Each of Nebraska's three seniors contributed heavily in the third-ranked Husker volleyball team's 25-18, 25-13, 25-12 sweep of Texas Tech on Saturday night in front of the 118th consecutive sellout at the NU Coliseum.

On Senior Night, Nebraska natives Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson and Rachel Schwartz helped pace NU in nearly every statistical category. Larson led NU with 15 kills, while Gates added 10 kills and a team-high four blocks. Schwartz tied Larson and sophomore Kayla Banwarth for team-high honors with seven digs. Gates hit .692 on the night, while Larson attacked at a .355 clip, helping Nebraska hit .400 on the evening.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 26-2 overall and 17-2 in Big 12 play and can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title with a win at Baylor next Saturday. Texas Tech (5-24, 0-18 Big 12), hit just .039 on the night, the second-lowest total by a Nebraska opponent this season.

The win helped Nebraska extend its home winning streak to 85 matches, as Nebraska’s seniors close the regular-season with a 70-0 home record during their career, and could potentially become the first Husker senior class to be perfect at home.

Nebraska got off to a quick start, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back in a 25-18 victory. The Huskers hit .312 as a team, as middle blockers Amanda Gates and Jordan Wilberger combined for seven kills on just 10 swings and three blocks. Gates pounded home five kills on seven swings, while Wilberger had two kills and two stuffs, both in a game-opening spurt. The Huskers got off to a quick start, thanks to the defensive efforts of Wilberger. The redshirt freshman combined on a pair of early blocks to help the Huskers jump to a 6-1 lead. Nebraska continued to extend the margin, pushing the lead to 11-5 after a Jordan Larson ace and forcing Texas Tech to take a timeout. The Red Raiders clawed back, pulling to within 15-13 after an Amanda Dowdy kill, but would not any closer. Larson slammed two straight kills to ingite a run of five unanswered points for Nebraska, taking a 20-13 lead after Lindsey Licht and Gates. Tech got to within 21-16, but a kill from Gates and two straight kills from Mueller ended the Red Raiders’ hopes of taking the opener.

The Huskers got their offense fired up in the second set, hitting .542 as a team in posting a 25-13 victory. Lindsey Licht and Larason had five kills apiece for the Big Red, who committed just two hitting errors. Trailing 4-2, Nebraska used an 11-2 spurt to take a 13-6 lead after a Tara Mueller kill. Nebraska eventually stretched the lead to 17-8 after a Wilberger kill before Texas Tech came back. The Red Raiders pulled to within 19-12 after a Jenn Herrell service ace, but a kill from Licht and a Banwarth ace helped NU push the lead back to nine points, at 21-12, as NU cuised to a 12-point win.

Nebraska’s defense clamped down in the finale, limiting the Red Raiders to just four kills on -.133 hitting in a 25-12 win. Larson totaled seven of her 15 kills in the finale, as NU hit .379 in the set and totaled three digs. Leading 10-8, the Huskers took control with a run of five straight points, taking a 15-8 lead after a Red Raider hitting error. Tech was within 19-11, but three straight Larson swings began a match-ending 6-1 spurt, with Gates and Mueller combining on a block at match point.

Nebraska closes the regular season next Saturday, when the Huskers travel to Waco, Texas, for a match with the Baylor Bears. NU can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 Conference title with a win in Waco. The match will be carried on selected Husker Sports Network stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha.

Courtesy: Nebraska Media Relations