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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1993)
Huskers credit fans for sweep over CU By Jeff Singer Senior Editor Nebraska’s volleyball team kept alive its slim hopes for at least a share of an 18th-straight Big Eight title with a three-game sweep of Colorado on Saturday night. But the Comhuskers said most of the credit for their win over the Buf faloes should go to the crowd. No. 12 Nebraska beat Colorado, 15-8, 15-8, 15-8, in front of a NU Coliseum record crowd of 4,557. It was the lOth-ranked Buffaloes’ first conference loss. Colorado coach Brad Saindon said the crowd worked against the Buffa loes, who beat the Huskers in five games two weeks ago in Boulder, Colo. The biggest ditterence was a cou ple of weeks ago we were in Boulder, and tonight we were in Lincoln,” Saindon said. “I thought with the whole environment of this match, (Nebraska) was ready, they were jacked, and they were prepared. (The large crowd) is something we don’t face very often.” The Buffaloesaren’tusuallyouthit either, but that’s exactly what hap pened against the Huskers. Colorado entered the match outhitting its oppo nents .221 to .184, but were held to a season-low .038 hitting percentage to the Huskers’ .198. Nebraska coach Terry Pettit said he was happy to see his team play as well as it did in front of the large crowd. “What’s fulfilling is to play well in front of a crowd like this,” Pettit said. “When you see a crowd like this, you want to reward their efforts to come here, and I think we did that tonight.” The Huskers were able to control the match from the onset, jumping ahead 9-2 in the first game on a ser vice ace by freshman outside hitter Maria Hedbeck. The Huskers rebounded from a 0 4 deficit in game two, and a 12-2 run halfway through the game propelled them to victory. After the match, Pettit said he wanted to make sure his team didn’t let up after the second game. “We were in sync, and they weren’t,” he said. “We iust said after the second game, ‘let’s go ahead now, let’s push them on over.’” Weston said the crowd was the main reason Nebraska — 6-2 in Big Eight play, 17-3 overall — wasn’t going to let Colorado, 7-1 and 18-4, get back into the match. “Playing on our home court and in front of our own fans gave us a lot of confidence, and I think it intimidated Colorado,” Weston said. But Strieker, who led the Huskers with a .333 hitting average and broke the Nebraska record for career assists, said the team’s aggressiveness was the kev to victory. “Everybody was playing all out. Our team was really excited for to night — I think that made all the difference,” Strieker said. Strieker’s game-high 35 assists helped her break former Husker All American Val Novak’s school assist record. Strieker racked up her 3,304th career assist in the third game. Nebraska outside hitter Kelly Aspegren, who had five kills and nine digs, said the team’s outlook made the difference. “Our attitude could sum it up,” Aspegren said. “In Boulder, we weren’t running down balls, we weren’t being as aggressive; and to night, there wasn’t a lot hitting the ground.” The Huskers still need help to to claim even a share of the league title. Specifically, Colorado must lose one of its five remaining conference matches. But Weston said the Huskers were optimistic even though this is one of the first times the league race is not in Nebraska’s control. “Its definitely a change from past years. Usually we’ve been on top no matter what,” she said. “It is a chal lenge, but I think we’re up to it.” Nebraska outside hitter Billie Winsett attempts a dig during the Comhuskers’ three-game sweep of Colorado Saturday. Freshmen help in volleyball win By Shane Glister Staff Reporter Nebraska’s freshmen volleyball players got their first taste of a big time home match Saturday night. And both Maria Hedbeck and Stephanie Clerc excelled as the fresh man duo helped No. 12 Nebraska to a three-game sweep of Big Eight-lead er Colorado in front of an NU Colise um record crowd of 4,557. Hedbeck led all the Husker outside hitters with a .250 average on 1 l-for 28 hitting as well as a team-high 12 digs in the victory. Clerc started the match in the backcourt for Nebraska, contributed seven digs to the Husker cause and added a key service ace in the second game. Hedbeck, a native of Sollentuna, Sweden, said Saturday’s crowd helped inspire her play. “The biggest crowd I have ever — ■ ■> j5!? J'JJj'’ #w Am. MM Awofc* Ar» M>wc» m* *<• Ndtnjm Am Ciwc* RIDERS iNTHESKY Locally sponsored by KZUM 89.3 FM and Kinko's Copies. } FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1993, 8 P.M. BOBBY WATSON & HORiZON Featuring Victor Lewis and 1 THE KENNY BARRON TRiO ■ Locally sponsored by Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., the Adna A Dobson Memorial Endowment and the Jelinek Memorial Fund. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1993, 8 P.M. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! _ I N G S LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 12th ft R STREETS UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-UNCOLN PHONE 401472.4747 BOX OFFICE HOURS 11-5:30 M-F played for was 50 people,” Hedbeck said. “Playing in tront of a crowd at Nebraska is great.” Clerc said her teammates had helped her and other freshmen play ers throughout the season. “Everyone on the team has a great personality and has really helped me and the other first-year players learn and contribute,” said Clerc, a native of Bellevue. NU women take Big Eight crown in cross country By Derek Samson Staff Reporter After winning the Big EightCham pionships Saturday in Columbia, Mo., the Nebraska women’s cross country team showed its conference what to expect in two weeks. That’s when Nebraska’s cross country teams will compete in the NCAA District 5 Championships Nov. 13 at Southern Illinois. All Big Eight schools except Col orado are placed in District 5. Theresa Stelling led the Nebraska women, finishing second to Oklaho ma’s Kay Gooch with a time of 17:46. Nebraska had four other women in the top 20, including Kris Ellenbecker, who finished lOtn with a time of 18:28.3. The Comhuskers needed the good showing heading into districts, Stelling said. “With everybody (except Colo rado) in our conference in our same district, it gives us a good idea of where we are,” Stelling said. “1 think we have a good chance to go to nation als, but we still have to run very well.” Iowa State took the title on the men’s side, with Nebraska coming in fourth. David Itefla and Kevin Miller placed 18 th and 19th, respectively, to lead the Husker men. Coach Jay Dirksen said the fourth place finish was positive for the men’s team. “I thought the men ran just as well as the women, if not better,” Dirksen said. “I was really pleased at the per formances both teams gave, and I’m really looking forward to the District . 5 Championships in two weeks.”