Cornhuskers snag volleyball crown

OMAHA, Neb. – Sarah Pavan and Jordan Larson led Nebraska to the NCAA women’s volleyball title Saturday night, combining for 41 kills in the Cornhuskers’ 27-30, 30-26, 30-28, 30-27 victory over Stanford.

Pavan had 22 kills and Larson finished with 19.

Nebraska broke an 11-all tie in the fourth game with a kill, consecutive blocks and a Stanford hitting error that made it 15-11. Stanford pulled to 29-27, but Larson’s kill ended the game, giving Nebraska its first title since 2000.

“This team maxed out their ability – and they never really wavered the entire year,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “To win it here in Nebraska with this group of people – to overcome the expectations of getting here and dealing with that pressure – is definitely number one.”

Stanford coach John Dunning called the final the biggest game in college volleyball history. The Qwest Center capacity crowd of about 17,200 was the largest to ever watch a college volleyball match.

“I don’t think you can underestimate that. The Red Wave was pretty powerful,” Dunning said. “To have that behind them was a big thing.”

Nebraska (33-1) became the first non Pac-10 team in five years to win a title, capping a season-long run atop the rankings. The Huskers came from behind in its final three wins, starting with a five-game comeback after going down 0-2 to Minnesota in the Gainesville (Fla.) regional final.

“The game volleyball is a game of streaks,” Stanford setter Bryn Kehoe said. “I would say we were up, we let a streak go and that’s how the game goes.”

Stanford (30-4) went up 16-12 in the first game after a 7-1 run during which Foluke Akinradewo had three kills and a block assist. The Cornhuskers tied it 18 after a Cardinal hitting error and net violation, but Stanford bounced back to win the game.