Nebraska received impressive individual performances from a pair of freshmen as well. Right side hitter Jennifer Saleaumua posted 13 kills on a .407 hitting percentage to go along with 14 digs, while middle blocker Melissa Elmer recorded nine kills while swinging at a match-high .571 clip.

With the win, NU improved to 22-1 overall and 14-0 in the Big 12 Conference. However, the victory marked just the third time this season that an opponent has taken NU to four games. Texas snapped Nebraska’s 26-game winning streak with a 30-23 victory in game one, handing the Huskers their first loss since Oct. 6 at Texas A&M.

The Longhorns never trailed in the first game and led 19-13 after a kill by Kathy Hahn. Cepero pulled the Huskers within five after a kill, but Texas scored seven of the next 11 points to widen the gap to 28-20. The Longhorns secured a 30-23 win on a Nebraska hitting error.

The Huskers hit .395 in game one, but allowed Texas to swing for a .476 hitting percentage and gave up 11 kills to Topic. NU, which averages 3.62 blocks per game, did not record a stop at the net in the first game.

Nebraska trailed early again in game two, but tied the score at 11-11 with a kill by Cepero. The score was tied five more times before Saleaumua sparked a 3-0 run with a kill. But the Longhorns battled back with kills from Bethany Howden and Topic, evening the score at 20-20. Texas then committed four straight hitting errors, as NU took a 24-20 advantage.

UT pulled within two with a kill by Topic and a service ace from Kathryn Wilson. But Pilakowski slammed a shot down the line, then pounded another kill through the Texas block to widen Nebraska’s lead to four. Cepero and Saleaumua each notched kills down the stretch, and NU took the second game, 30-23, when Saleaumua and Elmer combined to block Hahn.

In game three, the Huskers used a 7-0 run early to take a 19-10 lead. Saleaumua served six of the seven points, and Anna Schrad had a hand in four points with three kills and a block. Nebraska maintained at least a four-point lead the rest of the way, taking over the game with its block. NU took the third game, 30-22, when Holmquist notched her 11th kill of the match. Holmquist had five blocks in game three, and Nebraska out-blocked Texas, 4-2.

NU was in control much of game four. Leading 18-16, the Huskers began to pull away with a 4-0 run that include kills from Saleaumua and Schrad and blocks from Cepero and Holmquist. Nebraska later used a 3-0 run to take a commanding 26-21 advantage. However, Texas scored five of the next six points to pull within two. Elmer halted the run with a kill off the UT block to give Nebraska a 28-25 advantage. Topic’s next attack was wide, and Holmquist and Schrad combined to block Topic for the 30-25, fourth-game victory and the match.

Topic tallied a match-high 25 kills on 55 swings for Texas, which fell to 18-7 overall and 9-6 in the Big 12 Conference.

The Huskers return to action Wednesday, Nov. 13, when they play host to Iowa State in a 7 p.m. contest at the NU Coliseum. The match will be televised live on NETV2 and will also be broadcast live on B1073. and the Nebraska volleyball network.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.