Sports
Frosh Novak leads Huskers past Purdue
By Mike Kluck
Staff Reporter
CHAMPAIGN, 111. - Before the
stait of Thursday’s game, Purdue
volleyball coach Carol Dewey said
she fell the Boilmakcrs had improved
since suffering a ihrce-scl loss lo
Nebraska in September.
But during the first round of the
Mideast Regional Semifinal at the
University of Illinois’ Kenny Gymna
sium, nothing changed as Nebraska
defeated the Boilmakcrs 15-8,15-12,
15-3 before 2,300 fans.
The win advances No. 9-rankcd
Nebraska to an 8 p.m. match against
No. 10 Illinois on Friday. The Fight
ing Illini defeated Western Michigan
15-11,9-15, 15-7, 12-15, 15-10.
Nebraska volleyball coach Terry
Pettit said the Huskcrs’ victory over
Purdue wasn’t as easy as the score
indicated. He said Nebraska had to
play tough during the match’s diffi
cult points.
“The difference in the two teams
wasn’t as decisive as the points,”
Pettit said. “The match wasn’t easy.
We worked very hard.”
Nebraska freshman Val Novak,
from Oaklawn, III., who led the Husk
ers with a game-high 16 kills, said the
victory was important because she
wanted to play good in front of her
family and friends.
“I had a lot of friends, family and
coaches who attended tonight’s
game,” Novak said. “With them here
it had no effect on my play but I did
want to show them that I have done
something so far.”
Nebraska middle blocker Virginia
Stahr said she wasn’t surprised by
Novak’s play.
“I think it was obvious that Val was
going to come down here and play
great,” Stahr said. “Val is a good
pressure player. She was under pres
sure to folks here and she was here to
prove something. I think you could
see what she proved tonight in her
Husker women
will adjust play
Wednesday night
By Tim Hartmann
Senior Reporter
Probable Starters
Nebraska (6-0)
Heather Smith F
Maurtice Ivy F
Stephanie Bolli C
Pam Fienc G
Amy Stephens G
Iowa (5-0)
Franthca Price F
Jolynn Schneider F
Shanda Berry C
Michelle Edwards G
Jolelie Law G
Nebraska women’s basketball
coach Angela Beck said Wednesday
that the Comhuskers’ game against
No. 5-ranked Iowa tonight at 7:30 in
Iowa City will force her to make some
changes.
“When you play the No. 5-ranked
team in the country you have got to
make some adjustments,” Beck said.
“Defensively, we’ll send our one and
two guards flying back after we shoot
our shot and hope to stop their transi
tion game.”
beck said lowa lends 10 release
Michelle Edwards, a guard who aver
ages 23 points per game, following an
opponent’s shot to set up fast-break
opportunities.
Edwards, whom Beck describes as
a definite All-America candidate, has
scored uncontested layups all season
because opposing teams haven’t
stopped her, Beck said.
Nebraska has averaged 91 points
per game this season, and Iowa has
averaged 81.4 points.
Iowa coach Vivian Stringer said
she expects a high-scoring game
against the Huskers.
“If we have a break, we’re going to
go,’’ Stringer said. “We can ’t afford to
slow down. You’ll probably see a lot
of excitement.”
Beck said she also plans to stick
with the running game.
“I don’t know how else to do it,”
Beck said.
Nebraska defeated Iowa 85-74 last
season in Lincoln. Beck said the fact
that Iowa has not played a game since
it defeated Northern Illinois 81 -73 on
Dec. 6 makes her think the Hawkeyes
arc pointing to this game.
“I think they’re trying to prepare
for us,” Beck said. “I think they’re
going to come out and pressure us and
use their bench to try and wear us
down like we have done to other
teams.”
Beck said Nebraska would like to
play a pressure-style defense.
“I’d like to see a little more solid
defense,” Beck said. “We need to get
See BECK on 8
play.”
Pettit said the key to the Huskcrs’
victory was the play of the Nebraska
defense.
Dewey agreed.
“Nebraska just played scrappy
defense,” Dewey said. “They were all
over the floor. Nebraska played very
well.”
In the first game, Purdue look a 7
4 lead on a kill by freshman Jill
Whiteman. But Nebraska was able to
outscorc the Boilmakcrs 9-1 to post
the 15-8 victory.
The nine-point run was aided by
four Purdue errors and kills by Novak,
Stahr and Angie Millikin. Nebraska
won the match on a block by Stahr and
Lori Endicott.
Dewey said the Huskers, 30-4,
were able to change the tempo in the
first game.
“Nebraska raised (its) level of play
which we haven’t been able to do all
year,” Dewey said. “Our team hasn’t
been very good at changing or upping
the tempo for the game.”
Pettit disagreed with Dewey. He
said they played hard rather than
change the tempo of the game.
“I don’t know about all the voo
doo,” Pettit said. “We played real
hard but I don’t think our players said
all of the sudden, ‘Let’s play harder.’
I think they just continued toplay hard
throughout the match.”
Pettit said the the Huskers contin
ued to play hard in the second game as
they took a 1-0 led on a block by
Endicott. But two ace serves by
Purdue’s Becky Kanit/andablockby
Amber Douglass gave the Booil
makers a 4-2 lead.
Nebraska came back to take a 6-4
lead on a Purdue error, but the Boil
makers rallied to take a 10-8 lead on
blocks by Douglass and Linda Reich 1.
The Huskers then reeled off four
straight points with the help of two
kills by Novak, and Purdue was not
able to gel closer than 13-12 as Ne
braska posted the 15-12 victory on
k;!ls by Millikin and Novak.
Dewey said the serving of both
teams was the key to the second
match. Purdue comittted eight serv
ice errors in the second match, com
pared to Nebraska’s six total service
errors.
In the third match Nebraska capi
talized on four service errors by Pur
due to take a 3-0 lead on a service ace
by Barbie Young. A block by Reichl
pulled the Boilmakers within 4-1, but
a Purdue error and a kill and service
ace by Stahr gave the Huskers a 7-2
lead.
The Boilmakers then capitalized
on a Stahr error to bring the score to 7
3, but Nebraska scored the final eight
points for the 15-3 victory.
Pettit said he is anxious to face
Illinois because the Fighting Illini
stressed Nebraska earlier this season.
The Huskers defeated Illinios in a
five-set match to win the champion
ship of the Nebraska Invitational on
Sept. 26.
Huskers hope
to shoot down
the lame Ducks
By Nick Hodge
Staff Reporter
Probable Starters
Nebraska (4-4)
Jeff Rckeweg F
Derrick Vick F
Pele Manning C
Eric Johnson G
Henry T. Buchanan G
•« -v— ' '-'if. *- \ -
Oregon (2-2)
Randy Grant F
Rick Osborn F
Brett Coffey C
Mike Helms G
Frankie Johnson G
Nebraska basketball coach Danny
Nee will travel to Oregon Saturday to
face a team that has been hampered by
injuries.
Nee, however, still labels the
Ducks as “dangerous.”
The Comhuskers will face Oregon
at 9:35 p.m. CST Saturday at
McArthur Court in Eugene, Ore.
Nee said the Huskers must have the
attitude that they will find a way to
win. He said Nebraska is coming off
an emotional 88-73 loss to Creighton
Wednesday night in Omaha.
we need to make Dcttcr choices,
Nee said. “We have to have less turn
overs, a better shot selection, and we
must execute our offense.”
Oregon’s only two reluming start
ers from last season’s 16-14 team
have both ban sidelined with injuries
this year.
Guard Anthony Taylor, an All
America candidate and member of
the U.S. World University Games
squad this summer, broke a toe on his
right foot. Forward Keith Balderston
did not play in Oregon’s 75-53 defeat
at Lamar Tuesday because of a
sprained ankle.
Taylor, a 6-foot-4 senior, scored
24 points in the Ducks’ season-open
ing 81-70 victory over Portland.
Taylor had broken his toe before
Oregon’s opening contest, but played
anyway. He is not expected to be
ready to play against Nebraska on
Saturday.
Balderston, a 6-fool-7 senior, av
eraged 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds
in the Ducks’ first three games before
suffering a sprained ankle. He is
questionable for Saturday’s game.
Nee said Taylor is “darn good” and
will probably be a high draft pick by
the National Basketball Association.
Oregon coach Don Monson said he
is frustrated by the situation his team
has been placed in because of the
injuries.
“This season has been very confus
See DUCKS on 9
Nebraska forward Beau Reid shoots over Ohio State’s Jay Burson and Jerry Francis.