Wednesday Morning Sports – 9/6/2023

LOPER VOLLEYBALL AIMS TO BREAK ATTENDANCE RECORD:

The Nebraska Kearney volleyball team will try and take back the NCAA Division II regular season attendance record when it hosts Peru State tonight.

This will be the Lopers home opener with first serve set for 6 p.m.

UNK doesn’t have a home tournament this fall so this will be only chance to see the team in the regular season until Sept. 21 (Thurs.) match against Central Oklahoma.

UNK set the D2 regular standard back in 1996 when 3,520 fans showed up to watch the Lopers battle rival Nebraska-Omaha. That mark held for the next 26 years before Alaska-Anchorage drew 3,888 fans last November in a sweep of Central Washington.

For the match against the Bobcats, tickets will just be $5 (all seating general admission) with kids 18 & under getting in for free. UNK students, as usual, get in for free. 

Next, the match will be at “center court”, the first time the Lopers have played outside the horseshoe setup since the 2007 NCAA Central Regional finals against West Texas A&M.

LOPER VOLLEYBALL – RICK SQUIERS; UNK DESERVES ATTENDANCE RECORD:

UNK Volleyball aims to shatter not only a home attendance record tonight, but aims to bring back the Division II attendance mark against Peru State this evening. Head Coach Rick Squiers gives his pitch as to why the Lopers should retake the record…

The Lopers host Peru State tonight at the Health and Sports Center, with first serve set for 6 PM.

UNK VOLLEYBALL PUSHED TO TOP TEN IN COACHES RANKINGS:

The Loper Volleyball team began their season 4-0 while traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah this past week, vaulting them up the AVCA Coaches poll rankings to No. 10.

The rankings were released on Tuesday, as UNK moved from No. 16 in the preseason poll to No. 10. 

Conference foe Northwest Missouri State (3-1) sits at No. 15 after sitting at No. 13 in the preseason poll. Washburn (2-1) remained at No. 17.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR IN-STATE TOP 25 SHOWDOWN:

The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team will host No. 16 Creighton on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers will be playing the Bluejays in Lincoln for the first time since 2019.

KGFW’s pregame coverage starts at 6 PM with John Baylor on the call from the Husker Radio Network.

Nebraska (5-0) has swept all five of its opponents this season. The Huskers, who led the nation in defense in 2022, have held their five opponents this season to a combined .037 hitting percentage, which ranks first nationally. All five Husker opponents have hit below .100 this season.

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – PLAYERS;

BULLOCK – RECEIVERS MUST STEP UP WITH IGC INJURY:

Alex Bullock, a receiver for the Husker Football team, was asked if the receiving corp feels more pressure now that senior Isaiah Garcia-Castenada was ruled out for the year after the Minnesota contest…

Bullock has the lone touchdown on the season so far for the Huskers, catching a touchdown pass from Jeff Sims in the third quarter. 

BULLOCK – SIMS CONTINUED TO LEAD DESPITE SLOW START:

Nebraska Football receiver Alex Bullock spoke about how quarterback Jeff Sims continues to lead despite his three-interception day in the opening game against Minnesota…

Head Coach Matt Rhule added on Monday that Sims has been focused on watching more film on how to improve before the Colorado contest.

PIPER – SIMS READY TO BOUNCE BACK AT COLORADO:

Offensive lineman Ethan Piper was adamant during Tuesday’s press conference that Husker quarterback Jeff Sims is ready to bounce back in Week Two for the Big Red…

Sims threw three interceptions in his opening contest as a Cornhusker, with Nebraska dropping to 0-1 on the year after falling to Minnesota.

PIPER – O-LINE MUST IMPROVE VISION TO PREVENT MISTAKES:

Nebraska offensive lineman Ethan Piper spoke at Tuesday’s press conference about what can improve for the Husker offense heading into Week 2…

The Huskers only mustered ten points and had four turnovers in the opening contest at Minnesota. 

BROWN – COLORADO BASE IS MOSTLY SKILL POSITIONS; LOOK FORWARD TO CHALLENGE:

Nebraska defensive back Omar Brown broke down his evaluation of the Colorado offense, and said he’s more than ready to face the talented Buffs…

The Huskers defense played stout throughout their Week One matchup, allowing the top rushing attack in the conference last season to only 55 yards of rushing. 

BROWN – DEION SANDERS DEMANDS RESPECT:

Omar Brown, Nebraska defensive back, was asked about what the feeling is going into the Colorado matchup facing off against “Prime Time” Deion Sanders as the Buffaloes head coach…

Sanders played at Florida State in his college career, was a top five NFL draft selection, won multiple Super Bowl rings, and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame all prior to becoming the head coach at Jackson State before taking the job in Boulder.

NEWSOME – DEFENSIVE FOCUS IN WEEK TWO:

Defensive back Quentin Newsome spoke about the keys for the Blackshirts coming into the matchup with Colorado…

Newsome and the Huskers likely aim to force turnovers against the high-powered Colorado offense – the Blackshirts had an interception in Week One against Minnesota.

NEWSOME – SANDERS IS A GREAT QUARTERBACK:

Nebraska defensive back Quentin Newsome gave praise to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders during Tuesday’s press conference, saying the coach’s son takes care of business…

Nebraska will face a loaded Buffalo offense; Sanders threw for over 500 yards in Colorado’s opening win against TCU.

COLORADO ADDED TO TOP 25; OTHER MOVEMENTS IN TOP TEN:

No. 21 Duke and No. 22 Colorado moved into the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll Tuesday after scoring the biggest upsets of the opening weekend of the season and No. 4 Florida State jumped into the top five after its resounding victory over LSU in Week 1’s marquee game.

Georgia remained No. 1 with 58 first-place votes and Michigan held steady at No. 2 with two first-place votes.

Ohio State rounded out the top five in the AP’s first regular-season poll of the season.

HUSKER HOOPS SETS OPENING NIGHT FOR LATE SEPTEMBER:
Basketball and music come together to start the 2023-24 season as the Husker programs will celebrate Opening Night with Husker Hoops on Friday, Sept. 29.

The free event gives Husker fans their first opportunity to see the 2023-24 Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball programs while Epic Records recording artist DGG will perform to close the event’s festivities.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. with PBA doors opening at 6 p.m. that evening. The event will feature introductions of both the Husker men and women’s squads, remarks from Head Coaches Fred Hoiberg and Amy Williams, practices from both programs, contests with members of both programs and more.

CHIEFS’ KELCE HYPEREXTENDS KNEE PRIOR TO SEASON OPENER:

Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee during the Chiefs’ final practice before their opener against Detroit, leaving the status of the All-Pro tight end in question when Kansas City faces the Lions on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the injury occurred during their final full workout Tuesday but provided no other details. Players in the locker room said Kelce was hurt on a play in the red zone but was able to limp off the field on his own.

Tests taken after practice showed that there was no ligament damage. The 33-year-old Kelce has not missed a game to injury since his rookie season in 2013.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE:

Milwaukee Brewers @ Pittsburgh Pirates – 11:35 AM

Minnesota Twins @ Cleveland Guardians – 12:10 PM

San Francisco Giants @ Chicago Cubs – 1:20 PM

Toronto Blue Jays @ Oakland Athletics – 2:37 PM

Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks – 2:40 PM

Philadelphia Phillies @ San Diego Padres – 3:10 PM

Seattle Mariners @ Cincinnati Reds – 5:40 PM

Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays – 5:40 PM

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Miami Marlins – 5:40 PM

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees – 6:05 PM

New York Mets @ Washington Nationals – 6:05 PM

St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves – 6:20 PM

Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals – 6:40 PM

Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers – 7:05 PM

Baltimore Orioles @ Los Angeles Angels – 8:38 PM

Buffalo County Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis: @ Omaha Woods Tennis Court Invite – KHS = 3rd place
  • Softball: v. Lincoln East Doubleheader @ Patriot Park
    • GAME 1: LE 10-1 KHS
    • GAME 2: LE 9-2 KHS
  • Volleyball: v. Fremont @ Kearney High School – FHS 3-0
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: v. South Loup – KCHS 3-0 SL
  • Softball: @ McCook – McCook 17-16 KCHS
• AMHERST:
  • Softball: @ McCook – McCook 17-16 KCHS
• PLEASANTON:.
  • Volleyball: v. Anselmo-Merna – PHS 3-0 AM
• SHELTON:
  • Volleyball: @ Minden – Minden 3-0 SHS
• ELM CREEK:
  • Volleyball: @ Franklin Triangular (v. Franklin & Southern Valley) – 
    • GAME 1: Elm Creek 2-0 Franklin
    • GAME 2: 
• RAVENNA:
  • Volleyball: v. Arcadia-Loup City/St. Paul Triangular
    • GAME 1: ALC 2-1 Ravenna
    • GAME 2: St. Paul 2-0 Ravenna

WEDNESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• AMHERST:
  • N/a
• PLEASANTON:.
  • N/a
• GIBBON:
  • N/a
• SHELTON:
  • N/a
• ELM CREEK:
  • N/a
• RAVENNA:
  • N/a

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • Women’s Golf: @ Central Region Fall Preview @ Blue Springs, MO
  • Volleyball: v. Peru State @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • Men’s Golf: @ Blue River Classic @ Lincoln, NE
  • Women’s Golf: @ Dordt/Northwestern Invite @ Sioux City, SD – 10 AM
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Kansas Wesleyan @ Lloyd Wilson Field – 5:30 PM
  • Volleyball: @ College of St. Mary @ Omaha – 7:30 PM
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • Volleyball: v. Creighton @ Bob Devaney Sports Center – 7 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 6 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

• Nebraska Volleyball v. Creighton (6 PM – 9:30 PM)