoo, Neb., shares the tournament lead with Omaha's Katie Ruge at 148 (+5) heading into Tuesday's final round on the par-72, 6,019-yard layout at the Oak Hills Country Club.Thiele was joined in the top 10 by Husker teammates Danica Lundgren and Symran Shah. Lundgren, a freshman from Austin, Texas, matched Thiele with an opening-round 73, before adding a second-round 78. Lundgren is in sixth place at 151 (+7) through 36 holes.Shah, a redshirt sophomore from Carrolltown, Texas, sits just one shot back of Lundgren in a tie for seventh at 152 (+8) after rounds of 73 and 79.&nbsp;All three Huskers are playing as individuals in a 50-player field at the Big O Classic. They will challenge for the individual title on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. (CT). Live scoring is available from GolfStat.Big O ClassicSeptember 30-October 1, 2024Omaha, NebraskaOak Hills Country Club (Par 72, 6,019 Yards)Individual Standings (Two Rounds)T1. Katie Ruge, Omaha - 75-73=148 (+4)T1. Lauren Thiele, Nebraska - 73-75=148 (+4)3. Paula Sanchez, Lindenwood - 76-73=149 (+5)T4. Emily Karmazin, Omaha - 75-75=150 (+6)T4. Sydney Taake, Omaha - 74-76=150 (+6)6. Danica Lundgren, Nebraska - 73-78=151 (+7)T7. Olivia Holyoke-Church, Iowa Western CC - 76-76=152 (+8)T7. Symran Shah, Nebraska - 73-79=152 (+8)9. Isabelle Thrall, Drury - 78-75=153 (+9)10. Morgan Becker, Creighton - 79-75=154 (+10)&nbsp;

 Thiele tied for lead in Omaha

Story by NPCC Athletic Communications

Lincoln, Neb. – North Platte Community College volleyball used 42 kills to power past Southeast Community College on Monday.

"I think our blocking was finally where we want it to be," said head coach Alexa McCall. "If we find a way to clean up the errors, we will be a force to be reckoned with down the final stretch of the season."

Knights improve to 8-16 overall and 2-1 in Region IX play, while Southeast drops to 4-15 and 0-3 in region matches.

Jaelyn Dicke recorded her third straight game with at least 10 kills while tallying 19 digs in the match. Nya Lual and Kathryn Folkers each tallied eight kills, as the dominant front row combined for six of the Knights 13 blocks against the Bobcats.

Aubrey Grant notched 35 set assists, while fellow sophomore EmiLee Walnofer recorded 24 digs in four sets.

North Platte hits the road for the two-day Pinnacle Bank Classic in Columbus on Friday. Knights open the tournament with Allen County Community College at 3 p.m. inside the Raider Field House.

Story by NPCC Athletic CommunicationsLincoln, Neb. – North Platte Community College volleyball used 42 kills to power past Southeast Community College on Monday."I think our blocking was finally where we want it to be," said head coach Alexa McCall. "If we find a way to clean up the errors, we will be a force to be reckoned with down the final stretch of the season."Knights improve to 8-16 overall and 2-1 in Region IX play, while Southeast drops to 4-15 and 0-3 in region matches.Jaelyn Dicke recorded her third straight game with at least 10 kills while tallying 19 digs in the match. Nya Lual and Kathryn Folkers each tallied eight kills, as the dominant front row combined for six of the Knights 13 blocks against the Bobcats.Aubrey Grant notched 35 set assists, while fellow sophomore EmiLee Walnofer recorded 24 digs in four sets.North Platte hits the road for the two-day Pinnacle Bank Classic in Columbus on Friday. Knights open the tournament with Allen County Community College at 3 p.m. inside the Raider Field House.

Knights make it three straight with win over Bobcats

KEARNEY – Peyton Neff is an unquestioned leader for the University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball team.

One of the most experienced players on this year’s roster, the North Platte native has learned to embrace her role as a team captain.

“Being a setter, I feel like that leadership aspect is important, no matter what age you are,” Neff said. “That’s something that Maddie helped me recognize early on.”

Maddie Squiers is an assistant coach for the third-ranked Lopers, someone who’s built a trusting relationship with Neff over the past three years and played a key part in her development.

“Whenever coach (Rick) Squiers really wants something out of Peyton, he kind of goes through me,” Squiers said of her father, who’s led the UNK volleyball program since 1999. “He gives me a lot of feedback to give to Peyton. And Peyton feels comfortable coming to me with questions.”

A three-time all-conference performer and two-time all-state selection, Neff was a do-it-all player for North Platte, finishing her high school career with more than 2,200 assists, 700 digs, 400 kills and 100 aces.

The 2018 North Platte Telegraph Player of the Year committed to UNK in fall 2020, following in the footsteps of multiple family members. Her mother, Pam (Sis) Jorgensen, played basketball for the Lopers and her father, P.D., was on the baseball team. Neff’s aunt, Tam (Sis) Kuenle, was an all-conference volleyball player for Kearney State College who still ranks in the top 10 in program history in solo blocks, total blocks and sets played.

That family connection is really cool – “There’s a picture of my mom in the Health and Sports Center with her crazy hairdo from back in the day,” Neff said with a laugh – but it’s not the main reason why she chose UNK.

“I liked that it was close to home and it was such a successful program,” she explained. “I knew that I was coming to a program that wanted to win.”

However, that success comes with increased pressure.

Neff admits she was “very scared” when she arrived on campus as a freshman. Fortunately, there was someone here to calm those nerves.

Squiers played club volleyball with Neff’s older sister, Alex, before starting her college career at Bellevue University, where she was a two-time NAIA All-American.

She transferred to UNK in 2018 and redshirted that year, then joined the starting rotation in 2019, when the Lopers put together one of the best seasons in program history. They went 38-1 and reached the NCAA Division II national championship match for just the second time.

When the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season, Squiers received another year of eligibility, allowing her to come back as a sixth-year senior in 2021.

“That whole year was just really unique,” she said. “We still joke about it. The freshmen who came in during my sixth year, they were in seventh grade when I was a senior in high school. So it was a really interesting dynamic having teammates who were so much younger than me.”

The odd situation ended up being a major benefit for Neff, who learned from the veteran setter during her redshirt year.

“It was really valuable to have somebody ahead of me who was super experienced, knew volleyball so well and was so dedicated to the program,” Neff said.

“Even playing on the other side during practice, it was frustrating, but also fun to get to play against her,” she added with a smile.

The Lopers went 26-7 that season and qualified for the Division II national tournament for the 22nd straight year. Squiers led the team with 1,338 assists and a program-record 53 aces while playing in all 115 sets. She was named a Division II All-American and All-MIAA First Team selection for the second time.

“I knew my last year that Peyton was going to be the setter after me, so I really felt like I had the mindset of taking her under my wing, teaching her and giving her feedback,” said Squiers, who continues to provide this mentorship as an assistant coach.

When Squiers transitioned from the court to the bench, that wasn’t the only change she wanted to see.

She encouraged Neff to develop her own identity and do things her way.

“You have to have your own style, your own leadership style, your own way of running things,” Squiers said. “And it’s been really cool to see that evolve. She’s grown so much from her freshman year to where she is now.”

The Lopers are 69-12 since Neff became the starting setter in 2022, including a perfect 12-0 record to start this season. She’s played in all but three sets during that time, earning All-MIAA First Team honors in both 2022 and 2023. Neff was also selected as a Division II All-American and First Team All-Region performer last year.

She’s been equally successful in the classroom, receiving the MIAA Excellence Award for a perfect 4.0 GPA the past three years. Neff graduated summa cum laude in May with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/psychology/index.php">bachelor’s degree in psychology</a>&nbsp;and she’s currently enrolled in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/school_psychology.php">school psychology graduate program</a>.

The MIAA Setter of the Week twice this season, she ranks ninth in program history with 3,114 career assists – one spot ahead of Squiers. But that’s not a stat either of them cares about.

Like any good leader, they’re both focused team goals: a conference championship and 25th consecutive trip to the national tournament.

“Looking back at the last few years, we’ve made it to the conference championship but didn’t win, so I would really like to make it to the championship again and win this year,” Neff said. “There were so many championships before I got here, so it’d be cool to be able to win one.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727710193889.jpeg" alt="Peyton Neff has played in all but three sets for UNK volleyball over the past three years. She was selected as a Division II All-American in 2023. (UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>Peyton Neff has played in all but three sets for UNK volleyball over the past three years. She was selected as a Division II All-American in 2023. (UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TYLER ELLYSONUNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – Peyton Neff is an unquestioned leader for the University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball team.One of the most experienced players on this year’s roster, the North Platte native has learned to embrace her role as a team captain.“Being a setter, I feel like that leadership aspect is important, no matter what age you are,” Neff said. “That’s something that Maddie helped me recognize early on.”Maddie Squiers is an assistant coach for the third-ranked Lopers, someone who’s built a trusting relationship with Neff over the past three years and played a key part in her development.“Whenever coach (Rick) Squiers really wants something out of Peyton, he kind of goes through me,” Squiers said of her father, who’s led the UNK volleyball program since 1999. “He gives me a lot of feedback to give to Peyton. And Peyton feels comfortable coming to me with questions.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727710009173.jpeg" alt="Peyton Neff is pictured with her mother, Pam (Sis) Jorgensen, and father, P.D. Neff. Pam and P.D. were both Loper student-athletes. (UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>Peyton Neff is pictured with her mother, Pam (Sis) Jorgensen, and father, P.D. Neff. Pam and P.D. were both Loper student-athletes. (UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>LOPER CONNECTIONS</h2>A three-time all-conference performer and two-time all-state selection, Neff was a do-it-all player for North Platte, finishing her high school career with more than 2,200 assists, 700 digs, 400 kills and 100 aces.The 2018 North Platte Telegraph Player of the Year committed to UNK in fall 2020, following in the footsteps of multiple family members. Her mother, Pam (Sis) Jorgensen, played basketball for the Lopers and her father, P.D., was on the baseball team. Neff’s aunt, Tam (Sis) Kuenle, was an all-conference volleyball player for Kearney State College who still ranks in the top 10 in program history in solo blocks, total blocks and sets played.That family connection is really cool – “There’s a picture of my mom in the Health and Sports Center with her crazy hairdo from back in the day,” Neff said with a laugh – but it’s not the main reason why she chose UNK.“I liked that it was close to home and it was such a successful program,” she explained. “I knew that I was coming to a program that wanted to win.”However, that success comes with increased pressure.Neff admits she was “very scared” when she arrived on campus as a freshman. Fortunately, there was someone here to calm those nerves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727710055121.jpeg" alt="UNK setter Peyton Neff, left, and assistant coach Maddie Squiers chat before a recent match at the Health and Sports Center. Neff has been learning from Squiers since they were teammates in 2021 (UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>UNK setter Peyton Neff, left, and assistant coach Maddie Squiers chat before a recent match at the Health and Sports Center. Neff has been learning from Squiers since they were teammates in 2021 (UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>VALUABLE ROLE MODEL</h2>Squiers played club volleyball with Neff’s older sister, Alex, before starting her college career at Bellevue University, where she was a two-time NAIA All-American.She transferred to UNK in 2018 and redshirted that year, then joined the starting rotation in 2019, when the Lopers put together one of the best seasons in program history. They went 38-1 and reached the NCAA Division II national championship match for just the second time.When the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season, Squiers received another year of eligibility, allowing her to come back as a sixth-year senior in 2021.“That whole year was just really unique,” she said. “We still joke about it. The freshmen who came in during my sixth year, they were in seventh grade when I was a senior in high school. So it was a really interesting dynamic having teammates who were so much younger than me.”The odd situation ended up being a major benefit for Neff, who learned from the veteran setter during her redshirt year.“It was really valuable to have somebody ahead of me who was super experienced, knew volleyball so well and was so dedicated to the program,” Neff said.“Even playing on the other side during practice, it was frustrating, but also fun to get to play against her,” she added with a smile.The Lopers went 26-7 that season and qualified for the Division II national tournament for the 22nd straight year. Squiers led the team with 1,338 assists and a program-record 53 aces while playing in all 115 sets. She was named a Division II All-American and All-MIAA First Team selection for the second time.“I knew my last year that Peyton was going to be the setter after me, so I really felt like I had the mindset of taking her under my wing, teaching her and giving her feedback,” said Squiers, who continues to provide this mentorship as an assistant coach.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727710101151.jpeg" alt="The Lopers are 69-12 since Peyton Neff (1) became the starting setter in 2022, including a perfect 12-0 record to start this season. (UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>The Lopers are 69-12 since Peyton Neff (1) became the starting setter in 2022, including a perfect 12-0 record to start this season. (UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>FIND YOUR STYLE</h2>When Squiers transitioned from the court to the bench, that wasn’t the only change she wanted to see.She encouraged Neff to develop her own identity and do things her way.“You have to have your own style, your own leadership style, your own way of running things,” Squiers said. “And it’s been really cool to see that evolve. She’s grown so much from her freshman year to where she is now.”The Lopers are 69-12 since Neff became the starting setter in 2022, including a perfect 12-0 record to start this season. She’s played in all but three sets during that time, earning All-MIAA First Team honors in both 2022 and 2023. Neff was also selected as a Division II All-American and First Team All-Region performer last year.She’s been equally successful in the classroom, receiving the MIAA Excellence Award for a perfect 4.0 GPA the past three years. Neff graduated summa cum laude in May with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/psychology/index.php">bachelor’s degree in psychology</a>&nbsp;and she’s currently enrolled in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/school_psychology.php">school psychology graduate program</a>.The MIAA Setter of the Week twice this season, she ranks ninth in program history with 3,114 career assists – one spot ahead of Squiers. But that’s not a stat either of them cares about.Like any good leader, they’re both focused team goals: a conference championship and 25th consecutive trip to the national tournament.“Looking back at the last few years, we’ve made it to the conference championship but didn’t win, so I would really like to make it to the championship again and win this year,” Neff said. “There were so many championships before I got here, so it’d be cool to be able to win one.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727710146933.jpeg" alt="Peyton Neff (UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>Peyton Neff (UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Set Up for Success: North Platte native Peyton Neff takes on leadership role for UNK volleyball

By: Paxton Ritchie CSC Sports Information Director

DURANGO, Colo. - Chadron State volleyball falls in straight sets to Fort Lewis College volleyball. The Skyhawks defeated the Eagles 31-29, 25-21, 26-24.&nbsp;

The Eagles are now (2-10) overall and are 0-4 in RMAC play. The Skyhawks improved their record to&nbsp;(3-9)&nbsp;and&nbsp;1-3 in conference play.&nbsp;

<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alejandra-briseno/9959">Alejandra Briseno</a>&nbsp;led Chadron State with 14 kills while&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alondra-hernandez/9952">Alondra Hernandez</a>&nbsp;had 20 digs.&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/kally-kirkwood/9946">Kally Kirkwood</a>&nbsp;contributed 11 kills and had a .409 hitting percentage. &nbsp;

As a team the Eagles hit .197, had 40 kills, and 17 errors. The Skyhawks hit .211 as a team, with 48 kills, and 21 errors. Jordan DeJesus led Fort Lewis with 16 kills. &nbsp;Alexis Hobie and Alina Nunez also contributed double digit kills, Hobie with 12 and Nunez with 10. &nbsp;

In the first set, the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to open up a 10-6 lead taking advantage of three attack errors. The Skyhawks stopped the run with a kill, but a kill by Briseno led to another 3-0 run giving the Eagles a 13-7 lead. The Eagles maintained the lead late into the set. However, after a service error the Skyhawks came back with 3 kills by Hobie and 3 by DeJesus to tie the score at 24-all. The teams took turns fighting off set point before a kill and ace ending the set 31-29 Fort Lewis. &nbsp;

The Skyhawks took the lead in the second set with three straight kills by DeJesus making it 7-3.&nbsp; The Eagles found a way to close the lead after a kill by Briseno, ace by Hernandez, and back-to-back attack errors. The teams went on the exchange two-point scoring bursts until&nbsp;a kill by&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/avery-lacy/9953">Avery Lacy</a>&nbsp;help the&nbsp;Eagles work their way to tie the set.&nbsp;A 3-0 run by Fort Lewis&nbsp;ended the set 25-21.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727705616113.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Paxton Ritchie CSC Sports Information DirectorDURANGO, Colo. - Chadron State volleyball falls in straight sets to Fort Lewis College volleyball. The Skyhawks defeated the Eagles 31-29, 25-21, 26-24.&nbsp;The Eagles are now (2-10) overall and are 0-4 in RMAC play. The Skyhawks improved their record to&nbsp;(3-9)&nbsp;and&nbsp;1-3 in conference play.&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alejandra-briseno/9959">Alejandra Briseno</a>&nbsp;led Chadron State with 14 kills while&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alondra-hernandez/9952">Alondra Hernandez</a>&nbsp;had 20 digs.&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/kally-kirkwood/9946">Kally Kirkwood</a>&nbsp;contributed 11 kills and had a .409 hitting percentage. &nbsp;As a team the Eagles hit .197, had 40 kills, and 17 errors. The Skyhawks hit .211 as a team, with 48 kills, and 21 errors. Jordan DeJesus led Fort Lewis with 16 kills. &nbsp;Alexis Hobie and Alina Nunez also contributed double digit kills, Hobie with 12 and Nunez with 10. &nbsp;In the first set, the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to open up a 10-6 lead taking advantage of three attack errors. The Skyhawks stopped the run with a kill, but a kill by Briseno led to another 3-0 run giving the Eagles a 13-7 lead. The Eagles maintained the lead late into the set. However, after a service error the Skyhawks came back with 3 kills by Hobie and 3 by DeJesus to tie the score at 24-all. The teams took turns fighting off set point before a kill and ace ending the set 31-29 Fort Lewis. &nbsp;The Skyhawks took the lead in the second set with three straight kills by DeJesus making it 7-3.&nbsp; The Eagles found a way to close the lead after a kill by Briseno, ace by Hernandez, and back-to-back attack errors. The teams went on the exchange two-point scoring bursts until&nbsp;a kill by&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/avery-lacy/9953">Avery Lacy</a>&nbsp;help the&nbsp;Eagles work their way to tie the set.&nbsp;A 3-0 run by Fort Lewis&nbsp;ended the set 25-21.&nbsp;The third set started off&nbsp;close until&nbsp;the Skyhawks pulled ahead 11-6. After a service error Fort Lewis responded with kills from Hobie and Nunez to make the score 15-7. The Eagles continued to battle,&nbsp;and earned a pair of three-point runs to make it 18-15 Skyhawks. Fort Lewis looked like they had won the set, but the Eagles took advantage of three errors to tie it 24-all. After an attacking error, the Skyhawks ended the&nbsp;set 26-24.&nbsp;Chadron State will take the court Tuesday&nbsp;night at 6 p.m. against South Dakota Mines. The Hardrockers&nbsp;are 7-4&nbsp;and 3-0&nbsp;in RMAC play.<h2>Eagles Swept at Western Colorado Friday</h2>CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State volleyball lost in straight sets to Western Colorado in their first RMAC road game of the season, as the Mountaineers defeated CSC 25-14, 25-17, 25-23.The Eagles (2-9) fell to 0-3 in RMAC play while Western (3-9) improved to 1-2 in the conference.Alejandra Briseno had 10 kills while Kally Kirkwood had seven to lead the Eagles. Alondra Hernandez continued her conference-leading digs pace with 18 on the night as well as two service aces.The Eagles hit .137 for the game with 32 kills and 16 errors. The Mountaineers hit .308 as a team, with 53 kills and just 14 errors. Western Colorado had three players with double digit kills – Olive Rolseth with 12, Seyun Park with 11 and Kennedy Kelly with 10. Kelly did not make an error throughout the match.Western Colorado handily won the first set, hitting .278 as a team while CSC only hit .029. The Mountaineers benefitted from three service aces, while Chadron State had eight kills compared to seven attack errors. Western Colorado jumped out to a 9-4 lead and although the Eagles would close the gap to within two points on multiple occasions, WCU would soon lead by 10 at 22-12 and won the set 25-14.Chadron State fell behind early in the second set 4-1, but used a 5-0 run to take the lead, punctuated by back-to-back aces by Alondra Hernandez. The Mountaineers struck back with a 7-2 run of their own to go up 11-8.The teams traded points for a moment, but with Western clinging to a 15-14 lead, the Mountaineers closed the set on a 10-3 run to go up two sets to zero. The Mountaineers were on fire offensively in the second set, hitting .410 as a team. Olive Rolseth had five kills in the set for WCU.The third set was closely contested from start to finish. Briseno collected three straight Chadron points on kills early in the set, then Maddison Wright collected two kills and a block in quick succession before two WCU attack errors tied the score at 14-14.That was the first in a string of several ties in the set, as the two teams found themselves knotted at 16-16, 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19. Trailing by two at 21-19, the Eagles used a Mountaineer attack error followed by back-to-back kills from Briseno and Kally Kirkwood to take the lead, but the Eagles failed to win a key challenge and Western won the final three points of the match to take it in straight sets.Chadron State will take the court Saturday night at 7 p.m. against Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks are 2-9 and 0-3 in RMAC play after losing in straight sets to Colorado Christian on Friday.