Pilakowski led four Huskers in double figures, as senior middle blocker Amber Holmquist added 13, freshman outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua totaled 11, and freshman middle blocker Melissa Elmer recorded a career-high 10 on a team-best .364 hitting percentage.

Nebraska hit just .227 as a team, its lowest efficiency since a four-game win at Arizona Sept. 7. The Huskers did, however, hold Texas A&M to a .161 at the net, and NU out-blocked the Aggies 11-4. Holmquist led the blocking effort with eight stops.

"I think you saw that we were erractic at times in games one and two," NU Coach John Cook said. "Greicha (Cepero) was having some problems early, and our passing was breaking. But Amber and Melissa took over in games three and four, and the passing got better, and Greicha became more confident. This is a tough place to play, and I think it took awhile to adjust to that."

In game one, Nebraska raced to a seven-point lead behind three early kills from Saleaumua. But Texas A&M out-scored the Huskers 9-2 to cut NU’s advantage to 22-21. Anna Schrad halted the Aggies’ momentum temporarily with a kill, and Holmquist and Greichaly Cepero combined to block Carol Price, opening Nebraska’s lead to 25-22. NU remained in control the rest of the way, taking a 30-26, first game win on Pilakowski’s third kill of the game.

Texas A&M bounced back in game two, taking a 21-17 lead before Schrad and Pilakowski each posted a kill to spark a 4-0 NU run. The score was tied four more times before A&M opened a 27-24 lead with the help of an NU service error and kills by Melissa Munsch and Achilefu. A&M’s Jones made it 28-27 with a kill. Pilakowski answered to make it 29-28, Aggies, but Texas A&M took the 30-28, game two win on a Nebraska service error.

With the second game win, Texas A&M snapped NU’s 24-game Big 12 regular-season winning streak. Prior to the second game loss, Nebraska has won 27 straight games, dating back to a game-one defeat at Arizona Sept. 7.

The Huskers trailed most of the way in game three before tying the score at 22 with the help of back-to-back Texas A&M hitting errors. NU led 27-24 after two kills from Holmquist and one each from Cepero and Pilakowski, and the Huskers secured the 30-26 win when Holmquist and Saleaumua combined to block Munsch.

Nebraska controlled most of game four. Saleaumua reeled off six straight points, including a service ace, to give the Huskers a 22-16 lead. NU led 25-18 after back-to-back kills from Pilakowski and Saleaumua, and Nebraska wrapped up a 30-20 fourth game win when Holmquist and Schrad blocked Munsch.

The Huskers return to action Wednesday, Oct. 9, when they play host to No. 21 Missouri at 7 p.m. at the NU Coliseum.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.