Holmquist tallied season-highs with seven blocks and 13 kills on a .647 hitting percentage in the championship match of the US Bank/Arby’s Classic en route to earning tournament MVP honors. The Houston, Texas native averaged 3.56 kills per game on a .591 hitting percentage while adding 1.44 blocks per game in Nebraska’s three wins. Junior setter Greichaly Cepero, senior middle blocker Jenny Kropp and senior right side hitter Nancy Metcalf also earned all-tournament honors for the Huskers, who also swept No. 15 Pepperdine and No. 20 Notre Dame over the weekend.

Outside hitter Kristee Porter led UCLA with 13 kills but hit for a minus -.036 percentage against NU. The Bruins hit just .091 as a team, thanks in part to Nebraska’s seasons-high 16.5 team blocks. Five Huskers tied or bettered their season-best individual block totals.

With the win, the Huskers improved to 6-1 and extended their home winning streak to 33 matches.

“I was really impressed with our effort today,” Nebraska Coach John Cook said. “The first game was some of the highest level of volleyball I’ve seen in a long time. Both teams were so impressive in that game. UCLA definitely brought out the best in us, and it was exciting to watch.”

The score was tied 14 times in the competitive first game, and UCLA defensive specialist Chrissie Zartman made it 26-26 with her third service ace of the game. The squads exchanged points with kills by Angela Eckmier and Anna Schrad, and the score was tied once again at 28 when the Bruins were called for a net violation. Holmquist slammed a kill down to put the Huskers in a game-point situation, and NU took the 30-28 victory after a UCLA hitting error. The Huskers out-blocked UCLA 7-1 in game one.

After taking the second game 30-24, the Huskers fell behind early in the third. UCLA led 9-2 early as Porter came alive with three quick kills. But the Huskers battled back, tying the score at 12 after back-to-back kills by Holmquist. Nebraska led 27-21 after a kill by Cepero, and the Huskers closed the match with a 3-0 run. A kill by Kropp sealed the 30-21 third-game victory.

“Nebraska has an outstanding block," UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski said. "They served us out of our offense and made us predictable today. We need to attack smarter, like we did at the start of game three. It would have been good if we could have maintained that rhythm."

Holmquist said the Huskers remained confident despite falling behind in game three.

“There was never a doubt in our minds that we would come back,” Holmquist said. “The question was, when we were going to have our run? It’s all about momentum, and things were really going our way.

“Personally I was really excited all weekend. I felt really comfortable on the court. Greicha and I were connecting really well. My parents were here watching, and it felt good to be home in Nebraska and to be playing in front of our fans.”

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.

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