LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team picked up its third straight sweep to close the Ameritas Players Challenge, topping Pepperdine 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-22). The Huskers moved to 3-0 on the season, while the Waves dropped to 2-1 in front of 8,066 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Madi Kubik recorded a match-high 11 kills and added six digs, two blocks and a service ace. The senior from West Des Moines, Iowa notched double-digit kills in all three matches at the Ameritas Players Challenge. Lindsay Krause chipped in nine kills, while Whitney Lauenstein recorded eight kills on the night and had three blocks. NU had 38 total kills and hit .120 while holding Pepperdine to 28 kills and .009 hitting.
Bekka Allick was solid both offensively and defensively with five kills and four blocks. Kaitlyn Hord tallied six blocks to lead the Huskers for the third consecutive match. She also had three kills and was named the Ameritas Players Challenge MVP for her performance over the weekend, during which she averaged 1.78 kills per set, 2.00 blocks per set and hit .375.
Kennedi Orr started at setter and dished out 27 assists, six digs and five blocks. Nicklin Hames and Lexi Rodriguez led the Huskers in digs, putting up 12 and 11, respectively.
In addition to Hord, Kubik, Lauenstein and Rodriguez were all named to the all-tournament team.
Rachel Ahrens led Pepperdine off the bench with nine kills.
Ameritas Players Challenge All-Tournament Team
Carissa Barnes, L, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Kayley Cassaday, OH, Tulsa
Isabel Zelaya, S, Pepperdine
Lexi Rodriguez, L, Nebraska
Whitney Lauenstein, OH, Nebraska
Madi Kubik, OH, Nebraska
Kaitlyn Hord, MB, Nebraska (MVP)
Up Next: The Huskers are at home on Thursday vs. Loyola Marymount at 6 p.m. That match time was changed from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. earlier this week.
