UNK VOLLEYBALL AIMS TO DOWN FAMILIAR FOE NORTHWEST MISSOURI
The 12th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team will try and defend its Central Regional title when NCAA Tournament play begins Thursday in Warrensburg, Mo.
This year’s Central Regional features seven nationally-ranked teams with MIAA regular season and tournament champion Central Missouri serving as host. The Jennies (28-3) are 12-1 at home and 6-0 in five-set matches including a 3-2 decision over the Lopers in the MIAA tourney semifinals.
UNK (25-6) and the Bearcats (26-5) will be meeting for the third time this fall with each team winning on the other’s home court. In the “non-countable” 2021 spring season, the Lopers went 2-1 against Northwest, winning a 3-2 decision in the MIAA Spring Invite. First serve is noon on Thursday and fans can follow watch via The MIAA Network
NEBRASKA MEN FAIL TO OUTLAST NC STATE IN FOUR OVERTIMES:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team had numerous chances to pick up a road win Wednesday night at NC State, but the Wolfpack rallied on multiple occasions en route to a 104-100 quadruple-overtime win at PNC Arena.
The Huskers (5-3) led by 14 with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation but gave up a game-tying 14-0 run to the Wolfpack. NU also led by one with 16 seconds remaining in regulation and was denied a chance to win as Alonzo Verge Jr. missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired on an attempt where it appeared he was hit on the arm.
Nebraska missed another potential game-winning shot in the first overtime. Then in the second overtime, Bryce McGowens went to the line with 2.5 seconds left and the Huskers trailing by one. McGowens calmly sank the first free throw but following an NC State timeout, his second free throw rimmed out. In the third overtime, Nebraska led by two until NC State tied the game with five seconds remaining.
Nebraska is next in action on Saturday, when the Huskers open their Big Ten Conference schedule with a road matchup at Indiana.
NEBRASKA MEN’S BASKETBALL POST GAME COMMENTS:
HOIBERG – FIGHT WAS THERE FOR HUSKERS
Nebraska Basketball fell in a 4 OT thriller at the hands of NC State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday night. Head Coach Fred Hoiberg added he was proud of the fight of his team…
Hoiberg and the Huskers return to action on Saturday kicking off the Big Ten schedule with Indiana.
HOIBERG – NEED TO GET RESTED BEFORE SATURDAY
Head Coach for the Nebraska Men’s Basketball team Fred Hoiberg was asked in his postgame appearance on the Husker Radio Network what his main focus is for his team after a devastating 4 OT loss at NC State…
The Huskers take on Indiana on the road on Saturday. Five Huskers logged over 37 minutes of game action on Wednesday, with 2 logging more than 50 minutes of play.
HOIBERG – INDIANA PREVIEW MUCH LIKE NC STATE
Fred Hoiberg in his post game interview on the Husker Radio Network was ready to move on from the Huskers’ 4 OT loss and onto the start of Big Ten play, previewing Indiana..
Hoiberg and the Huskers travel to Bloomington on Saturday afternoon.
HOIBERG – SHOWING RESILIENCY AGAINST NC STATE
The Nebraska Men’s Basketball team was downed in a 4 OT contest on the road at NC State 104-100 on Wednesday.
Head Coach Fred Hoiberg said in his postgame recap that he did like seeing his team fight through adversity…
The Huskers had several chances to win the contest at the end of regulation and each overtime period, but failed to convert when necessary.
Nebraska was also hampered by questionable officiating, as the Huskers shot 15 free throws the entire contest compared to the 42 by the Wolfpack.
HUSKER WOMEN STAY UNDEFEATED IN ACC CHALLENGE
In a battle of unbeatens, Nebraska dominated from start to finish and continued to surge down the stretch in an 86-60 win over 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifier Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
With the victory, Nebraska improved to 8-0 for the first time since 2009-10. Wake Forest, who entered the game as one of 23 undefeated teams in the nation, slipped to 7-1.
The Huskers complete their four-game road swing on Monday (Dec. 6) when they open Big Ten Conference action at Minnesota. Tip-off between the Big Red and the Golden Gophers is set for 7 p.m.
DAVIS NAMED FINALIST FOR HARLON HILL
Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis is one of eight finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
The winner is determined in a nation-wide vote of D2 SID’s as the national ballot is open between Dec. 1-10. The 35th winner in the trophy’s history will be announced on Friday, Dec. 17
Davis (Colorado Springs/Widefield H.S.) had a memorable season as part of the Lopers 10-3 playoff run. He had a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), is currently the nation’s second most efficient passer (183.3), ran for 1,151 yards and threw for 2,320 yards.
Davis broke his own school-record for rushing TD’s by a QB in a season, became UNK’s all-time leader in rushing TD’s (41) and is one of just three Lopers to have multiple 1,000-rushing season in a career. Finally, he had four games with at least four TD’s and eight straight games with at least two passes.
No Loper has ever won the trophy. The Sports Management major joins fellow QB’s Justin Coleman (1999 and 2000) and Jake Spitzlberger (2011) as UNK players to have been Harlon Hill Finalists. Coleman was sixth in 1999 and then runner-up his senior season with Spitzlberger finishing sixth as well.
THREE LOPERS EARN ALL-REGION FOOTBALL HONORS
Senior right tackle Corey Hoelck, junior quarterback TJ Davis and junior safety Darius Swanson represent Nebraska-Kearney football on the 2021 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 3 team.
Super Region 3 includes schools in the MIAA, GAC (Great American. Conf.), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conf. (GLIAC) and Great Lakes Valley Conf. (GLVC).
Davis (Colorado Springs) and Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) made the first-team with Davis also being the Region Offensive Player of the Year. Hoelck (Giltner), a 2021 team co-captain with Davis, made the second-team.
Hoelck and Davis were part of a Loper offense that averaged 34 points and 450 yards per week
Leading the UNK defense was Swanson who at a breakout year as the starting strong safety. He led the team in tackles (98) and interceptions (four for 19 yards) while ranking second in pass breakups (seven) and tying for third in tackles for loss (5.0).
UNK had a banner 2021 season, going 10-3, reaching the second round of the NCAA Playoffs and being nationally-ranked for the first time in a decade.
SQUIER SISTERS HEADLINE UNK VOLLEYBALL ALL-REGION HONOREES
Super seniors Anna Squiers and Madison Squires represent Nebraska-Kearney volleyball on the 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Central Region team.
Both Anna and Maddie earned their second All-Central Region honors and both hit major milestones this fall, Anna reaching 1,000 career kills (1,058) and Maddie recording career assist number 6,000 (now 6,152) and career dig number 1,500 (now 1,610).
The 12th-ranked Lopers faced 4th-ranked Northwest Missouri State Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That match begins at noon in Warrensburg, Mo.
ALLEN NAMED BIG TEN TIGHT END OF THE YEAR
Senior tight end Austin Allen has been named the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, as well as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. Allen led four Husker offensive standouts who earned all-conference accolades
A native of Aurora, Neb., Allen was a first-team all-conference choice by the Big Ten media panel and earned second-team accolades from the Big Ten coaches. Allen is the first Husker position player to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since 2014, and he is the first Husker tight end to be a first-team all-conference selection since Matt Herian in 2003.
Allen had a record-setting season for a Nebraska tight end in 2021, setting school position records for receptions (38) and yards (602), and a single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end with 143 yards at Wisconsin. Allen led all Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards, and his 15.8 yards per reception ranked sixth nationally among tight ends and bettered all other Big Ten tight ends by more than three yards per catch.
FOUR HUSKER OFFENSIVE PLAYERS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE NODS
Four Husker offensive players were recognized by the Big Ten on Wednesday.
Tight End Austin Allen of Aurora was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year as well as earning First-team All-Big Ten honors.
Center Cam Jurgens was a third-team all-league pick by the Big Ten coaches, while earning honorable-mention accolades from the media panel.
Quarterback Adrian Martinez earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second time in his career, picking up the accolades from the Big Ten Coaches. Martinez ranked second in the Big Ten in total offense with 308.0 yards per game
Receiver Samori Toure made the most of his only season at Nebraska and was an honorable-mention all-conference choice by the Big Ten media. Toure caught 46 passes for 898 yards and five touchdowns, while leading all Big Ten players with 19.5 yards per reception
In addition to the four all-conference selections, senior receiver Levi Falck was Nebraska’s recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.
FIVE HUSKERS RECEIVE BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
The Nebraska volleyball program was well represented on the 2021 All-Big Ten teams and postseason accolades earning four all-conference nods, one superlative honor and two all-freshman awards.
Madi Kubik, Lexi Rodriguez and Lauren Stivrins were named to the All-Big Ten First Team, and Nicklin Hames was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Rodriguez was tabbed the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Fellow newcomer Lindsay Krause joined her on the All-Freshman Team.
Nebraska and Purdue were the only two schools to have three first-team All-Big Ten picks this season. NU has boasted at least three first-teamers six straight years.
TUESDAY SPORTS NIGHTLY: ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TREV ALBERTS COMMENTS:
ALBERTS – CREATING THE BEST FAN EXPERIENCE IN ATHLETICS
Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke on Sports Nightly Tuesday night for his monthly show, and addressed the need for fans to voice their opinions for improvements to Husker Athletic facilities…
Alberts continued that building a winning program also aids in the experience. Husker Athletics will soon release surveys for fans to take to share their thoughts on what can be improved.
ALBERTS – FOOTBALL HIRES NOT INFLUENCED BY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Trev Alberts made his monthly appearance on Sports Nightly last night. When asked how the offensive coaching staff hires for the Football program has been going, Alberts stated he’s allowing Head Coach Scott Frost to make those decisions…
Alberts continued that he wants to see Frost build a staff that can find continued success for Husker Football, and that no timetable has been set to hire a staff as of yet.
ALBERTS – NEBRASKA TIES NOT NECESSARY FOR EMPLOYMENT
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts joined Sports Nightly for his monthly appearance on Tuesday and spoke about the ongoing hiring process for the Nebraska Football offensive coaching vacancies.
Alberts was asked if candidates needed ties to the university for employment…
Alberts continued that he hopes to see a staff in place that focuses on the players and their development.
HUSKER WRESTLING READY TO DEFEND TITLE IN VEGAS
The undefeated No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team heads to Las Vegas this weekend to partake in one of the premier wrestling tournaments of the year at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
The Las Vegas Convention Center will host the event, with action set to begin on Friday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m
The tournament field features the defending champions from Nebraska along with 26 other Division 1 teams and over 100 ranked wrestlers. Nine of the nation’s Top-25 teams in the latest NWCA poll will take the mat in Las Vegas.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- Kearney v. Bellevue East – 4:30 PM
- Pregame @ 4:15 PM on KGFW; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW App
- Kearney v. Bellevue East – 4:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- Kearney v. Bellevue East – 6:15 PM
- Pregame @ 6 PM on KGFW; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW App
- Kearney v. Bellevue East – 6:15 PM
- WRESTLING: Dual @ Hastings – 6:30 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING: Kearney High Triangular
- UNK:
- VOLLEYBALL: NCAA D2 Regional @ Warrensburg, MO
- UNK v. Northwest Missouri State – 12 PM
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Emporia State – 5:30 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Emporia State – 7:30 PM
- VOLLEYBALL: NCAA D2 Regional @ Warrensburg, MO
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Dakota Wesleyan – 6 PM
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Sutton – 5:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Sutton – 7:15 PM
- UNK:
- TRACK: Indoor Intrasquad – TBA
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- MENS/WOMENS T&F: Indoor SDSU Holiday Invite
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Dakota Wesleyan – 7:45 PM
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- Kearney High @ TBA
- BOYS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- Kearney High @ TBA
- WRESTLING: Kearney High Invite v. Multiple teams – 10 AM
- SWIMMING AND DIVING: @ Hastings invite
- GIRLS BASKETBALL:Early Bird Classic Tournament:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING: @ Hastings Invite
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Holdrege – 2:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Holdrege – 3:45 PM
- UNK:
- WRESTLING: @ Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite – 11 AM
- WRESTLING: @ Doane Invite – 9 AM
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
- VOLLEYBALL: NCAA D2 RegionalChampionship, TBA
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- MENS BOWLING: @ Sioux City, IA
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Doane Open
- WOMENS BOWLING: @ Sioux City, IA
- WOMENS WRESTLING: @ Leavenworth, KS
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Jamestown – 2 PM
