The U.S. Women's U21 National Team - with Nebraska middle blocker Bekka Allick and libero Lexi Rodriguez - defeated Argentina 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-14) late Sunday night to win the Pan American Cup at La Paz Arena in Baja California Sur.

It is the second time the U.S. has won the title. The last time was in 2017. Both the U.S. Women (5-0) and Argentina (4-2) qualified for the 2023 FIVB U21 World Championship.

Allick added 14 points on 12 kills and two blocks. Rodriguez, the libero and team captain, was credited with 24 digs and 12 excellent receptions.

"Going into the third set after losing the second, our minds were set on working hard, focus on the controllable and loving hard on each other because we are all such competitive, independent strong women that uplift one another," Allick said after the match. "When I'm given the opportunity, I always take advantage, everyone gets their moments, I'm on a great team."

Overall, the U.S. women led Argentina in kills, 53-42. Argentina led in aces 6-4 and blocks 12-9. The U.S. scored 30 points on Argentina's errors and committed 21 errors.

The U.S. won the first set without much trouble. Argentina turned up the pressure with its serving and blocking in the second set and the U.S. struggled to respond.

Argentina rode the momentum into the third set where it opened a 5-0 lead. Argentina still led at 16-13 when the U.S. scored three straight points behind the serves of middle blocker Bre Kelley to tie the score at 16-16. Trailing 18-19, the U.S. used another serving run by Chicoine to lead 21-19 and it did not trail again in the set.

The U.S. held an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout of set 4 and did not relinquish it.

NU Adds Minnesota Transfer Anfisa Danilchenko

Nebraska Women's Tennis Coach Scott Jacobson announced the addition of Minnesota transfer Anfisa Danilchenko to the 2022-23 Husker roster.

"We are incredibly excited about Anfisa becoming the newest member of our Husker family," Jacobson said. "She has a well-rounded game and is a proven winner."

Danilchenko, a native of Moscow, Russia, spent last season at Minnesota and saw action in multiple singles and doubles positions. She finished the season with a 20-7 singles record and a 17-8 doubles record. 

During her junior career, Danilchenko reached an ITF ranking of 205, a WTA ranking of 1,180 and a UTR of 10.79. She won Grade 4 singles and doubles titles, while also being a finalist for Grade 1 and 3 ITF doubles.

Danilchenko is the third addition to the Husker program this offseason, joining Baylor transfer Ana Carmen Zamburek and Kansas transfer Raphaelle Lacasse.

Wallace to Return for One More Season

Nebraska softball senior Courtney Wallace will return to the University of Nebraska for one more season with the Husker softball program. 

The All-Region right-handed pitcher announced on Monday she will use her final year of eligibility, which the NCAA granted to student-athletes due to COVID-19 interruptions. 

"This is huge news for the Red Team," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "Courtney is a leader that has the courage to dream big and speak boldly, and put in the work to make it all come true. She instills confidence, belief and energy in both her teammates and coaches. To have her presence, talent and voice back in the locker room and on the field next year adds to the momentum from the success of the 2022 season and creates even more optimism for the 2023 campaign. This is wonderful news for the Nebraska Softball program. We are so grateful to have our captain, Courtney Wallace, spending another year with us."

Wallace earned NFCA Third-Team All-Midwest Region accolades this past season, as well as Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors. Wallace was honored with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award after finishing the season with 1.00 fielding percentage. 

The two-time All-Region selection held a 3.12 ERA and a 17-8 record through 148 innings during the 2022 season. She led the Huskers with four saves. On offense, Wallace hit .284 with 27 hits and eight RBIs. 

"We have built something pretty amazing here over the past year and I could not pass up the opportunity to come back and play for my home state," Wallace said. "I am really excited to get back on the field with my teammates and coaches and enjoy every moment of my final year."

Kobelt Named Husker Assistant Coach

Nebraska Men's Tennis Head Coach Sean Maymi announced the hiring of Peter Kobelt as the newest member of the Nebraska coaching staff. 

"I am excited to add Peter to the staff," Maymi said. "He knows what it takes to be great, and I truly believe he can help us achieve our goals here at Nebraska. Over the last several years, Peter has established himself as a top collegiate coach while at Kentucky. The team will greatly benefit from his experience, dedication and passion."

Prior to Nebraska, Kobelt served as the volunteer assistant coach at Kentucky for two seasons from 2020 to 2022. He was responsible for implementing the doubles strategy and on-court fitness for the entire team and coached the No. 1 ranked ITA player, Liam Draxl, through the semifinals matches at the 2021 NCAA Men's singles competition. Kobelt also had the responsibility of leading team practice and handling recruiting logistics, while helping the Wildcat team reach the 2022 NCAA finals and a No. 7 national ranking.

Before his time at Kentucky, Kobelt was the assistant head professional at the Columbus Country Club and the New Albany Tennis Center in Ohio. There he specialized in player development, led private instructions and assisted with program development and court maintenance.

In his playing career, Kobelt had success both collegiately and professionally. On the ITF and ATP men's professional tours, he peaked with a No. 332 singles and No. 378 doubles rankings. He won 10 events in doubles play and four in singles, while earning the opportunity to practice with some of the best on the U.S. Davis Cup Team.

Kobelt was a tennis standout at Ohio State, finishing his career as one of the most successful men's tennis players in school history. He led Ohio State to its first NCAA National Indoor Team Championship in 2014 and was selected as the 2014 ITA National Indoor Championship's Most Outstanding Player. He earned ITA All-American honors in 2013 and in 2014 and was also nominated for the 2014 Big Ten Medal of Honor award. Kobelt currently holds the Buckeye all-time record for most career doubles wins with 139 and is No. 4 in Buckeye's history with a combined 244 singles and doubles wins.

A native of New Albany, Ohio, Kobelt earned a bachelor's degree in financial planning from Ohio State in 2014.

Husker Newcomers Excelling on Course

Nebraska men's golf newcomer Evan McDermott earned a spot in the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur on the strength of his runner-up finish at a qualifier in Allendale, Mich., on Tuesday, June 13. McDermott's performance was the most recent in a string of impressive finishes for Husker Head Coach Brett Balak's six-player incoming class in the past few weeks.

McDermott, a senior at Spring Lake High School, also tied for second at the Michigan High School Division 2 state championship at the Meadows at Grand Valley State University in Allendale over the weekend. He helped the Lakers to a fifth-place team finish, after leading Spring Lake to the 2022 Michigan Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional title. He fired a 69 to claim regional medalist honors at Lincoln Hills in Ludington.

The most recent addition to Nebraska's class of newcomers, Harry Crockett recently led Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College to its second consecutive NJCAA Division I Championship. Crockett earned NJCAA All-America honors for the second straight season with his 14th-place individual finish, which included a final-round 68 (-4) to lead the Blue Dragons to a 20-stroke team victory. Crockett, who was the NJCAA Division I individual runner-up as a freshman in 2021, also captured his second consecutive NJCAA District III/Region VI individual championship. The two-time first-team All-Jayhawk Conference competitor from Oxted, England, was also the Jayhawk Conference runner-up in 2022.

Quinn Yost, the 2021 New Mexico Class 5A individual champion and Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion, notched a runner-up finish at the New Mexico state championship to help his Piedra Vista High School team to a third-place finish.

Nicholas Canales, a senior at La Porte High School, closed his prep career with a third-place finish with a 142 (-2) at the 2022 Texas University Interscholastic League Class 5A Championship at White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown (May 9-10). It marked the second straight top-10 state finish for Canales, who tied for eighth at the Texas state tournament in 2021.