In her first appearance since 1999, Metcalf, who redshirted the 2000 season after training with the U.S. National Team, was one of five Huskers to swing for a .400 hitting percentage or better in the season opener for NU. The two-time AVCA All-American also added two service aces and four blocks.

“I am just so excited to be back,” Metcalf said. “It is so much fun to play again, and it was just great to be out there with my team.”

Other Huskers hitting .400 or better in Nebraska’s balanced offensive attack included sophomore outside hitter Anna Schrad (.467, nine kills); senior middle blocker Jenny Kropp (.615, eight kills); junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist (.600, eight kills) and junior outside hitter Pam Krejci (.500, one kill).

With the victory, the Huskers advance to Saturday’s 9 p.m. championship match and will play the winner of Friday’s second semifinal match between Wisconsin and Pacific. NU is 1-0 in 2001 and has won 35 straight matches dating back to Sept. 1 of last season. Nebraska is in Stockton this weekend making their nation-leading fourth appearance in the State Farm/NACWAA Classic. NU now owns a 3-4 all-time record in the event, and the Huskers will be playing in the championship game for the third time overall and the first time since 1996.

“I think that both coaches would have liked to have seen a higher-qualify match,” Nebraska Coach John Cook said. “We came out very tight, and as the game went on, we played better and better. We started to find a rhythm, and we were playing like a team.”

Nebraska had found its rhythm by the time it tied the third game at 19 when Laura Pilakowski slammed the ball off Hawaii’s block. A kill by Kropp two possessions later made it 21-20, and the squads traded points to make it 22-21. Cook then sent Lincoln Northeast graduate Sara Westling to the serving line, and the sophomore middle blocker responded by reeling off four straight points in a run that included two kills by Metcalf.

Hawaii halted NU’s momentum with a kill by Willoughby, but junior middle blocker Pam Krejci made it 27-22 with her first kill of the season. A kill by Amber Holmquist made it 28-23, and a Hawaii attack error brought the Huskers to game point. Junior outside hitter Pilakowski a kill for the 30-24 game-three win and the match.

Nebraska trailed 6-0 in game one before Cepero tied the game and then gave the Huskers an 8-7 lead with back-to-back service aces. The Huskers opened the lead to 14-8 with Pilakowski at the service line. Two kills from Metcalf, who hit .667 in game one, gave Nebraska a commanding 26-16 advantage. NU scored again and took a 10-point lead -- its biggest advantage of the game -- when an attack from Hawaii’s Tanja Nikolic sailed long.. Westling served the final two points of the game, and Metcalf and Holmquist sealed the 30-17 victory with a block of Nikolic.

The Huskers led 11-7 early in game two behind two kills from Anna Schrad. Hawaii tied the game at 11 with kills from Willoughby and Lauren Duggins and an ace serve from Margaret Vakasusau. In a game that included 14 ties, neither team led by more than a point from there until Nebraska went up 25-23 on an attack error by Willoughby. The Huskers led 27-24 after a kill from Holmquist, and then took a 29-26 advantage on a Hawaii net violation. NU claimed the 30-27 second-game win with Cepero at the service line.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.

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