Link: Full Match Notes (Huskers.com)
#3 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-0) at #19 CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS (6-0)
When: Wednesday, September 8 | 6:30 PM (CT)
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska
TV: FS1 (Bob Brainerd, Jill Dorsey)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (John Baylor, Lauren Cook West)
The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team faces its first road contest this Wednesday, Sept. 8, visiting No. 19 Creighton (6-0) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. First serve in the Top 20 matchup is set for 6:30 p.m.
The match will be televised on FS1 and also available on the FOX Sports app, with Bob Brainerd and Jill Dorsey on the call. This week's action will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with the NU radio team of John Baylor and Lauren Cook West. Baylor is in his 28th season handling play-by-play duties for the Husker volleyball program, and West, a former All-America setter at NU, will provide color commentary for the sixth straight year.
Huskers Radio Network will carry the match on HRN radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be available at Huskers.com and the Huskers app.
Quick Hits
-After a 3-0 weekend at the Ameritas Players Challenge, Nebraska remained undefeated and moved up one spot to No. 3 in the national rankings.
- Wednesday's battle of the unbeatens also brings the Huskers' first meeting with a ranked opponent this season.
- Nebraska opened the year with back-to-back home weekends and now plays its first road match. In the John Cook era (2000-present), the Huskers are 17-4 in their first match away from Lincoln.
- Kayla Caffey was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the first time in her career.
- Caffey's .500 hitting percentage ranks ninth nationally and third in the Big Ten.
- Ally Batenhorst made her career debut last weekend, making her the fifth NU freshman to see the court this year.
- Madi Kubik was NU's leader in kills in three straight matches vs. Kansas State (13), Omaha (16) and Georgia (15).
Scouting the Creighton Bluejays
Creighton is 6-0 on the season after three wins at last weekend's Bluegrass Battle in Lexington, Kentucky. The Bluejays defeated USC 3-2 on Friday and swept No. 3 Kentucky and Northern Iowa on Saturday. Having previously received votes in the last two AVCA polls, Creighton moved up to No. 19 for its first national ranking of the year.
Jaela Zimmerman, who was the Bluegrass Battle MVP, was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week, and Norah Sis was tabbed Big East Freshman of the Week on Monday.
CU finished 12-4 (7-1 Big East) last spring, advancing to its ninth straight NCAA Tournament. The Jays were chosen the conference's 2021 preseason favorite, and Zimmerman and Naomi Hickman were both named Preseason All-Big East.
Head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth is in her 19th season at Creighton with a career record of 389-175.
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Creighton at 19-0, including 16-0 in the John Cook era.
2021 Creighton Schedule/Results (6-0)
vs. Missouri-Kansas City (at Columbia, MO) (W 25-23, 25-13, 25-12)
vs. St. Louis (at Columbia, MO) (W 25-15, 25-20, 25-16)
at Missouri (W 25-21, 25-10, 25-13)
vs. USC (at Lexington, KY) (W 25-19, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-13)
at #3 Kentucky (W 25-19, 25-22, 27-25)
vs. Northern Iowa (at Lexington, KY) (W 25-20, 25-21, 25-11)
Last Time Out: Nebraska vs. Creighton
Then-No. 2 Nebraska last faced then-No. 18 Creighton on Aug. 30, 2019, winning 3-1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-17, 25-21) to open the season at the Husker Invitational at the Devaney Center. Lexi Sun posted a team-high 13 kills, and Capri Davis added 10 kills off the bench for the Huskers. Nebraska held CU to a .067 hitting percentage while hitting .181 on the night. NU had eight blocks, five of which came from Callie Schwarzenbach. Kenzie Knuckles had a match-high 22 digs in her Husker debut, and Nicklin Hames had 35 assists and 15 digs to go with four aces.
Keeley Davis led the Jays with 13 kills, and Jaela Zimmerman added 12 kills and 10 digs.
Back in the Big O
The last time Nebraska and Creighton met at the CHI Health Center Omaha was Sept. 6, 2018, when the Huskers rallied past a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in the only five-set meeting between the two programs. A crowd of 14,022 fans watched the match, which remains the largest regular-season volleyball attendance total in NCAA history.
NU and CU have met five times at the Omaha facility, which has gone by three names since its opening in 2003.
Nebraska/Creighton Matchups in Downtown Omaha
Sept. 24, 2006: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-1) at Qwest Center Omaha
Oct. 5, 2008: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at Qwest Center Omaha
Aug. 31, 2010: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at Qwest Center Omaha
Sept. 15, 2015: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at CenturyLink Center Omaha
Sept. 6, 2018: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-2) at CHI Health Center Omaha
Husker-Bluejay Ties
Creighton assistant coach Angie Oxley Behrens was a four-year starter at Nebraska from 1997 to 2000, playing for NU coach John Cook her senior season. She was a teammate of current Nebraska Director of Operations Lindsay Peterson and was a member of the Husker team that captured the 2000 NCAA Championship.
Addtionally, Lindsay Krause and CU's Megan Skovsende were three-year teammates at Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, where they won three state championships together.
Up Next
Nebraska returns home for another Top 20 matchup, playing host to No. 20 Utah on Saturday, Sept. 11. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m., and the match will be streamed on BTN+. John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on the Huskers Radio Network.
Noting the National Poll
- Nebraska has been a preseason top five pick for seven straight years
- The Huskers have been ranked No. 1 in 100 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history
- The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 517 times, which is also the most in NCAA history
- NU has appeared in all 573 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time
- Nebraska's 30-match regular season schedule in 2021 features 12 matches against teams ranked in the top 25 and six matches against top 10 opponents
AVCA Hall of Fame Head Coach John Cook in 22nd Season at Nebraska
-Nebraska head coach John Cook enters his 22nd season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2021. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, nine final fours, 12 conference championships and 19 Top 10 final rankings since 2000.
- Cook owns 770 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 .879 win percentage in that time (609-84).
- Under Cook, the Huskers have tallied 60 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and a seven-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017, his first and second Big Ten honors with the Huskers in their Big Ten era (2011-present)
- Cook is one of only four active coaches -- and one of six all-time -- to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award
- Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.
- Cook became the ninth active Division I head coach to reach 700 career wins in 2018.
Climbing the Career Charts
Career Attack Percentage
1. Virginia Stahr - .401 (1986-89)
2. Amber Holmquist - .396 (1999-02)
3. Karen Dahlgren - .386 (1983-86)
4. Lauren Stivrins - .385 (2016-present)
5. Tracy Stalls - .375 (2004-07)
6. Kori Cooper - .368 (2006-09)
7. Cathy Noth - .366 (1981-84)
8. Melissa Elmer - .363 (2001-05)
9. Stephanie Thater - .360 (1989-92)
10. Briana Holman - .354 (2015-17)
Career Assists
1. Fiona Nepo - 4,824 (1995-98)
2. Kelly Hunter - 4,125 (2013-17)
3. Greichaly Cepero - 3,987 (1999-02)
4. Nikki Stricker - 3,786 (1990-93)
5. Nicklin Hames - 3,528 (2018-present)
6. Sydney Anderson - 3,332 (2008-10)
7. Val Novak - 3,303 (1987-90)
8. Lauren Cook - 3,198 (2010-12)
9. Christy Johnson - 3,183 (1991-95)
10. Lori Endicott - 3,117 (1985-88)
Career Kills
1. Sarah Pavan - 2,008 (2004-07)
2. Allison Weston - 1,778 (1992-95)
3. Mikaela Foecke - 1,684 (2015-18)
4. Lisa Reitsma - 1,633 (1994-97)
5. Nancy Metcalf (Meendering) - 1,603 (1997-01)
6. Jordan Larson - 1,600 (2005-08)
7. Kadie Rolfzen - 1,564 (2013-16)
8. Eileen Shannon - 1,521 (1989-92)
9. Virginia Stahr - 1,395 (1986-89)
10. Kathi DeBoer - 1,372 (1984-87)
11. Hannah Werth - 1,286 (2009-12)
12. Janet Kruse - 1,269 (1988-91)
13. Cris Hall - 1,251 (1988-91)
14. Jennifer Saleaumua - 1,247 (2002-05)
15. Melissa Elmer - 1,210 (2002-05)
16. Laura Pilakowski - 1,183 (1999-02)
17. Stephanie Thater - 1,158 (1989-92)
18. Amber Holmquist - 1,122 (1999-02)
19. Karen Dahlgren - 1,121 (1983-86)
20. Lauren Stivrins - 1,074 (2016-present)
21. Cathy Noth - 1,059 (1981-84)
22. Megan Korver - 1,051 (1996-98)
23. Lexi Sun - 1,046 (2018-present)
NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
First Year: 1975
Overall All-Time Record: 1,386-253-12 (.843)
Conference All-Time Record: 622-62 (.909)
NCAA Tournament Record: 118-34 (.766)
NCAA Semifinal Appearances: 15 (last, 2018)
NCAA Final Appearances: 9 (last, 2018)
National Championships: 5 (1995, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2017)
Conference Championships: 34 (last, 2017)
#3 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-0) at #19 CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS (6-0)
When: Wednesday, September 8 | 6:30 PM (CT)
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska
TV: FS1 (Bob Brainerd, Jill Dorsey)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (John Baylor, Lauren Cook West)
The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team faces its first road contest this Wednesday, Sept. 8, visiting No. 19 Creighton (6-0) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. First serve in the Top 20 matchup is set for 6:30 p.m.
The match will be televised on FS1 and also available on the FOX Sports app, with Bob Brainerd and Jill Dorsey on the call. This week's action will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with the NU radio team of John Baylor and Lauren Cook West. Baylor is in his 28th season handling play-by-play duties for the Husker volleyball program, and West, a former All-America setter at NU, will provide color commentary for the sixth straight year.
Huskers Radio Network will carry the match on HRN radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be available at Huskers.com and the Huskers app.
Quick Hits
-After a 3-0 weekend at the Ameritas Players Challenge, Nebraska remained undefeated and moved up one spot to No. 3 in the national rankings.
- Wednesday's battle of the unbeatens also brings the Huskers' first meeting with a ranked opponent this season.
- Nebraska opened the year with back-to-back home weekends and now plays its first road match. In the John Cook era (2000-present), the Huskers are 17-4 in their first match away from Lincoln.
- Kayla Caffey was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the first time in her career.
- Caffey's .500 hitting percentage ranks ninth nationally and third in the Big Ten.
- Ally Batenhorst made her career debut last weekend, making her the fifth NU freshman to see the court this year.
- Madi Kubik was NU's leader in kills in three straight matches vs. Kansas State (13), Omaha (16) and Georgia (15).
Scouting the Creighton Bluejays
Creighton is 6-0 on the season after three wins at last weekend's Bluegrass Battle in Lexington, Kentucky. The Bluejays defeated USC 3-2 on Friday and swept No. 3 Kentucky and Northern Iowa on Saturday. Having previously received votes in the last two AVCA polls, Creighton moved up to No. 19 for its first national ranking of the year.
Jaela Zimmerman, who was the Bluegrass Battle MVP, was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week, and Norah Sis was tabbed Big East Freshman of the Week on Monday.
CU finished 12-4 (7-1 Big East) last spring, advancing to its ninth straight NCAA Tournament. The Jays were chosen the conference's 2021 preseason favorite, and Zimmerman and Naomi Hickman were both named Preseason All-Big East.
Head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth is in her 19th season at Creighton with a career record of 389-175.
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Creighton at 19-0, including 16-0 in the John Cook era.
2021 Creighton Schedule/Results (6-0)
vs. Missouri-Kansas City (at Columbia, MO) (W 25-23, 25-13, 25-12)
vs. St. Louis (at Columbia, MO) (W 25-15, 25-20, 25-16)
at Missouri (W 25-21, 25-10, 25-13)
vs. USC (at Lexington, KY) (W 25-19, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-13)
at #3 Kentucky (W 25-19, 25-22, 27-25)
vs. Northern Iowa (at Lexington, KY) (W 25-20, 25-21, 25-11)
Last Time Out: Nebraska vs. Creighton
Then-No. 2 Nebraska last faced then-No. 18 Creighton on Aug. 30, 2019, winning 3-1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-17, 25-21) to open the season at the Husker Invitational at the Devaney Center. Lexi Sun posted a team-high 13 kills, and Capri Davis added 10 kills off the bench for the Huskers. Nebraska held CU to a .067 hitting percentage while hitting .181 on the night. NU had eight blocks, five of which came from Callie Schwarzenbach. Kenzie Knuckles had a match-high 22 digs in her Husker debut, and Nicklin Hames had 35 assists and 15 digs to go with four aces.
Keeley Davis led the Jays with 13 kills, and Jaela Zimmerman added 12 kills and 10 digs.
Back in the Big O
The last time Nebraska and Creighton met at the CHI Health Center Omaha was Sept. 6, 2018, when the Huskers rallied past a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in the only five-set meeting between the two programs. A crowd of 14,022 fans watched the match, which remains the largest regular-season volleyball attendance total in NCAA history.
NU and CU have met five times at the Omaha facility, which has gone by three names since its opening in 2003.
Nebraska/Creighton Matchups in Downtown Omaha
Sept. 24, 2006: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-1) at Qwest Center Omaha
Oct. 5, 2008: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at Qwest Center Omaha
Aug. 31, 2010: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at Qwest Center Omaha
Sept. 15, 2015: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-0) at CenturyLink Center Omaha
Sept. 6, 2018: Nebraska def. Creighton (3-2) at CHI Health Center Omaha
Husker-Bluejay Ties
Creighton assistant coach Angie Oxley Behrens was a four-year starter at Nebraska from 1997 to 2000, playing for NU coach John Cook her senior season. She was a teammate of current Nebraska Director of Operations Lindsay Peterson and was a member of the Husker team that captured the 2000 NCAA Championship.
Addtionally, Lindsay Krause and CU's Megan Skovsende were three-year teammates at Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, where they won three state championships together.
Up Next
Nebraska returns home for another Top 20 matchup, playing host to No. 20 Utah on Saturday, Sept. 11. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m., and the match will be streamed on BTN+. John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on the Huskers Radio Network.
Noting the National Poll
- Nebraska has been a preseason top five pick for seven straight years
- The Huskers have been ranked No. 1 in 100 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history
- The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 517 times, which is also the most in NCAA history
- NU has appeared in all 573 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time
- Nebraska's 30-match regular season schedule in 2021 features 12 matches against teams ranked in the top 25 and six matches against top 10 opponents
AVCA Hall of Fame Head Coach John Cook in 22nd Season at Nebraska
-Nebraska head coach John Cook enters his 22nd season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2021. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, nine final fours, 12 conference championships and 19 Top 10 final rankings since 2000.
- Cook owns 770 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 .879 win percentage in that time (609-84).
- Under Cook, the Huskers have tallied 60 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and a seven-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017, his first and second Big Ten honors with the Huskers in their Big Ten era (2011-present)
- Cook is one of only four active coaches -- and one of six all-time -- to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award
- Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.
- Cook became the ninth active Division I head coach to reach 700 career wins in 2018.
Climbing the Career Charts
Career Attack Percentage
1. Virginia Stahr - .401 (1986-89)
2. Amber Holmquist - .396 (1999-02)
3. Karen Dahlgren - .386 (1983-86)
4. Lauren Stivrins - .385 (2016-present)
5. Tracy Stalls - .375 (2004-07)
6. Kori Cooper - .368 (2006-09)
7. Cathy Noth - .366 (1981-84)
8. Melissa Elmer - .363 (2001-05)
9. Stephanie Thater - .360 (1989-92)
10. Briana Holman - .354 (2015-17)
Career Assists
1. Fiona Nepo - 4,824 (1995-98)
2. Kelly Hunter - 4,125 (2013-17)
3. Greichaly Cepero - 3,987 (1999-02)
4. Nikki Stricker - 3,786 (1990-93)
5. Nicklin Hames - 3,528 (2018-present)
6. Sydney Anderson - 3,332 (2008-10)
7. Val Novak - 3,303 (1987-90)
8. Lauren Cook - 3,198 (2010-12)
9. Christy Johnson - 3,183 (1991-95)
10. Lori Endicott - 3,117 (1985-88)
Career Kills
1. Sarah Pavan - 2,008 (2004-07)
2. Allison Weston - 1,778 (1992-95)
3. Mikaela Foecke - 1,684 (2015-18)
4. Lisa Reitsma - 1,633 (1994-97)
5. Nancy Metcalf (Meendering) - 1,603 (1997-01)
6. Jordan Larson - 1,600 (2005-08)
7. Kadie Rolfzen - 1,564 (2013-16)
8. Eileen Shannon - 1,521 (1989-92)
9. Virginia Stahr - 1,395 (1986-89)
10. Kathi DeBoer - 1,372 (1984-87)
11. Hannah Werth - 1,286 (2009-12)
12. Janet Kruse - 1,269 (1988-91)
13. Cris Hall - 1,251 (1988-91)
14. Jennifer Saleaumua - 1,247 (2002-05)
15. Melissa Elmer - 1,210 (2002-05)
16. Laura Pilakowski - 1,183 (1999-02)
17. Stephanie Thater - 1,158 (1989-92)
18. Amber Holmquist - 1,122 (1999-02)
19. Karen Dahlgren - 1,121 (1983-86)
20. Lauren Stivrins - 1,074 (2016-present)
21. Cathy Noth - 1,059 (1981-84)
22. Megan Korver - 1,051 (1996-98)
23. Lexi Sun - 1,046 (2018-present)
NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
First Year: 1975
Overall All-Time Record: 1,386-253-12 (.843)
Conference All-Time Record: 622-62 (.909)
NCAA Tournament Record: 118-34 (.766)
NCAA Semifinal Appearances: 15 (last, 2018)
NCAA Final Appearances: 9 (last, 2018)
National Championships: 5 (1995, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2017)
Conference Championships: 34 (last, 2017)
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