Volleyball breaks 26-year Lincoln losing streak

By John Dietrich, Senior Staff Writer

Published Oct. 17, 2003

What can the volleyball team do for an encore?

"We can beat them again at home," sophomore middle blocker Lindsey Noll said. "And show that we're the better team."

On Wednesday the volleyball team defeated No. 8 Nebraska 3-2 (28-30, 24-30, 30-25, 31-29, 15-9) for its first win against the Huskers since 1982, and its first win in Lincoln, Neb., since 1977.

"We knew this would be our toughest environment of the year," assistant coach Wayne Kreklow said. "It's a tall order to beat them in their own gym."

Just to add to the degree of difficulty, the Tigers dropped the first two games of the match to Nebraska and almost allowed the Huskers to rally and win game three.

The Huskers cut their deficit to four points in that game after trailing by as many as 10, but they committed one of their 16 service errors on MU's second game point of the night to give game three to the Tigers.

The Tigers led the fourth game throughout, but saw Nebraska rally again, this time tying the score at 27-27 after a 6-0 run. Then for the second game in a row, the Huskers gave the Tigers a lead with a service error. Five points later, MU won 31-29, and the Tigers said they knew anything was possible.

"Both of us played bad in the first two games, so it wasn't too hard to come back and beat them," sophomore setter Lindsey Hunter said.

MU quickly put the Huskers away in the deciding game, taking a 9-1 lead and holding on for the 15-9 win.

"This was the greatest win I have ever been involved in," Noll said.

Five MU players come from Nebraska, including Hunter.

"After we beat them, it felt like there were 50 million people on the floor," Hunter said. "We were all just hugging each other and going crazy."

MU has had its share of dramatic wins this year, including needing 82 points to beat Texas in game three last Wednesday. But the win on Wednesday was the first time MU has come back from a 2-0 hole this year.

"We try not to make people feel too nervous," Hunter said.

The win complicates the Big 12 volleyball standings, with MU and Nebraska tied for second at 7-2, one-half game behind No. 8 Kansas State at 7-1.

The Tigers do not play this weekend and won't until 7 p.m. Wednesday against Colorado at the Hearnes Center.