The Huskers honored Metcalf, a 6-foot-1 right side hitter, and Kropp, a 6-2 middle blocker, in a ceremony following the match. NU Director of Athletics Bill Byrne also presented Nebraska with the 2001 Big 12 Conference trophy. The championship is the Huskers’ fifth in six years.

“I thought everything about tonight was really special,” Kropp said. “It was so nice for them to do that for us.”

Junior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski added 14 kills, and sophomore outside hitter Anna Schrad added 14 digs for Nebraska, which improved to 26-1 overall and 19-0 in the Big 12 Conference. NU extended its winning streak to 24 straight, and its streak of consecutive victories over conference teams to 49.

Sara Villwock tallied 13 kills for Colorado, which fell to 17-10 overall and 12-7 in the league.

Nebraska led 24-16 in game one after Greichaly Cepero slammed down a CU overpass for a kill, and Nancy Metcalf notched a service aces. But Colorado cut the Husker lead to four with the help of back-to-back kills by Villwock. Schrad reeled off three straight from behind the service line to make it 28-21. The squads exchanged points, as Amber Holmquist force a game-point situation with a kill. Kropp secured the 30-23, first-game victory with a kill to the back left corner of the Colorado side of the court.

Nebraska raced to an 18-7 lead in game two behind four kills and a block by Pilakowski, who scorched the Buffaloes for nine kills on nine attempts in the second game. Colorado cut it to 20-13 after a Husker hitting error, but the Buffaloes would never get closer than that. Pilakowski accounted for three straight points in a 6-0 NU run that made it 27-14. Pilakowski provided points 28 and 29 with her eighth and ninth kills of the game, and Metcalf sealed the 30-17, second-game victory with a kill.

Trailing 16-13 in game three, Nebraska tied things up after Holmquist and Cepero combined for back-to-back blocks of Villwock. The score was tied three more times before NU used another 3-0 run to take a 22-19 advantage. The Huskers never looked back, as Metcalf provided two kills to give Nebraska a commanding 25-21 lead.

Nebraska returns to action Saturday, Nov. 24, when it travels to Ames, Iowa, for a 3:30 p.m. match with the Cyclones. The contest marks the Huskers’ final regular-season match of the year. NU will learn of its postseason fate Monday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m. when the NCAA announces its 2001 tournament field. NETV2 will air the selection show live state wide.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.

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