October 26, 2002
No. 4 Nebraska remained undefeated in Big 12 Conference play and extended its nation-leading home winning streak to 55 with a 30-28, 30-26, 30-20 victory over Texas A&M in front of 4,084 fans at Nebraska Coliseum.
The Huskers improve to 19-1 overall and 11-0 in the Big 12, while A&M falls to 13-7, 5-6.
Nebraska held a 6-4 advantage early in Game 1 when A&M scored four consecutive points to take its only lead of the game. The Huskers responded by going on 9-1 run to build their biggest lead of the game at 15-9. The Aggies fought back, and with Nebraska up, 20-17, Laura Jones posted a solo block and Tara Pulaski followed with one of her six kills of the game to put the Aggies within one. Nebraska then scored four consecutive points and eventually equaled its biggest lead of the game at 28-22. A.D. Achilefu led a courageous Aggie comeback attempt, posting four kills and teaming for a block as A&M got back within 29-28 before a kill by Husker freshman Jennifer Saleaumua ended the game.
The Aggies outhit the home team, .425 to .410 in the opening frame, setting a single-game season-high by a Nebraska opponent and smashing the previous high of .298 set by now top-ranked USC on Sept. 2 in Nebraska's only loss of the season.
The teams were evenly matched with 20 kills and 13 digs apiece. Although the Aggies led in blocks (2-1), they also committed four service errors to Nebraska's one and got out-aced, 3-2.
Nebraska never trailed in the second game, and other than a 1-1 tie, the Huskers led the entire game. They equaled their biggest lead at 18-13 and held a 20-17 advantage before A&M cut the lead to one following a Nebraska service error and a kill by Munsch, who put down a Nebraska overpass to conclude one of the most exciting rallies of the game. A&M, however, was unable to carry on the momentum and tie the score after committing one of its 11 service errors of the match. The Aggies could not get closer than two points for the remainder of the game as Nebraska closed out the game and went into the intermission up 2-0.
A&M held a 4-3 lead to begin the third game, but Nebraska regained the lead at 5-4 and never looked back. Up 15-10, the Huskers scored four straight points to take their biggest lead of the game. A&M twice cut the lead to six, the last occurring at 26-20. Two Nebraska kills and an A&M attack error put the Huskers serving for match point. Saleaumua then put down an A&M overpass to seal the victory.
Pulaski led the Aggies with 13 kills and a .476 hitting percentage, and Munsch added 11. Setter Lexy Beers, who posted 33 assists, led the Aggies with 10 digs and tied for team honors in blocks with three.
Anna Schrad and Amber Holmquist led the Huskers with 13 kills apiece, and Greichaly Cepero led the team with 10 digs while dishing out 40 assists and tying for the team lead with three blocks.
As a team, Nebraska outhit A&M, .328 to .195, as the Huskers led in every positive statistical category. A&M stayed close in the other categories as Nebraska posted 53 kills, 3 aces 48 digs and 8 blocks to the Aggies 48 kills, 2 aces 44 digs and 6 blocks.
A&M returns home Wednesday to play host to Oklahoma. Match time is 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.