Third-ranked Michigan hosts Nebraska on Saturday aiming to remain among the four undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Wolverines as 30-plus-point favorites.

Michigan is on pace for a showdown in two weeks on the road against rival and second-ranked Ohio State for the Big Ten East title and a spot in the College Football Playoff probably on the line.

Nebraska will be the only Power Five team that hasn’t gone to a bowl since 2017 if it doesn't close the regular season with three straight wins.

Joseph Speaks on Opportunity Ahead of Saturday

Nebraska Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph met with members of the media following Thursday's practice. Joseph spoke on the attitude of the team going into the Michigan game.
 
"The guys came out this morning with a great attitude," Joseph said. "I thought they detailed the entire practice. I loved their focus in all three phases of the game. I think they understand that we have to go in there and play at a high level. We are playing a very good football team. It is one the greatest venues in college football that you can play in, so we have to be ready for the challenge. I think they are going to be ready for it."
 
Joseph discussed the status of quarterbacks Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers.
 
"They had good practices," he said. "They practiced well but you do not get graded on practice. You get graded on game day, so it is about who can manage the team on game day. It is just like what I say about coaching. This would be a great profession if you did not have to play the games but we have to play the games. So they have to be able to manage this team during the game. You can do it at practice but now I have to see you manage this team during the game."
 
He also talked about the opportunity that Saturday presents.
 
"I do not think they have backed down from anybody since I have been here or since before I got here, you can watch them," Joseph said. "They do not back down. They do not throw in the white flag, so you have to respect that out of those kids. They are busting their butts not getting the results that they want but they understand that this is a great opportunity, and I explained to them that Michigan is playing for something. They are playing to be the number one seed in the championship so they understand that. They are okay and they understand the opportunity."
 
The Huskers will kick off against Michigan at 2:30 p.m. (CT) in Ann Arbor, Mich. The game is set to be broadcast by Huskers Radio Network on 98.7 FM in Sidney.

Huskers Ready for 300th Consecutive Sellout

MATCH PREVIEW
• The fourth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team will celebrate its 300th consecutive regular-season sellout when it hosts Iowa on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. 
• Friday's match vs. Iowa will be televised on Nebraska Public Media and streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). 
• Sunday's match at Ohio State will be televised on BTN and streamed on FoxSports.com. 
• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and the Huskers app. John Baylor is in his 29th season doing play-by-play for the Husker volleyball program. Lauren (Cook) West, a former All-America setter for the Huskers, will provide color commentary.

CONSECUTIVE SELLOUT NO. 300
• All season and single-game tickets for the 2022 Nebraska volleyball season have been sold. The Huskers will celebrate their 300th consecutive regular-season sellout on Friday against Iowa. 
• The sellout streak dates back to 2001 at the approximately 4,000-capacity NU Coliseum. Despite moving into the 7,907-seat Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013, the sellout streak continued. 
• Nebraska's sellout streak is an NCAA women's record. The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since moving into the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013. 
• Nebraska volleyball fans have continued to set the bar for attendance throughout the years: 
• Nebraska set a new school record for attendance - 8,632 - against No. 2 Stanford on Sept. 18, 2019. 
• A new NCAA attendance record was set at the 2021 NCAA Championship with 18,755 fans turning out to watch Wisconsin and Nebraska battle for the national title at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
• Eight of the top nine crowds in NCAA Volleyball history are all matches that have involved the Huskers.  
• When Nebraska played at Creighton on Sept. 7, 2022 at the CHI Health Center, a then-regular-season NCAA record crowd of 15,797 turned out to watch the Huskers defeat the Bluejays, 3-2. It shattered the previous regular-season record of 14,022 (set by Nebraska and Creighton in 2018). The record lasted nine days, however, as Wisconsin and Florida drew a crowd of 16,833 to the Kohl Center on Sept. 16. 
• Of the 14 largest NCAA volleyball regular-season crowds, 13 have been matches Nebraska played in.

NOTING THE HUSKERS
• At 21-2 overall and 13-1 in the Big Ten Conference, Nebraska is tied for the league lead with Ohio State and Wisconsin. 
• Nebraska is hitting .253 as a team and is holding opponents to .123 hitting, which leads the nation. The Huskers rank sixth nationally at 2.81 blocks per set. 
• In Big Ten matches only, Nebraska ranks first in opponent hitting percentage (.121), first in opponent kills allowed (10.83 per set) and first in opponent service aces allowed (0.62).
• Nebraska opened the season in a 5-1 system but has been in a 6-2 system since Sept. 1 against Loyola Marymount. Nicklin Hames (5.38 assists per set) and Anni Evans (4.51 assists per set) have run the 6-2 for the Huskers since Hames returned to the lineup on Oct. 14 against Penn State after a one-month absence with an injury. 
• Hames, who is in her fifth season at NU, has 4,918 career assists and broke Fiona Nepo's (1995-98) career assists school record on Oct. 22 at Illinois. Hames ranks fifth among active NCAA Division I setters in career assists. 
• Outside hitter Madi Kubik is averaging a team-high 3.18 kills per set and adds 2.25 digs per set. Kubik surpassed 1,000 career kills on Sept. 10 against Long Beach State, becoming the 24th Husker all-time to reach that mark. 
• Outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein is averaging 3.01 kills per set and has a team-high 23 service aces. Lauenstein had a career-high 25 kills on .385 hitting in a win at No. 17 Creighton on Sept. 7. It was the most kills by a Husker in a match since Mikaela Foecke had 27 kills in the NCAA Championship match against Stanford in 2018. 
• Middle blocker Kaitlyn Hord is averaging 1.39 kills and a .306 hitting percentage to go with 1.64 blocks per set, which leads the nation. Hord ranks No. 2 among active NCAA Division I players in career blocks with 648.
• Sophomore libero Lexi Rodriguez is averaging a team-best 4.00 digs per set. Rodriguez is the reigning AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. She was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10 after averaging 6.00 digs per set in sweeps at Michigan State and Michigan, including a season-high 25 digs in the three-set win over the Wolverines. 
• Freshman middle blocker Bekka Allick is putting up 2.06 kills per set on a team-high .363 hitting percentage with 1.04 blocks per set. Allick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24. In Big Ten play, Allick ranks second with a .386 hitting percentage. 

SCOUTING IOWA
• Iowa is 7-18 (1-13 Big Ten) and has lost eight matches in a row. 
• Michelle Urquhart leads the Hawkeyes with 2.58 kills per set and adds 2.32 digs per set. 
• Amiya Jones contributes 2.56 kills per set and has served 36 aces. 
• Libero Mari Hinkle averages 4.16 digs per set. 
• The Hawkeyes rank 12th in the Big Ten with a .194 hitting percentage and are 14th in opponent hitting percentage at .234. 

SCOUTING OHIO STATE 
• Since dropping a 3-2 match to Nebraska in Lincoln on Sept. 24, Ohio State has won 12 matches in a row entering a Thursday night match at No. 15 Purdue to improve to 17-5 (13-1 Big Ten). 
• Emily Londot averages a team-high 3.73 kills per set to go with 2.38 digs per set. 
• Gabby Gonzalez adds 3.34 kills per set and 2.32 digs per set and leads all Big Ten players with 0.42 aces per set. 
• All-America setter Mac Podraza is putting up a league-best 10.82 assists per set and the Buckeyes are hitting .258 as a team, which ranks third among Big Ten teams. The Buckeyes' defense also ranks third with a .176 opponent hitting percentage. 

SERIES HISTORY
• Nebraska is 35-0 all-time against Iowa, and the last four wins have been sweeps. 
• Nebraska is 18-9 all-time against Ohio State after defeating the Buckeyes 3-2 earlier this season on Sept. 24 in Lincoln: 25-22, 24-26, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13. Ohio State beat NU in Columbus last year on Nov. 6, 27-25, 25-21, 25-23. Nebraska is 8-2 all-time in Columbus against the Buckeyes.  

HUSKERS RANKED NO. 4 IN AVCA POLL
• Nebraska is ranked No. 4 in the AVCA Coaches Poll this week. 
• The Huskers were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, the first time since 2016 the Huskers started a year atop the poll. Nebraska also held the No. 1 ranking the week of Oct. 24. 
• Nebraska has been ranked No. 1 in 102 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history. 
• The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 527 times, which is also the most in NCAA history.
• Nebraska has appeared in all 583 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time.

KNUCKLES, KUBIK, RODRIGUEZ NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
• The three team captains for the Nebraska volleyball program in 2022 are senior defensive specialist Kenzie Knuckles, outside hitter Madi Kubik and sophomore libero Lexi Rodriguez.
• After two years as NU's libero, Knuckles moved into a defensive specialist role last season and was named a team captain for the first time. She averaged 2.06 digs with 0.29 aces per set. Knuckles finished with a double-digit dig performance seven times and ranked 10th in Big Ten play for aces per set (0.31). Knuckles also contributed 52 kills as an attacker out of the back row. 
• Kubik was an AVCA third-team All-American in 2021, and she received first-team AVCA North All-Region and first-team All-Big Ten honors. She averaged a team-leading 3.49 kills per set to go with 2.11 digs while adding 21 aces and 55 blocks. Kubik ranked third in Big Ten play in kills per set with 4.11. 
• Rodriguez was recognized as the National Freshman of the Year, a first-team AVCA All-American, North Region Freshman of the Year and first-team North All-Region by the AVCA in 2021. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.

AVCA HALL OF FAMER JOHN COOK IN 23RD SEASON AT NEBRASKA
• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 23rd season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2022. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 10 final fours, 12 conference championships and 20 top-10 final rankings since 2000. 
• Cook has 812 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (651-94). 
• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 57 AVCA All-Americans and 19 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and a seven-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017, his first and second Big Ten honors with the Huskers in their Big Ten era (2011-present).
• Cook is one of only three active coaches - and one of six all-time - to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award.
• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall. 

REYES STEPS INTO LEAD ASSISTANT ROLE
• Last December, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jaylen Reyes moved into the Huskers' lead assistant role following the departure of associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand, who was named the new head women's volleyball coach at Long Beach State.
• Reyes joined the Husker staff in March 2018. As the Huskers' recruiting coordinator, he has helped NU land the nation's No. 1 recruiting classes for 2021 and 2023, and the No. 2 class for 2022, according to PrepVolleyball.com.
• Reyes coaches the Husker liberos and defense while helping coordinate game plans and scouting reports and assisting with other positions. 
• In 2021, Nebraska boasted an elite defense and held opposing teams to just .148 hitting for the year. A former libero at BYU, Reyes led Nebraska's back row defense to unprecedented heights in the 2021 season. Led by AVCA first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez, the Husker defense propelled the young squad all the way to the NCAA Championship match. Rodriguez set a Nebraska freshman record for digs in a season (524), and as a team the Huskers averaged 16.98 digs per set, the third-highest total in school history. 

HUNTER EARNS FULL-TIME ASSISTANT POSITION AT ALMA MATER
• Last December, volunteer assistant coach Kelly Hunter was promoted to a full-time assistant role for the Huskers beginning in 2022.
• Following her professional playing career overseas, Hunter joined the Husker staff two years ago. She has served in multiple roles as a volunteer assistant (2020-21), interim assistant coach (January-August 2020) and graduate assistant (2019). She fulfilled her stint as an interim assistant coach in 2020 while former associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand prepared for the 2020 Olympic Games prior to his arrival in Lincoln.
• Hunter set the Huskers to national championships in 2015 and 2017 and was a two-time All-American. She was also the 2017 Big Ten Setter of the Year and a two-time All-Big Ten selection. The three-year Husker captain received numerous honors from volleyball publications, including National Player of the Year and All-America first-team honors from PrepVolleyball.com. Hunter was also named co-Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championship with teammate Mikaela Foecke after the Huskers beat Florida in the national title match in 2017.

OMAHA TO HOST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THIRD TIME IN EIGHT YEARS
• The NCAA Championship returns to Omaha in 2022 for the third time in the last eight years and the fifth time overall. The University of Nebraska and the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) will host the NCAA Championship at the CHI Health Center on Dec. 15-17.
• Omaha has served as the most frequent host of the NCAA Championship in the 41-year history of the tournament. Omaha has hosted the event four times: 2006, 2008, 2015 and 2020.
• Omaha hosted the entire 48-team NCAA Tournament in April 2021 after the 2020 season was delayed until the spring because of COVID-19. Kentucky beat Texas, 3-1, to win its first NCAA title that season. 
• The Huskers won NCAA titles in Omaha in both 2006 (vs. Stanford) and 2015 (vs. Texas), and the Big Red reached the final four in 2008 before losing a five-set thriller to Penn State in the semifinals. 
• Four of the top 11 crowds in NCAA history have occurred at the NCAA Semifinals and Finals played at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. 
• Future NCAA Volleyball Championship sites include Tampa (2023), Louisville (2024) and Kansas City (2025). 

HORD HEADLINES TALENTED GROUP OF NEW HUSKERS
• Nebraska has five new players on its roster this season: Penn State graduate transfer Kaitlyn Hord (Lexington, Ky.), freshman middle blocker Bekka Allick (Lincoln, Neb.), freshman defensive specialist Maisie Boesiger (Firth, Neb.), freshman outside hitter Hayden Kubik (West Des Moines, Iowa) and freshman middle blocker Maggie Mendelson (Ogden, Utah). The Huskers' signing class was the No. 2-ranked class by PrepVolleyball.
• The 6-4 Hord was named to the AVCA All-America Second Team and was a first-team All-Big Ten choice for the third straight season last year at Penn State. She averaged a career-best 2.92 kills per set while hitting .394. Hord recorded 1.40 blocks per set, which ranked third in the Big Ten and seventh nationally.

NINETEEN TV APPEARANCES FOR THE BIG RED IN 2022
• Nebraska plays on TV 19 times this season, including 14 national TV broadcasts.
• The Huskers appear on the Big Ten Network 12 times during the regular season, and Nebraska plays at Creighton on FS1 on Sept. 7 and at Kentucky on ESPNU on Sept. 18. 
• In addition to the 14 national TV broadcasts, Nebraska Public Media is televising five matches: Tulsa (Aug. 26), Loyola Marymount (Sept. 1), Ohio State (Sept. 24), Northwestern (Oct. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 11). 
• The 10 matches that are not on TV can be streamed with a B1G+ subscription. Every match throughout the season airs on the Huskers Radio Network and can be heard on Huskers.com and the Huskers app. 

THREE HUSKERS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
• Three members of the Nebraska volleyball team were named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Kaitlyn Hord, Madi Kubik and Lexi Rodriguez were all voted to the 15-player preseason team by the conference's head coaches. All three were All-Big Ten First Team selections last year. Kubik was the only player in the Big Ten unanimously chosen to the preseason all-conference team. 
• Kubik was an AVCA third-team All-American in 2021, and she received first-team AVCA All-North Region and first-team All-Big Ten honors. She averaged a team-leading 3.49 kills per set to go with 2.11 digs while adding 21 aces and 55 blocks. Kubik ranked third in Big Ten play in kills per set with 4.11. 
• Rodriguez was recognized as the AVCA National Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-American, North Region Freshman of the Year and first-team All-North Region in 2021. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
• Hord, a transfer from Penn State, was named to the AVCA All-America Second Team and was a first-team All-Big Ten choice for the third straight season last year. She averaged a career-best 2.92 kills per set while hitting .394. Hord recorded 1.40 blocks per set, which ranked third in the Big Ten and seventh nationally.
• The Huskers were picked second in the Big Ten preseason poll behind defending national champion Wisconsin. Minnesota was third, followed by Ohio State and Penn State. 

MENDELSON, U.S. U19 TEAM WIN GOLD AT PAN AMERICAN CUP
• Nebraska freshman middle blocker Maggie Mendelson and the U.S. Girls' U19 National Team won the gold medal at the Pan American Cup in Tulsa, Okla., in late July. The U.S. team went 5-0 at the tournament without dropping a set.
• Mendelson, the team captain, had six kills, two blocks and two ace serves in the USA's 25-15, 25-14, 25-17 sweep of Brazil in the championship match.

ALLICK, RODRIGUEZ CLAIM GOLD AT PAN AMERICAN CUP
• The U.S. Women's U21 National Team - with Nebraska freshman middle blocker Bekka Allick and sophomore libero Lexi Rodriguez - defeated Argentina 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-14) in June 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.

Huskers Host Southland Champs Friday

#22/#22 Nebraska Cornhuskers 
vs. Houston Christian Huskies
Friday, November 11, 2022, 8 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Live Video: B1G+ (Student U)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (7:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (105.3 FM), Omaha (105.9 FM)
Huskers.com, Huskers App
Special Event: Military Appreciation Night
Halftime: Rolla Bolla
Vote for Alexis Markowski & Jaz Shelley at hoophallawards.com

Huskers Host Southland Champs Houston Christian Friday Night 
The Nebraska women's basketball team completes its two-game season-opening home stand by playing host to 2022 Southland Conference regular-season champion Houston Christian Friday night in Lincoln. Tip-off between the Huskers (1-0) and Huskies (1-0) at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 8 p.m. 

A live video stream of Nebraska's game with Houston Christian (formerly Houston Baptist) will be available to subscribers of B1G+. Fans can listen to the call of Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the Huskers Radio Network (105.3 FM in Lincoln, and 105.9 FM in Omaha), the Huskers App and on Huskers.com.

Tickets for the game are available through the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. As part of Military Appreciation Night, veterans and active-duty military may show military ID at the box office to receive one free general admission ticket.

Nebraska women's basketball's late tip time is to accommodate NU's home volleyball match against Iowa at the Devaney Center, which is set for 6 p.m. Fans holding a ticket to the volleyball match can also show their ticket at Pinnacle Bank Arena for free admission on Friday.

Nebraska is ranked No. 22 in both the AP and USA Today/WBCA Top 25 preseason rankings.

The Huskers opened the season with a 100-36 win over in-state rival Omaha on Monday. Nebraska's 64-point margin of victory was the largest in a season opener in school history.

Nebraska hit 14 three-pointers against the Mavericks, with all 10 active Huskers sinking at least one three. It was the first time in NU history that every available Husker drained a three in a game.

In addition to the 42 points from beyond the arc, the Huskers got 50 points in the paint, led by 21 points and nine rebounds from 6-2 power forward Isabelle Bourne.

Naismith Trophy and Lisa Leslie Award candidate Alexis Markowski added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Annika Stewart contributed 10 points and seven boards off the bench.

Allison Weidner led the Husker guards with 19 points and a career-high nine rebounds, while Maddie Krull added 18 points and a career-high-tying four three-pointers in her Husker debut.

Naismith Trophy and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award candidate Jaz Shelley managed five points while distributing a game-high 10 assists and snagging a game-high four steals.

Houston Christian comes to Lincoln after an 87-33 win over the University of the Southwest on Monday in Houston. The Huskies jumped to a 25-5 lead that included 5-of-7 three-point shooting.

N'Denasija Collins led HCU with 21 points, while Enya Maguire added 17 points off the bench. Six different Huskies hit at least one three in the game, including Maguire (3-5) and Julija Vujakovic (3-7), as HCU knocked down 10-of-24 threes on the night. HCU also hit 23-of-28 free throws.

#22/#22 Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 21.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - So. - C/F - 13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 10.0 apg
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - So. - G - 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
3 - Allison Weidner - 5-10 - So. - G - 19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg
Off the Bench
42 - Maddie Krull - 5-9 - So. - G - 18.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
24 - Nailah Dillard - 5-10 - Gr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
44 - Maggie Mendelson - 6-5 - Fr. - F/C - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Seventh Season at Nebraska (97-84); 16th Season Overall (290-193)

Houston Christian Huskies (1-0, 0-0 Southland)
14 - N'Denasija Collins - 6-0 - Sr. - F - 21.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
25 - Abbey Sutherland - 6-4 - Sr. - C - 7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
33 - Marilyn Nzoiwu - 6-3 - Gr. - C - 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
5 - Kennedy Wilson - 5-6 - Sr. - G - 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
15 - Julija Vujakovic - 5-11 - Gr. - G - 9.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
Off the Bench
0 - Enya Maguire - 5-4 - Jr. - G - 17.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
22 - Quincy Erickson - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 7.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
11 - Jo Oly - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 7.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
12 - Amy Cotton - 6-0 - So. - F - 5.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg
24 - Cat Hursch - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
40 - Elizabeth Matadi - 6-5 - So. - C - 1.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
Head Coach: Donna Finnie (Heriot Watt, 1998)
10th Season at HCU (102-152); 10th Season Overall (102-152)

Scouting the Houston Christian Huskies
Donna Finnie is in her 10th season leading the Huskies. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Finnie was the first international coach in NCAA Division I men's or women's basketball history. She began leading the program at Houston Baptist (which changed its name officially to Houston Christian in September of 2022) in 2013-14. Finnie played collegiately at Lamar before earning her bachelor's degree from Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh in 1998.

Finnie led the Huskies to her first winning season a year ago, guiding HCU to a 16-11 record and a 12-2 conference mark to earn the school's first Southland Conference women's basketball title. The Huskies fell to Incarnate Word in the conference tournament before ending their season with a 61-51 loss to Toledo in the WNIT. 

Houston Christian must replace leading scorer and Southland Conference Player of the Year Timia Jefferson from last year's team. Jefferson, a 5-9 guard, averaged 12.7 points per game before transferring to Texas State for the 2022-23 campaign.

Despite the departure of Jefferson, HCU has a load of experienced players back from a year ago. Senior N'Denasija Collins, a 6-0 senior forward, averaged 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds while hitting 85.7 percent (60-70) of her free throws and 34.8 percent (8-23) three-pointers. Collins opened 2022-23 with 21 points in a win over the University of the Southwest in Houston on Monday.

Julija Vujakovic, a 5-11 graduate guard, added 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and a team-best 1.7 steals per game. One of two players from Luxembourg on HCU's roster, Vujakovic also led HCU with 50 three-pointers and was the only Husky to start all 27 games. Vujakovic opened this season with nine points in a win over Southwest on Monday.

Senior Kennedy Wilson also returns to the starting lineup after averaging 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and a team-best 2.3 assists per game. The 5-6 guard hit 40.4 percent (19-47) of her threes and 86.7 percent (85-98) of her free throws.

Abbey Sutherland returns to the post for the Huskies after making 26 starts in 2021-22. The 6-4 senior from Hamilton, Australia, averaged 4.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while leading the team with 35 blocks. Sutherland hit 12-of-37 threes (.324) but just 28.3 percent (39-138) of her shots overall.

Marilyn Nzoiwu, a 6-3 graduate center, gives HCU more size and experience. She averaged 4.9 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds while blocking 33 shots last season. 

Enya Maguire, a junior from Belfast, Northern Ireland, also made 14 starts a year ago, averaging 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds. She ranked second on the team with 36 made three-pointers.

Sophomore Amy Cotton, a 6-0 forward from North Adelaide, Australia, added five points and nine rebounds off the bench in the win over Southwest Monday. She had 23 rebounds over 12 games the entire 2021-22 season.

Junior Quincy Erickson, a transfer from Mineral Area College, opened her Husky career with seven points off the bench in Monday's win over Southwest, while fellow newcomer Jo Oly from Luxembourg pitched in seven points and two boards.

Overall, the 2022-23 Houston Christian roster features seven international players (Australia-3, Northern Ireland-2, Luxembourg-2), six players from the state of Texas, and Erickson, who is from Washington, Missouri.

Last season, the Huskies averaged just 57.7 points but held opponents to 56.2 points per contest.  They hit a sparkling 77.8 percent from the free throw line, but knocked down just 35 percent from the field, including 31.6 percent from three-point range. Despite their size, the Huskies were out-rebounded 39.5-35.8 on the year. Opponents hit just 23.9 percent of their threes against HCU's defense.

Friday's game will be the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Houston Christian (or Houston Baptist) in women's basketball.

Noting Nebraska's Win Over Omaha
Nebraska's 64-point margin of victory (100-36) over Omaha was the largest in a season opener and the fifth-largest in any game in school history.

The Huskers reached the century mark for the 30th time in school history and the fourth time in the last 34 games. Last season, Nebraska opened with 108 points against Maine, before scoring 102 in Game 2 vs. Prairie View A&M. NU added a season-high 113 points in a win over North Carolina Central in Game 5 in 2021-22.

Nebraska's 36 points allowed to Omaha were the second-fewest in a season opener in history, trailing only the 33 points scored by Alabama A&M on Nov. 14, 2019.

NU's 33 points in the third quarter tied for the most in a third quarter in school history. It was the sixth 30-point third quarter in Nebraska's last 34 games.

Nebraska's 14 made threes tied for the fourth-most in school history and were the second most in an opener, trailing only the overall school record of 17 made threes against Vermont at the Devaney Center on Nov. 13, 2010. NU's 34 attempts tied for the second most in Husker history.

All 10 active Huskers hit at least one three-pointer in the game - the first time in school history that every Nebraska player available hit a three.

Nebraska scored 100 points despite going without a free throw attempt in the game. It was the first time in Husker women's basketball history that NU did not attempt a free throw in a game (1,462 games).

It marked just the third time in school history the Huskers went without a made free throw, joining an 86-58 win over Georgia State in Lincoln on Dec. 7, 1989 (0-3 FT) and a 68-58 loss at Iowa on Dec. 11, 1987 (0-2 FT). 

The only time Nebraska has been held to a single free throw attempt in a game came at Maryland on Feb. 8, 2015, when the Huskers made their only attempt in a 59-47 loss to the Terrapins.

Husker Nuggets
Nebraska opened the 2022-23 campaign at No. 22 in the AP Preseason Top 25, its first AP Preseason ranking since 2014.

The Huskers closed 2021-22 at No. 23 in the NET rankings. NU finished No. 10 nationally in scoring offense (77.8 ppg), No. 12 in assists per game (17.4 apg), No. 13 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.24), No. 18 in scoring margin (+13.5 ppg), No. 20 in three-point field goal percentage (.357) and No. 21 in three-pointers made per game (8.5).

Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 13 times in the last 41 games, including nine times in 2021-22. NU hit a Big Ten Tournament-record 15-of-32 threes against Illinois (March 3), 14-of-28 threes against NC Central (Nov. 20), 14-of-30 at Iowa (Jan. 16), 12-of-29 vs. Drake (Dec. 19), 11-of-20 vs. Purdue (Jan. 30), 11-of-22 vs. Prairie View A&M (Nov. 11), 10-of-19 at San Diego (Nov. 27), 10-of-21 against Minnesota (Feb. 20) and 10-of-28 at Wake Forest (Dec. 1).  

The Huskers opened 2022-23 by hitting 14-of-34 threes in a win over Omaha (Nov. 7).

Through the first 20 seasons with the three-point shot in women's basketball (1988-2007), Nebraska hit 10 threes in a game just six times (591 games).

The Huskers have hit at least one three in 432 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 311 consecutive games.

Nebraska has scored 100 or more points four times in the last 34 games, including three times last season.

The Huskers have scored 30 or more in a quarter seven times in the last 34 games. In the previous six years combined (178 games), NU produced nine 30-point periods.

Huskers Ink Nine in Baseball Signing Class

Head coach Will Bolt announced Thursday the signing of nine student-athletes to make up the Nebraska baseball program's 2023 signing class.
 
Bolt, assistant coach Jeff Christy and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Lance Harvell have signed three players from Nebraska, one from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and one from Canada.
 
"Having a sound recruiting plan starts with making sure you evaluate the guys that are going to be a great fit from a talent and makeup standpoint for your program," said Bolt. "I'm excited about the character and talent level of this class. These guys are talented gamers who can help set the tone of what Nebraska baseball is all about. Coach Harvell and Coach Christy have done a great job in finding guys that can help elevate our program to the next level. Not only will these guys help us on the diamond, but they will be great in the classroom and community as well, bringing winning habits to the program each and every day."
 
MAX BUETTENBACK
INF – 6-1 – 205 – L/R – Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southeast High School)
Buettenback, ranked the No. 2 infielder in Nebraska by Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game, has lettered three years under coach Montana Jones at Lincoln Southeast High School. As a junior, Buettenback was an all-conference and Super State selection and helped the Knights win the district championship. He hit .436 with 15 doubles, two triples, a home run, 16 RBI and 45 runs as a junior after hitting .452 with six doubles, a triple and three homers as a sophomore. A two-sport athlete, Buettenback earned all-conference recognition as a sophomore and junior in football.
 
Buettenback also played for JC Brager and the Nebraska Prospects, seeing time as an outfielder, pitcher and third baseman.
 
Buettenback comes from a Husker Football family, as his father, Ben Buettenback, was a four-year letterwinner in football at Nebraska from 1996 to 1999 and was a member of the 1997 national championship team, while his uncle, Matt Vrzal, was a three-year letterwinner and part of the 1994 and 1995 national championship teams. Buettenback also had an uncle, Bo Buettenback, play basketball at Cornell.
 
"Max is a versatile athlete who has played all over the field," said Harvell. "He is a left-handed hitter that can flat out rake, which has landed him the seventh-ranked player in the state and a top-500 player in the country. Over the past year, he has dedicated himself in the weight room and is up over 200 pounds and still running extremely well, and as Coach Childress would say, 'he's tougher than a woodpecker's lips.' Max plays a gritty, aggressive brand of baseball that Husker fans should be as excited about as we are."

Jaden Correa
INF – 6-1 – 175 – R/R – Chicago, Ill. (De La Salle Institute)
Ranked the No. 3 shortstop and the No. 34 overall player in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, Correa is a two-year letterwinner for coach Keron Walker at De La Salle Institute. Correa earned all-conference recognition in his sophomore and junior seasons. He helped the Meteors to back-to-back regional titles and clinched the sectional championship in his junior season. As a junior, Correa hit .475 with 11 doubles, three triples and 28 RBI.

Correa has also played for coach Matt Plante as a shortstop and second baseman with the Top Tier Americans and Top Tier Roos.
 
"Jaden is a very confident and athletic kid with wiry strength in the bat," added Harvell. "His tools defensively are off the charts. He is a smooth defender at shortstop and has the arm strength to stick on the left side of the infield at the college level. Jaden is currently the third-ranked shortstop in Illinois and a top-500 player nationally, and for good reason. He was one of the top performers at the 2021 PBR Future Games with several flashy plays at shortstop, and he hit for power off the best high school pitchers in the country."
 
Matt Evans
OF – 6-0 – 170 – L/R – Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada (Glendale High School)
Ranked one of the top 10 prospects out of Ontario according to Prep Baseball Report, Evans is a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and a two-sport athlete in baseball and volleyball at Glendale High School.
 
Evans hails from the same Great Lakes Canadians program as current NU pitcher Caleb Clark and has been coached by former Husker standout Adam Stern. He helped his team clinch titles at the CPBL championships, ABC Freedom Classic championships and ABC Invite championships in back-to-back seasons. Earlier this summer, Evans was selected to compete among the top 150 players in the country at the Canadian Futures Showcase held by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy.
 
"Matt is a guy who we fell in love with because of his speed and defense," said Harvell. "He's a 6.6 runner who hits from the left side and can really run it down in center field. He's put on some weight and added some strength, which is allowing him to drive the ball out of the ballpark with regularity. Former Husker Adam Stern has been his coach throughout high school, and he was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team, so he already has a great understanding of how to play the game and has shown the ability to play it at a high level against elite competition."
 
Ryan Harrahill
RHP – 6-4 – 215 – R/R – Omaha, Neb. (Elkhorn North High School)
Harrahill, ranked the top pitcher in Nebraska by Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report and the No. 2 overall player in the state according to Prep Baseball Report, has lettered two years under coach Anthony Dunn at Elkhorn North High School. An all-state selection as a junior, Harrahill went 8-2 with a 1.12 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 56 innings to lead the Wolves to a state championship. As a sophomore, he was an all-conference honoree in baseball and basketball and helped Elkhorn North to a district runner-up finish on the diamond.
 
Harrahill has also played for the Nebraska Prospects.
 
"First and foremost, Ryan is a winner," stated Christy. "He led Elkhorn North to a state championship last year and is a physical kid that has an easy and repeatable delivery. The ball jumps out of his hand with minimal effort and he's got quality secondary pitches to put hitters away, which profiles him as a starting pitcher with electric stuff. We are very excited Ryan is a Husker and believe he has a bright future ahead in Lincoln."
 
Carson Jasa
RHP – 6-7 – 195 – R/R – Denver, Colo. (Faith Christian High School)
Jasa has lettered three years under coach Jim Polson at Faith Christian High School and is also a two-year letterwinner in basketball. As a junior, Jasa earned all-state honorable mention in baseball and was a first-team all-metro honoree in basketball. With the Eagles, he owns a 5.42 career ERA with 64 strikeouts in 41.1 innings of action at the varsity level.
 
Jasa also plays for the Rockies Scout Team, a travel ball team led by major league scouts from the Colorado Rockies organization.
 
"At about 6-8, Carson has grown a lot over the past year," added Christy. "He has made a big jump in his velocity as well, sitting in the low 90's and even reaching 95. Carson has started to understand how his body moves and has shown the ability to have power stuff. He has a high ceiling, and it's not every day you are able to sign arm talent like his this late in the recruiting process. We are thrilled Carson chose to wear Husker red."
 
Noah Madsen
RHP – 6-2 – 200 – R/R – Roseville, Calif. (Woodcreek High School)
Madsen has played one season of baseball at the varsity level at Woodcreek High School under coach Lucas Conn. Madsen went 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work as a junior, landing him second-team all-conference recognition. He helped the Timberwolves reach a Top 50 national ranking with a 25-3 overall record, while also winning the league title and capturing the Boras Classic championship.
 
Madsen also plays for the Alpha Baseball Club for coaches Adam Farb and Aaron Miles, seeing time as a pitcher and an infielder. In the summer of 2021, he was a member of the Kansas City Royals Scout Team.
 
"Noah brings great feel and polish for a kid that is young for his class," said Christy. "With his advanced approach to pitching, he can get hitters out a high level. He can make the ball sink and throw multiple pitches for strikes. His tempo and consistency is something we are excited to see in Lincoln very soon."
 
Ian Regal
LHP – 6-2 – 180 – L/L – Rochester, Minn. (Mayo High School)
Ranked the No. 2 pitcher in Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report and the No. 12 overall player in the state by Perfect Game, Regal holds a No. 158 ranking nationally among pitchers according to Perfect Game. He is a two-year letterwinner under coach Tom Senne at Mayo High School. As a sophomore, he hit .367 with four homers and 26 RBI, earning all-conference and first-team all-area honors. Regal repeated the all-conference and first-team all-area recognition as a junior with a .397 batting average at the plate and a 1.25 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 39.1 innings on the mound.
 
Regal also played for the Minnesota Blizzard, where he led the team with a .365 batting average and held a 1.16 ERA in 18 innings of work on the mound in the summer.
 
"Ian is a versatile multi-sport high school athlete as well," said Christy. "He has the opportunity to be a two-way player on the field, and his high baseball IQ finds himself in the middle of the action. On the mound, he has a fast arm and current ability to spin the ball from the left side. Ian has high upside, and we are eager to get him to Nebraska."
 
Case Sanderson
INF – 6-3 – 210 – L/L – Nevada, Mo. (Nevada High School)
A multi-sport letterwinner at Nevada High School, Sanderson holds a No. 2 position ranking and No. 27 overall ranking in Missouri by Prep Baseball Report. As a sophomore, he earned first-team all-conference honors as an outfielder and a pitcher after helping the Tigers to a 19-7 overall record. As a junior, he hit .516 with 18 extra-base hits, 23 RBI and 21 stolen bases at the plate and posted a 5-2 record with a 1.02 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 41.1 innings on the mound to earn all-conference and all-state honors, including Big 8 Player of the Year.
 
Sanderson has also played for the Marucci Midwest Victus under coach Chris Dralle, leading them to a 33-18 record after hitting .508 with 19 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 57 RBI and 46 runs scored.
 
"Case is one of the premier left-handed hitters in the Midwest," continued Harvell. "He is ranked the No. 2 first baseman and a top-30 player in the state of Missouri. At 6-2 and 200 pounds, he is very athletic and a middle-of-the-order type bat that has 6.8 speed, so he has the versatility to play an outfield spot as well. His tools and makeup are exceptional, and we believe he is just scratching the surface. We couldn't be more excited that Case is a Husker."
 
Tucker Timmerman
RHP – 6-3 – 215 – R/R – Beatrice, Neb. (Beatrice High School)
Timmerman holds a No. 3 position ranking and No. 6 overall ranking in Nebraska by Prep Baseball Report. The three-sport athlete has lettered two years in baseball at Beatrice High School. Timmerman helped the Orangemen to state titles in basketball and baseball as a sophomore. He set single-season school records with a .554 batting average and 0.24 ERA as a first-team Super State selection in his junior season.
 
Timmerman has also played for the Nebraska Prospects program for coach Scott Stahlecker, seeing time in the infield, outfield and on the mound. Timmerman notched a .405 batting average at the plate with the Prospects and recorded a 0.18 ERA on the mound.
 
Timmerman's father, Ryan Timmerman, was a two-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman at Ball State in 1990-91.
 
"A previous state champion in baseball, Tucker is a multi-sport athlete that is very competitive," said Christy. "His work ethic and desire to win stands out and people look at him as a leader. On the mound, Tucker has really started to command the fastball and has a slider that can be a wipeout pitch to both right and left-handed hitters. He checked a lot of boxes that we look for in the recruiting process and we are pumped he chose to be a Husker."

Huskers Set for NCAA Midwest Regional

The Nebraska cross country team travels to Columbia, Mo., for the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, Nov. 11. The women's 6K will begin at 11 a.m., with the men's 10K to follow at 12 p.m.
 
The women's field includes 33 teams competing, while the men's field features 28 teams set to compete.
 
Last Time Out
The Nebraska women placed 10th at the Big Ten Championships with 273 points. Alea Hardie had the top finish, placing 39th with a time of 21:12.0. Brynna McQuillen clocked a 21:15.9 to finish 47th, while Hannah Godwin and Taya Skelton placed back-to-back in 64th and 65th with runs of 21:36.2 and 21:37.2, respectively. Deavion DeLeon rounded out the scoring for the Huskers with a time of 21:59.1 in 83rd.
 
The Husker men finished 11th overall with 296 points. Bailey Timmons led the Big Red with a 31st-place run of 24:55.7. Jerry Jorgenson was the second Husker to cross the finish line with a time of 25:41.5 to place 73rd. Colby Erdkamp finished 81st with a run of 25:49.6, edging Cal Puskar's 82nd-place run of 25:50.5. Grant Wasserman ran a 26:00.3 and placed 92nd to conclude the scoring for the Big Red.
 
Meet Information
Host: Missouri
Date: Friday, Nov. 11
Participating Teams: Bradley, Creighton, DePaul, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Illinois, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas State, Loyola (Ill.), Minnesota, Missouri, Missouri State, Nebraska, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Omaha, Oral Roberts, SE Missouri, SIU Edwardsville, Saint Louis, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Tulsa, Western Illinois, Wichita State
Course: Gans Creek Cross Country Course
Course Map: Women's 6K and Men's 10K Map
Starting Times: Women – 11 a.m. | Men – 12 p.m.
Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCol8G5y0DsfnXxBM0y-zf0w/streams
Timing & Results: https://live.pttiming.com/XC-PTT.html?mid=5232
 
Women's Lineup
Lindsey Blehm
Deavion DeLeon
Hannah Godwin
Jade Hallgrimson
Brynna McQuillen
Emma Ralston
Taya Skelton
 
Men's Lineup
Adam Christopher
Colby Erdkamp
Jerry Jorgenson
Cal Puskar
Jake Ralston
Bailey Timmons
Grant Wasserman

Huskers Head East for Journeymen Wranglemania

Bethlehem, Pa. – The Nebraska wrestling team looks to bounce back this weekend when it travels to Pennsylvania to take on Army and NC State at the Journeymen Wranglemania.
 
On Saturday, the Huskers will face Army at 12 p.m. (CT) and NC State at 4 p.m. (CT) with both matches being streamed on Rokfin (subscription required).
 
Nebraska and Army meet for just the second time in series history. The Huskers hold the 1-0 advantage after they defeated Army in 1982, 27-14. NU has faced NC State eight previous times and lead the all-time series, 5-3. Most recently, NC State defeated the Huskers in North Carolina, 18-17, in Dec. 2018.
 
Last Time Out: Despite five victories on the night in front of a crowd of 3,097 at the Devaney Center, the Huskers dropped their season-opening dual against NDSU, 20-16.

Up Next: The Huskers will stay on the road and face Navy on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. (CT).
 
#17 Nebraska's Projected Lineup*
125 – #18 Liam Cronin (Gr.)
133 – #26 Boo Dryden (RSr.)/Kyle Burwick (RJr.)
141 – #29 Brock Hardy (RSo.)
149 – Dayne Morton (Sr.)
157 – #4 Peyton Robb (Jr.)
165 – Adam Thebeau (RFr.)/#30 Jagger Condomitti (RFr.)
174 – #3 Mikey Labriola (Sr.)
184 – Nathan Haas (RSo.)/#29 Lenny Pinto (RFr.)
197 – #24 Silas Allred (RFr.)
285 – #28 Cale Davidson (Sr.)/Harley Andrews (Fr.)
*Intermat rankings used

Army's Projected Lineup*
125 – #30 Ethan Berginc (Fr.)
133 – Richard Treanor (So.)
141 – Julian Sanchez (Jr.)
149 – Matthew Williams (Jr.)
157 – #29 Nate Lukez (Jr.)
165 – #26 Dalton Harkins (So.)
174 – #21 Ben Pasiuk (Jr.)
184 – Sahm Abdulrazzaq (Sr.)
197 – Kyle Swartz (So.)
285 – Kade Carlson (So.)
*Intermat rankings used
 
#8 NC State's Projected Lineup*
125 - #21 Jarrett Trombley (RJr.)/Troy Hohman (Fr.)
133 - #23 Kai Orine (RSo.)
141 - #20 Ryan Jack (So.)
149 - Jackson Arrington (Fr.)/Finn Solomon (Fr.)
157 - #6 Ed Scott (So.)
165 - Don Cates (So.)/Derek Fields (RFr.)
174 - Brock Delsignore (RFr.)/Matty Singleton (Fr.)
184 - #3 Trent Hidlay (RJr.)
197 - #18 Saac Trumble (So.)
285 - #24 Owen Trephan (RSo.)/Tyrie Houghton (Sr.)
*Intermat rankings used

Scouting Army

  • In Army's season opener last weekend, 32 wrestlers faced LIU, Oregon State and Queens in the Black Knight Scramble. Last season, the Black Knights have four NCAA qualifiers led by PJ Ogunsanya who made it to the third round of the consolation bouts.
  • Army is coached by Kevin Ward who holds a 36-33 dual record in his eighth season. Former Husker All-American Taylor Venz serves as Ward's volunteer assistant coach.  

Scouting NC State

  • The defending four-time ACC Champions returns seven starters this season, while adding a No. 3 recruiting class. The Pack is coming off a recent 26-12 victory over Appalachian State at home last weekend.
  • NC State is coached by Pat Popolizio who has led his team to three individual national championships and six NCAA finalists.  

Nebraska to Face Strong Dual Schedule

  • Nebraska posted a 6-5 dual record in 2021-22, its 12th consecutive winning season and 33rd in the last 35 years. This winter, the Huskers will look to continue that streak and build off a fifth-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
  • NU will face a challenging schedule that features nine of the top-25 team finishers from last year's NCAA Championships. The home schedule is highlighted by matchups against top-25 finishers Arizona State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Rutgers. North Dakota State will also travel to the Devaney Center for the regular-season opener on Nov. 4. The Bison finished 34th at the NCAA Championships.
  • Nebraska faces a grueling road schedule this season with a notable trip to the 2021 national champion Iowa. Early in the season, NU takes a road trip to Army and NC State. The Wolfpack, who the Huskers face on Nov. 12, finished 10th at last year's NCAA Championships. Other road duals for NU include matchups against Navy, South Dakota State, Purdue and Ohio State.
  • As for tournament action, NU will travel to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational Dec. 2-3. The Big Ten Championships will take place March 4-5 in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the Huskers will look to improve on last season's seventh-place finish. The NCAA Championships are set from March 16-18 in Tulsa, Okla.

Labriola Looks to Earn Fifth All-America Award

  • A 174-pound senior from Easton, Penn., Mikey Labriola returns looking to become the first-ever five-time All-American. Labriola is currently one of only three four-time All-Americans in the history of Nebraska wrestling. Last season, he finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships and his seventh-place finish at NCAAs cemented his All-American status.
  • Labriola was second on the team last year with 23 wins, giving him a career record of 90-26. His performance on the mat in 2021-22 puts him just 10 wins away from joining Nebraska's 100-win club. He would be the 30th all-time member of the 100-win club and would join former teammate Taylor Venz. All but one of Labriola's losses last season were to wrestlers ranked in the top 10.

Veteran Bunch Returns to Lead NU

  • Nebraska will be guided by a strong group of veteran returners in 2022-23. NU loses four senior starters, but returns six starters as they get set for this year's campaign. Chad Red Jr., Taylor Venz, Eric Schultz and Christian Lance were all named All-Americans during their Husker careers.
  • Eight total Huskers qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2021-22 and seven were seeded in the top 20 of their weight class. Three of these wresters return this season. At 149, junior Ridge Lovett returns after finishing second at the NCAA Championships, while Peyton Robb (157) ran the ladder of the consolation bracket and finished fourth.

NU Goes for Second-Straight Top Five Finish

Dual Experience A Plus for NU

  • Nebraska returns 20 wrestlers with dual experience this season, including All-Americans Ridge Lovett, Peyton Robb and Mikey Labriola. Along with the three aforementioned wrestlers, sophomore Bubba Wilson returns as an NCAA qualifier who gained significant dual experience last season. As a team, NU won six of its 11 duals overall and three of its eight Big Ten duals.

Nebraska Welcomes Strong Crop of Newcomers

  • Nebraska's incoming class of newcomers features 12 wrestlers, including two transfers and 10 true freshmen. Highlighting the class is Wisconsin transfer Kyle Burwick, who has two years of eligibility remaining to compete for the Huskers. He's a two-time NCAA Qualifier and finished fifth at the 2021 Big Ten Championships.

Roster notes

  • Nebraska features a 34-wrestler roster as it begins official practice.
  • About two-thirds of the Huskers' 2022-23 roster are underclassmen, as 24 of Nebraska's 34 wrestlers are either freshmen or sophomores.
  • Included in Nebraska's roster are also five seniors and five juniors.
  • 23 Huskers on this season's roster are returning letterwinners.
  • This year's Huskers come from 17 states, and six are Nebraska natives.