Senior setter Griechaly Cepero engineered the Nebraska attack with 41 assists. Eight players had at least four kills under the direction of Cepero, who also produced five kills and four blocks. Freshmen Melissa Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua led Nebraska with 10 kills each and hit .467 and .450, respectively. Four other Huskers hit over .400, and two, Amber Holmquist (seven kills, .500 pct.) and Laura Pilakowski (six kills, .667 pct.) did not commit an error.

“I think (senior libero) Lindsay Wischmeier set the tone tonight for passing and ball-handling,” Husker Coach John Cook said. “Our passing to Greicha tonight was exceptional. I thought we executed very well.”

After defeating OU 30-18 in game one, Nebraska was nearly flawless in game two, when five players had at least two kills and hit .500 or better. NU led 17-7 in game two when Pilakowski stepped to the service line and served 13 straight points to close the match.

NU won game three, 30-15, without Holmquist and Pilakowski on the floor. Junior middle blocker Sara Westling notched a season-best seven kills while swinging at a .600 clip in game three. Sophomore outside hitter Ally Rebholz posted four kills on a .429 hitting percentage to go along with three blocks.

“A team is either heading towards something great or counting down the days at this time of the year,” Cook said. “It’s hard to keep that passion, but our team is really enjoying playing. I think they’re excited about being a great team. It all started after the first game at Texas. Something happened that we can’t explain.

“When you’ve got momentum, you’re feeling good, and the players off the bench have the same passion—it really adds to the team. It is contagious.”

Christina Barlow led Oklahoma with seven kills, but hit -.032. Four Sooners hit for a negative percentage, as NU Oklahoma to a minus -.026. The Huskers out-blocked OU 13-2, led by Holmquist five stops in just two games.

Nebraska returns to action Wednesday, Nov. 20, when it plays host to Kansas in a 7 p.m. match at the NU Coliseum.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.