Pilakowski, who earned tournament MVP honors, produced a match-high 15 kills while swinging at a .429 clip. Pilakowski also tallied nine digs and four blocks. Saleaumua, who joined Pilakowski on the all-tournament team, posted 10 kills while hitting .305 and recorded eight digs.

“I remember saying in preseason that when our fans got the chance to see Jen play, they would love her,” NU Coach John Cook said. “To see her defend, you see her do things Nebraska players have never done before. She’s just an amazing volleyball player, and I’m seeing that rub off on our other players. She’s exciting -- they see her do things, and then they try it. She plays the game in a different way then what our players are used to.”

Nebraska raced to a quick 13-3 lead in game one, as Pilakowski produced four kills during the stretch. Michigan closed the gap to 21-15 after a kill from Erin Moore, but the Huskers opened their lead to seven points after kills from Melissa Elmer and Anna Schrad. NU wrapped up the 30-20, first-game win with freshman Michelle Lynch serving the final two points.

The Huskers carried their momentum into game two, taking their largest lead of the period when Cepero and Elmer combined to block Chantel Reedus for a 19-12 lead. But Nebraska committed a blocking error, a ball-handling error and two hitting errors in the next 10 rallies, allowing Michigan to close the gap to 22-20. Saleaumua halted the Wolverines’ run with a kill, but Nebraska never built a lead of more than three points. Moore pulled Michigan within a point with her ninth kill of the match, but Schrad responded with a kill to make it 29-27, Nebraska. After Schrad committed a serving error, the Huskers took the second game 30-28 when the Wolverines were called for a net violation.

In game three, Schrad broke a 21-21 tie when she slammed the kill down the middle. The teams exchanged kills to tie it again at 22, but kills by Pilakowski and Schrad sparked a 6-0 run to make it 28-22, NU. After a kill by Moore, NU secured the 30-23 third-game victory and the match on a kill by Cepero.

“Game three got close, and then I think we raised our level,” Cook said. “Our serving was good, the block was good this weekend, our offense is getting better --we’ve still got to be a little more consistent. But I like the things we’re doing, and we’ve still got work to do.”

Jennifer Gandolph posted 12 kills and 10 digs for Michigan, which fell to 5-3 overall.

Other players named to the all-tournament team were Santa Clara’s Becky Potter and Kelli Sousa, Michigan’s Erin Moore and Nebraska’s Amber Holmquist and Greichaly Cepero.

Nebraska returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 18, when it travels to Manhattan, Kan., to face Kansas State in its Big 12 Conference season-opener.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.