Sept. 12, 2003
LINCOLN, Neb. - The 13th-ranked Santa Clara University volleyball team had its five match win streak snapped with a 3-1 loss to fifth-ranked Nebraska Friday evening, concluding play on day one of the U.S. Bank/Arby's Invitational hosted by Nebraska. The Broncos fall to 5-2 on the year while the Cornhuskers improve to 7-0.
Santa Clara, who had to spend Thursday night in Dallas, Texas after its flight to Nebraska was cancelled due to inclement weather, came out sluggish in the first game, losing 30-10. The Broncos rallied in game two and knotted the score at one apiece with a 30-24 win, forcing Cornhuskers into 12 hitting errors and a .000 hitting percentage in the game.
The Huskers took advantage of a tired Bronco team in games three and four, clsoing out the match with wins by scores of 30-26 and 30-27.
On the night, SCU only managed a .072 hitting percentage, making 38 errors with only 49 kills in the four games. Nebraska posted a .201 hitting percentage, notching 62 kills with only 30 errors on the evening.
Becky Potter registered a team-high 12 kills on the evening, followed closely by fellow senior Becky Biniek who had 10. Senior Kelli Sousa recorded 40 assists to go along with a team-high 13 digs while Potter added 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
The Huskers ran their regular-season winning streak to 30 matches and won for the 53rd straight time at home in the regular season.
Sarah Elmer, whose 15 kills established a career best, hit a team-high .370 and contributed the Huskers' only two solo blocks of the match. Senior outside hitter Anna Schrad notched 12 kills for Nebraska, and freshman right-side hitter Kelsey Fautsch added 10. Senior libero Jenae Dowling led the Huskers with a career-high 21 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua had 16 digs to go with seven kills.
The Broncos continue play in the tournament with a Saturday match against No. 10 Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets, who beat No. 17 Michigan State earlier in the day, enter the contest with a perfect 7-0 record. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific time.
