Story by NU Athletic Communications

OMAHA, Neb. - The fifth-seeded Nebraska volleyball team saw its season come to an end Monday, as the Huskers fell to No. 4 seed Texas, 3-1 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.

Texas won the first set 25-22, before Nebraska bounced back to take the second set 25-19. The Huskers led by three points early in set three before Texas stormed back to win 25-15. The Longhorns then erased a 13-8 deficit in the fourth set, closing out the match with a 25-20 win. Texas (26-1) advanced to the NCAA Semifinal with the win, while Nebraska ended its first-ever spring season with a 16-3 record.

Texas hit .336 in the match, the highest mark by a Husker opponent this season. Asjia O'Neal had 10 kills on 17 swings with seven blocks, while Skylar Fields hit .630 and tied Logan Eggleston for match-high honors with 18 kills. Nebraska was held to a .171 attacking percentage. The Huskers did serve up nine aces, but Texas nearly matched that with eight aces of their own. The Longhorns doubled the Huskers in blocks (12-6), while Nebraska won the dig battle (48-45).

Madi Kubik led the Huskers with 15 kills. Kayla Caffey put down eight kills on only 14 swings and added five blocks. Lexi Sun had seven kills, 13 digs and a pair of aces, while Lauren Stivrins also had seven kills. Nicklin Hames had a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs.

Set 1: Texas held the early advantage, 11-7, hitting .500 early. A kill by Sun and a Texas hitting error got the Huskers within 11-9, and they tied the score at 13-13 with kills by Kubik and Sweet. Texas regained a 15-13 lead at the media timeout via a pair of kills. The Longhorns increased their lead to four at 19-15, but Stivrins and Caffey recorded kills and an ace by Hames cut it to 20-18. Eggleston terminated, and a Texas block put Texas back up 23-19, and the Huskers used a timeout. Kubik sided out for the Huskers, but the Longhorns finished the set on top, 25-22. Texas hit .385 and overcame four service errors with 19 kills, while Nebraska hit .229 with 13 kills. 

Set 2: Back-to-back aces by Hames got the Huskers off to a 3-1 start, Caffey and Sweet added kills to keep the Huskers up 6-5. Two kills put Texas back on top, 7-6, but Stivrins posted a kill and Hayley Densberger added an ace for a 9-8 Husker lead. Back-to-back hitting errors by Texas gave NU an 11-9 lead, but but Texas stayed with the Big Red at 11-11. Sun then tallied a kill and an ace, and two straight kills by Kubik put the Big Red up 15-11 at the media timeout. Texas scored two coming out of the timeout, but a serve into the net and another kill by Kubik restored a four-point Husker lead at 17-13. The teams traded sideouts for 10 consecutive rallies to keep Nebraska on top, 22-18, and the Longhorns hit wide to give the Huskers their biggest lead yet, 23-18. After a timeout, Caffey and Sweet stuffed a Texas attack, and Sun sealed it at 25-19 with a back-row kill. 

Set 3: Nebraska took a 4-1 lead after kills by Caffey and Kubik, a block by that duo, and an ace by Sun. But the Longhorns scored a 5-0 run to go up 8-6, keyed by back-to-back aces by Eggleston. Texas gradually stretched out the lead the rest of the set, going up by 10 at 23-13 after a 5-0 spurt keyed by three kills by Fields. The Longhorns closed out set three on top 25-15. 

Set 4: With Nebraska facing a must-win set, the Huskers came out with a kill by Caffey and a block by the junior middle blocker with Sun for a 5-4 lead. Texas answered to go up 8-6, but a service error by the Longhorns preceded kills by Sun and Kubik that put the Huskers ahead 9-8. Knuckles served an ace to make it 10-8, and Texas used a timeout. After the break, Kubik connected for a kill off an assist from Knuckles, and the sophomore libero served another ace to make it 12-8 Huskers. Sweet pounded a kill off a set from Stivrins to extend the lead to 13-8 via a 7-0 run. But the Longhorns scored seven of the next eight points - three via blocks - to go up 15-14. Sun leveled the score again with her seventh kill, but Eggleston tallied a kill and an ace for an 18-16 Texas lead. Texas held a 21-17 advantage before a service error and a kill by Kubik cut it to 21-19. The Longhorns answered with kills from Fields and Butler and a block by Butler for match point at 24-19. The Longhorns punched their ticket to the NCAA Semifinals at 25-21 on Fields' 18th kill of the match. 

Nebraska ended its season with a 16-3 record, with all three losses coming to opponents currently ranked in the top eight of the AVCA poll.

Nebraska fell to 118-34 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, but the Huskers still rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.776).

Nebraska dropped to 15-15 all-time in NCAA Regional Final matches.

John Cook fell to 85-22 in his NCAA Tournament career. He ranks third in NCAA history in career postseason victories.

John Cook is now 77-17 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska's head coach. His .819 winning percentage at Nebraska is the top mark in NCAA history among any coach with at least 20 NCAA Tournament matches at one school.

Nebraska had nine service aces, its second-highest total of the season.

The Huskers' .171 attacking percentage was their second-lowest mark of the season.

Lauren Stivrins had seven kills on a .357 attack percentage against Texas. In her four seasons at Nebraska, Stivrins owns a school-record .396 career hitting percentage in the NCAA Tournament.

Lauren Stivrins finished the 2020-21 season with a .468 attack percentage. Her .468 hitting percentage was the second-best season hitting percentage in school history, falling just short of Tracy Stall's record (.473 in 2007).

Texas hit .336, the first time in 25 matches a Husker opponent has hit .300.

An opponent has hit .300 against Nebraska only three times in the past 12 NCAA Tournaments dating back to 2009, and each time it has been Texas. In addition to hitting .336 tonight, the Longhorns hit .321 in the 2016 NCAA Semifinal and .342 in the 2009 NCAA Regional Final.

Texas had eight service aces in the match, an opponent high for the 2020-21 season.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsOMAHA, Neb. - The fifth-seeded Nebraska volleyball team saw its season come to an end Monday, as the Huskers fell to No. 4 seed Texas, 3-1 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.Texas won the first set 25-22, before Nebraska bounced back to take the second set 25-19. The Huskers led by three points early in set three before Texas stormed back to win 25-15. The Longhorns then erased a 13-8 deficit in the fourth set, closing out the match with a 25-20 win. Texas (26-1) advanced to the NCAA Semifinal with the win, while Nebraska ended its first-ever spring season with a 16-3 record.Texas hit .336 in the match, the highest mark by a Husker opponent this season. Asjia O'Neal had 10 kills on 17 swings with seven blocks, while Skylar Fields hit .630 and tied Logan Eggleston for match-high honors with 18 kills. Nebraska was held to a .171 attacking percentage. The Huskers did serve up nine aces, but Texas nearly matched that with eight aces of their own. The Longhorns doubled the Huskers in blocks (12-6), while Nebraska won the dig battle (48-45).Madi Kubik led the Huskers with 15 kills. Kayla Caffey put down eight kills on only 14 swings and added five blocks. Lexi Sun had seven kills, 13 digs and a pair of aces, while Lauren Stivrins also had seven kills. Nicklin Hames had a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs.Set 1: Texas held the early advantage, 11-7, hitting .500 early. A kill by Sun and a Texas hitting error got the Huskers within 11-9, and they tied the score at 13-13 with kills by Kubik and Sweet. Texas regained a 15-13 lead at the media timeout via a pair of kills. The Longhorns increased their lead to four at 19-15, but Stivrins and Caffey recorded kills and an ace by Hames cut it to 20-18. Eggleston terminated, and a Texas block put Texas back up 23-19, and the Huskers used a timeout. Kubik sided out for the Huskers, but the Longhorns finished the set on top, 25-22. Texas hit .385 and overcame four service errors with 19 kills, while Nebraska hit .229 with 13 kills. Set 2: Back-to-back aces by Hames got the Huskers off to a 3-1 start, Caffey and Sweet added kills to keep the Huskers up 6-5. Two kills put Texas back on top, 7-6, but Stivrins posted a kill and Hayley Densberger added an ace for a 9-8 Husker lead. Back-to-back hitting errors by Texas gave NU an 11-9 lead, but but Texas stayed with the Big Red at 11-11. Sun then tallied a kill and an ace, and two straight kills by Kubik put the Big Red up 15-11 at the media timeout. Texas scored two coming out of the timeout, but a serve into the net and another kill by Kubik restored a four-point Husker lead at 17-13. The teams traded sideouts for 10 consecutive rallies to keep Nebraska on top, 22-18, and the Longhorns hit wide to give the Huskers their biggest lead yet, 23-18. After a timeout, Caffey and Sweet stuffed a Texas attack, and Sun sealed it at 25-19 with a back-row kill. Set 3: Nebraska took a 4-1 lead after kills by Caffey and Kubik, a block by that duo, and an ace by Sun. But the Longhorns scored a 5-0 run to go up 8-6, keyed by back-to-back aces by Eggleston. Texas gradually stretched out the lead the rest of the set, going up by 10 at 23-13 after a 5-0 spurt keyed by three kills by Fields. The Longhorns closed out set three on top 25-15. Set 4: With Nebraska facing a must-win set, the Huskers came out with a kill by Caffey and a block by the junior middle blocker with Sun for a 5-4 lead. Texas answered to go up 8-6, but a service error by the Longhorns preceded kills by Sun and Kubik that put the Huskers ahead 9-8. Knuckles served an ace to make it 10-8, and Texas used a timeout. After the break, Kubik connected for a kill off an assist from Knuckles, and the sophomore libero served another ace to make it 12-8 Huskers. Sweet pounded a kill off a set from Stivrins to extend the lead to 13-8 via a 7-0 run. But the Longhorns scored seven of the next eight points - three via blocks - to go up 15-14. Sun leveled the score again with her seventh kill, but Eggleston tallied a kill and an ace for an 18-16 Texas lead. Texas held a 21-17 advantage before a service error and a kill by Kubik cut it to 21-19. The Longhorns answered with kills from Fields and Butler and a block by Butler for match point at 24-19. The Longhorns punched their ticket to the NCAA Semifinals at 25-21 on Fields' 18th kill of the match. Nebraska Post-Match NotesNebraska ended its season with a 16-3 record, with all three losses coming to opponents currently ranked in the top eight of the AVCA poll.Nebraska fell to 118-34 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, but the Huskers still rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.776).Nebraska dropped to 15-15 all-time in NCAA Regional Final matches.John Cook fell to 85-22 in his NCAA Tournament career. He ranks third in NCAA history in career postseason victories.John Cook is now 77-17 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska's head coach. His .819 winning percentage at Nebraska is the top mark in NCAA history among any coach with at least 20 NCAA Tournament matches at one school.Nebraska had nine service aces, its second-highest total of the season.The Huskers' .171 attacking percentage was their second-lowest mark of the season.Lauren Stivrins had seven kills on a .357 attack percentage against Texas. In her four seasons at Nebraska, Stivrins owns a school-record .396 career hitting percentage in the NCAA Tournament.Lauren Stivrins finished the 2020-21 season with a .468 attack percentage. Her .468 hitting percentage was the second-best season hitting percentage in school history, falling just short of Tracy Stall's record (.473 in 2007).Texas hit .336, the first time in 25 matches a Husker opponent has hit .300.An opponent has hit .300 against Nebraska only three times in the past 12 NCAA Tournaments dating back to 2009, and each time it has been Texas. In addition to hitting .336 tonight, the Longhorns hit .321 in the 2016 NCAA Semifinal and .342 in the 2009 NCAA Regional Final.Texas had eight service aces in the match, an opponent high for the 2020-21 season.

Huskers Fall to Texas in Regional Final

Paxton Boys basketball had a great season finishing at 15-10 on the year, falling just a little short of making the state tournament. A big part of that season was Senior Dane Storer.&nbsp;

Storer lead the Paxton squad this year averaging 19.8 points per game while pulling down 5 1/2 rebounds a game as well. The senior had back to back 30 point games against Maxwell and Maywood/Hayes center early in the season.&nbsp;

These accolades were seen by the Nebraska Coaches Association who invited him to play in their All star game on July 26th in Lincoln.&nbsp;

Paxton Boys basketball had a great season finishing at 15-10 on the year, falling just a little short of making the state tournament. A big part of that season was Senior Dane Storer.&nbsp; Storer lead the Paxton squad this year averaging 19.8 points per game while pulling down 5 1/2 rebounds a game as well. The senior had back to back 30 point games against Maxwell and Maywood/Hayes center early in the season.&nbsp;These accolades were seen by the Nebraska Coaches Association who invited him to play in their All star game on July 26th in Lincoln.&nbsp;The roster for the boys is below:&nbsp;<div><html>
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Area Basketball: Paxton Guard gets NCA recognition headed to All-Star game

The 2021 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star rosters for girls basketball have been released. Behind a strong senior season and a second state tournament birth, NPHS Guard Gracie Haneborg will represent the Dawgs at the game.&nbsp;

On the season Haneborg lead the team with 18.6 points per game along with 4.9 assists. Haneborg was among the state leaders in points and assists all season long. She finishes her career with over 1300 points.&nbsp;

The game will be played on July 26th in Lincoln.

The 2021 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star rosters for girls basketball have been released. Behind a strong senior season and a second state tournament birth, NPHS Guard Gracie Haneborg will represent the Dawgs at the game.&nbsp;On the season Haneborg lead the team with 18.6 points per game along with 4.9 assists. Haneborg was among the state leaders in points and assists all season long. She finishes her career with over 1300 points.&nbsp;The game will be played on July 26th in Lincoln.Below are the players selected:&nbsp;<div><html>
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NPHS Basketball: Girls Guard Gracie Haneborg snags All Star status

&nbsp;Due to forecasted temperatures for tomorrow (4.20.21) the McCook Invitational has been postponed to FRIDAY (4.23.21) at 9:30 AM. Thank you for your patience and understanding as schools navigate the spring weather. #WTMB



SCHEDULE&nbsp;ALERT&nbsp;Due to forecasted temperatures for tomorrow (4.20.21) the McCook Invitational has been postponed to FRIDAY (4.23.21) at 9:30 AM. Thank you for your patience and understanding as schools navigate the spring weather. #WTMB

NPHS Boys Golf schedule change (4/20)

OMAHA, Neb. - Behind a strong serving performance, the No. 5 seed Nebraska volleyball team swept 12th-seeded Baylor 3-0 Sunday afternoon to advance to an NCAA Regional Final for the ninth straight year.

The Huskers came from behind to win set one, 25-21. Nebraska never trailed in a 25-17 victory in set two, and the third set was tied at 14 before NU pulled away for a 25-19 win. Nebraska had eight aces in the win, while its strong serving consistently forced Baylor out of system, as the Bears hit  just .141 in the match. NU also out-blocked Baylor 8-4 and had six more digs than the Bears.

With the win, Nebraska (16-2) advanced to Monday's regional final, where the Huskers will face either No. 4 seed Texas or 13th-seeded Penn State, who play later Sunday. The Huskers' streak of nine consecutive NCAA Regional Finals is the longest in the country, and Nebraska's 30 appearances in an NCAA Regional final are the most in NCAA history.

With All-American Lauren Stivrins sidelined, fellow All-American Lexi Sun led the Huskers. Sun served up a career-high five aces, had five digs and led Nebraska with 12 kills on .345 hitting. Callie Schwarzenbach, who filled in for Stivrins, had three kills on seven swings and totaled a match-high five blocks. Madi Kubik added eight kills for Nebraska, while Kayla Caffey and Jazz Sweet had seven kills apiece.

In addition to guiding a balanced offense that had four players with at least seven kills in the three-set match, Nicklin Hames had 31 assists, 11 digs, four kills, three blocks and one service ace. Kenzie Knuckles had a match-high 13 digs and serving specialist Hayley Densberger had a pair of aces.

Baylor was led by 2019 National Player of the Year Yossiana Pressley, who had a match-high 15 kills. The Bears ended their season with a 20-7 record.

Set 1: Baylor used a 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead, and the Bears led 13-9 before Nebraska roared back with four straight points, keyed by kills from Sweet, Caffey and Sun and a block by Caffey and Kubik. Schwarzenbach and Sun posted kills, and the duo combined for a block for an 18-16 Husker lead. Hayley Densberger served an ace to make it 20-17, and the Huskers won 25-21 on a kill by Kubik. Nebraska had a decisive edge at the service line in the first set. NU had four aces and just one error, while Baylor had two aces and five errors. Sun had three aces and four kills alone in the opening set. 

Set 2: The Huskers were dominant from start to finish in set two. Sun, Caffey and Sweet pounded kills before an ace by Hames put NU up 5-1 to start. After Baylor cut the lead in half, Sun served yet another ace and Caffey posted a solo block to make it 9-3 Huskers. The lead increased to nine at 17-8 after Densberger recorded another ace, and Caffey terminated a kill. Sweet tacked on two more kills as the Huskers remained on top, 21-13. Schwarzenbach and Hames teamed up for a block for set point at 24-15, and NU won the set, 25-17, holding Baylor to .038 hitting.

Set 3: The teams went back and forth early on, but Baylor went up 13-9 after a 4-1 spurt. Sun terminated a kill and an ace around back-to-back Baylor hitting errors, and a kill by Sweet gave the Huskers a 14-13 lead. After Baylor promptly tied the set, Nebraska won four of the next six rallies. The Bears came back and trimmed the Husker lead to 20-18, but NU won five of the final six rallies, closing out the match on a Baylor attack error. Nebraska held Baylor to .098 hitting in the third set.

Up Next: Nebraska will face the winner of the Texas-Penn State match on Monday

Nebraska advanced to its ninth consecutive NCAA Regional Final and its 30th overall.

The Huskers' streak of nine straight NCAA Regional Finals is the longest in the country.

Nebraska's 30 overall appearances in an NCAA Regional Final are the most in NCAA history.

The Huskers improved to 118-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.781).

Nebraska improved to 30-6 all-time in NCAA Regional Semifinal matches.

Nebraska has won 87 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches when taking a 2-0 lead in sets. The Huskers are 89-1 all-time in the postseason when winning the first two sets.

John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Regional Final in 18 of his 21 seasons.

John Cook improved to 85-21 in his NCAA Tournament career. He ranks third in NCAA history in career NCAA Tournament victories.

John Cook is now 77-16 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska's head coach. His .828 winning percentage is the top mark in NCAA history among any coach with at least 20 NCAA Tournament matches at one school.

Lexi Sun had a career-high five aces. Her five aces tied the Nebraska record for most aces in a three-set NCAA Tournament match. Sun also led Nebraska with 12 kills on a .345 attack percentage.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsOMAHA, Neb. - Behind a strong serving performance, the No. 5 seed Nebraska volleyball team swept 12th-seeded Baylor 3-0 Sunday afternoon to advance to an NCAA Regional Final for the ninth straight year.The Huskers came from behind to win set one, 25-21. Nebraska never trailed in a 25-17 victory in set two, and the third set was tied at 14 before NU pulled away for a 25-19 win. Nebraska had eight aces in the win, while its strong serving consistently forced Baylor out of system, as the Bears hit just .141 in the match. NU also out-blocked Baylor 8-4 and had six more digs than the Bears.With the win, Nebraska (16-2) advanced to Monday's regional final, where the Huskers will face either No. 4 seed Texas or 13th-seeded Penn State, who play later Sunday. The Huskers' streak of nine consecutive NCAA Regional Finals is the longest in the country, and Nebraska's 30 appearances in an NCAA Regional final are the most in NCAA history.With All-American Lauren Stivrins sidelined, fellow All-American Lexi Sun led the Huskers. Sun served up a career-high five aces, had five digs and led Nebraska with 12 kills on .345 hitting. Callie Schwarzenbach, who filled in for Stivrins, had three kills on seven swings and totaled a match-high five blocks. Madi Kubik added eight kills for Nebraska, while Kayla Caffey and Jazz Sweet had seven kills apiece.In addition to guiding a balanced offense that had four players with at least seven kills in the three-set match, Nicklin Hames had 31 assists, 11 digs, four kills, three blocks and one service ace. Kenzie Knuckles had a match-high 13 digs and serving specialist Hayley Densberger had a pair of aces.Baylor was led by 2019 National Player of the Year Yossiana Pressley, who had a match-high 15 kills. The Bears ended their season with a 20-7 record.Set 1: Baylor used a 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead, and the Bears led 13-9 before Nebraska roared back with four straight points, keyed by kills from Sweet, Caffey and Sun and a block by Caffey and Kubik. Schwarzenbach and Sun posted kills, and the duo combined for a block for an 18-16 Husker lead. Hayley Densberger served an ace to make it 20-17, and the Huskers won 25-21 on a kill by Kubik. Nebraska had a decisive edge at the service line in the first set. NU had four aces and just one error, while Baylor had two aces and five errors. Sun had three aces and four kills alone in the opening set. Set 2: The Huskers were dominant from start to finish in set two. Sun, Caffey and Sweet pounded kills before an ace by Hames put NU up 5-1 to start. After Baylor cut the lead in half, Sun served yet another ace and Caffey posted a solo block to make it 9-3 Huskers. The lead increased to nine at 17-8 after Densberger recorded another ace, and Caffey terminated a kill. Sweet tacked on two more kills as the Huskers remained on top, 21-13. Schwarzenbach and Hames teamed up for a block for set point at 24-15, and NU won the set, 25-17, holding Baylor to .038 hitting.Set 3: The teams went back and forth early on, but Baylor went up 13-9 after a 4-1 spurt. Sun terminated a kill and an ace around back-to-back Baylor hitting errors, and a kill by Sweet gave the Huskers a 14-13 lead. After Baylor promptly tied the set, Nebraska won four of the next six rallies. The Bears came back and trimmed the Husker lead to 20-18, but NU won five of the final six rallies, closing out the match on a Baylor attack error. Nebraska held Baylor to .098 hitting in the third set.Up Next: Nebraska will face the winner of the Texas-Penn State match on MondayNebraska Post-Match NotesNebraska advanced to its ninth consecutive NCAA Regional Final and its 30th overall.The Huskers' streak of nine straight NCAA Regional Finals is the longest in the country.Nebraska's 30 overall appearances in an NCAA Regional Final are the most in NCAA history.The Huskers improved to 118-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.781).Nebraska improved to 30-6 all-time in NCAA Regional Semifinal matches.Nebraska has won 87 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches when taking a 2-0 lead in sets. The Huskers are 89-1 all-time in the postseason when winning the first two sets.John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Regional Final in 18 of his 21 seasons.John Cook improved to 85-21 in his NCAA Tournament career. He ranks third in NCAA history in career NCAA Tournament victories.John Cook is now 77-16 in the NCAA Tournament as Nebraska's head coach. His .828 winning percentage is the top mark in NCAA history among any coach with at least 20 NCAA Tournament matches at one school.Lexi Sun had a career-high five aces. Her five aces tied the Nebraska record for most aces in a three-set NCAA Tournament match. Sun also led Nebraska with 12 kills on a .345 attack percentage.

Nebraska Sweeps Baylor, Advances to Regional Final

Due to inclement weather and low temperature at game time, the softball games scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, April 19 against Southeast Community College have been moved to Friday, April 23. First pitch of the doubleheader will be at 2 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex.

Due to inclement weather and low temperature at game time, the softball games scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, April 19 against Southeast Community College have been moved to Friday, April 23. First pitch of the doubleheader will be at 2 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex.

Knights softball doubleheader against Storm rescheduled for April 23

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Nebraska men's gymnastics team qualified for the NCAA Championship Finals after finishing in first place during the NCAA Qualifier round Friday afternoon. 

The Huskers notched a team score of 408.623 to secure their spot in the finals. 

The Oklahoma Sooners (406.190) and Illinois Fighting Illini (400.721) also qualified for the finals. 

The Huskers started the first rotation on parallel bars. Junior Dylan LeClair started the meet off with a stuck landing and a score of 13.43. Junior Evan Kriley followed with a 12.50. Sophomore Dylan Young earned a 13.30 while senior Evan Hymanson earned a 12.40. Junior Dillan King finished the rotation with a 13.50. 

NU earned a 65.13 team score for the first rotation. The Huskers went into the second rotation in fourth behind Ohio State (70.89), Oklahoma (68.65), and Illinois (67.33). 

NU moved to high bar where they finished with a team score of 66.93. Senior Griffin Kehler started the rotation off with a score of 13.13. Senior Jake Bonnay followed with a 13.40. Evan Hymanson earned a 13.46 while sophomore Sam Phillips notched a 13.73. Dillan King finished the rotation with a 13.20. 

Nebraska went into the third rotation in fourth with a score of 132.065 behind Illinois (138.329), Ohio State (134.730) and Oklahoma (132.296). 

Sam Phillips led the Huskers through the third rotation as they competed on floor, finishing with a 14.43, a new career-high for the sophomore. Jake Bonnay followed closely with a score of 14.33. Junior Charlie Giles notched a 14.30 while sophomore Moritz Mueller earned a 13.90. Freshman Taylor Christopulos rounded out the rotation with a score of 13.65. The Huskers finished floor with a team score of 70.59.

The Huskers went into the fourth rotation in second place with a team score of 202.664 behind Illinois (203.627). 

The Huskers competed on pommel horse where they earned a team score of 67.63. Charlie Giles started NU off with a 13.56. Senior Mitch Tyndall followed with a 13.23. Sophomore Khalil Jackson earned a 12.93. Evan Kriley notched a 13.93 while sophomore Cooper Giles finished the rotation with a 13.96. 

NU went into the fifth rotation in second place with a team score of 270.295 behind Oklahoma (273.227). 

Nebraska competed on rings during the fifth rotation finishing with a team score of 66.79. Dylan LeClair started NU off with a score of 13.53, a career-high score. Evan Hymanson earned a 13.40 while Dylan Young notched a 13.63. Sophomore Nikita Bolotsky notched a season-high 13.66. Taylor Christopulos finished the rotation with a score of 13.56. 

The Huskers went into the sixth rotation in second place with a team score of 337.093 behind Oklahoma (339.492). 

Taylor Christopulos led the Huskers during the final rotation on vault with a score of 14.66. Charlie Giles followed closely with a 14.56. Evan Kriley and Dylan LeClair both earned a score of 14.16. Dylan Young rounded out the rotation with a score of 13.96. 

The Huskers secured a spot in the NCAA Championship Finals after finishing with a team score of 408.623. 

The Huskers will compete tomorrow in the NCAA Championship Finals at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Maturi Pavillion. The meet will be streamed live on BTN. 

The other teams from Session I to advance are Oklahoma and Illinois. Session II is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. CT and the top three teams will also advance to the NCAA Championship Finals.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsMINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Nebraska men's gymnastics team qualified for the NCAA Championship Finals after finishing in first place during the NCAA Qualifier round Friday afternoon. The Huskers notched a team score of 408.623 to secure their spot in the finals. The Oklahoma Sooners (406.190) and Illinois Fighting Illini (400.721) also qualified for the finals. First Rotation The Huskers started the first rotation on parallel bars. Junior Dylan LeClair started the meet off with a stuck landing and a score of 13.43. Junior Evan Kriley followed with a 12.50. Sophomore Dylan Young earned a 13.30 while senior Evan Hymanson earned a 12.40. Junior Dillan King finished the rotation with a 13.50. NU earned a 65.13 team score for the first rotation. The Huskers went into the second rotation in fourth behind Ohio State (70.89), Oklahoma (68.65), and Illinois (67.33). Second Rotation NU moved to high bar where they finished with a team score of 66.93. Senior Griffin Kehler started the rotation off with a score of 13.13. Senior Jake Bonnay followed with a 13.40. Evan Hymanson earned a 13.46 while sophomore Sam Phillips notched a 13.73. Dillan King finished the rotation with a 13.20. Nebraska went into the third rotation in fourth with a score of 132.065 behind Illinois (138.329), Ohio State (134.730) and Oklahoma (132.296). Third Rotation Sam Phillips led the Huskers through the third rotation as they competed on floor, finishing with a 14.43, a new career-high for the sophomore. Jake Bonnay followed closely with a score of 14.33. Junior Charlie Giles notched a 14.30 while sophomore Moritz Mueller earned a 13.90. Freshman Taylor Christopulos rounded out the rotation with a score of 13.65. The Huskers finished floor with a team score of 70.59.The Huskers went into the fourth rotation in second place with a team score of 202.664 behind Illinois (203.627). Fourth Rotation The Huskers competed on pommel horse where they earned a team score of 67.63. Charlie Giles started NU off with a 13.56. Senior Mitch Tyndall followed with a 13.23. Sophomore Khalil Jackson earned a 12.93. Evan Kriley notched a 13.93 while sophomore Cooper Giles finished the rotation with a 13.96. NU went into the fifth rotation in second place with a team score of 270.295 behind Oklahoma (273.227). Fifth Rotation Nebraska competed on rings during the fifth rotation finishing with a team score of 66.79. Dylan LeClair started NU off with a score of 13.53, a career-high score. Evan Hymanson earned a 13.40 while Dylan Young notched a 13.63. Sophomore Nikita Bolotsky notched a season-high 13.66. Taylor Christopulos finished the rotation with a score of 13.56. The Huskers went into the sixth rotation in second place with a team score of 337.093 behind Oklahoma (339.492). Sixth Rotation Taylor Christopulos led the Huskers during the final rotation on vault with a score of 14.66. Charlie Giles followed closely with a 14.56. Evan Kriley and Dylan LeClair both earned a score of 14.16. Dylan Young rounded out the rotation with a score of 13.96. The Huskers secured a spot in the NCAA Championship Finals after finishing with a team score of 408.623. Up NextThe Huskers will compete tomorrow in the NCAA Championship Finals at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Maturi Pavillion. The meet will be streamed live on BTN. The other teams from Session I to advance are Oklahoma and Illinois. Session II is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. CT and the top three teams will also advance to the NCAA Championship Finals.

Huskers Finish in First, Clinch Spot in NCAA Finals

&nbsp; By MARI YAMAGUCHI and YURI KAGEYAMA - Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Two officials in Japan’s ruling LDP party on Thursday said changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics. One suggested they still could be canceled, and the other said even if they proceed, it might be without any fans.

Toshihiro Nikai, the No. 2 and secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, mentioned the cancellation only a day after Tokyo reached the 100-days-to-go mark on Wednesday.

He made his comments in a show recorded by Japan’s TBS TV.

“If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be definitely canceled,” Nikai said. “If there is a surge in infections because of the Olympics, there will be no meaning to having the Olympics.”

Asked if a cancellation was still an option, Nikai said: “Of course.”

But he also added: “It is important for Japan to have a successful Olympics. It is a big opportunity. I want to make it a success. We will have many issues to resolve and prepare, and it is important to take care of them one by one.”

Prime Minister Toshihide Suga said in a statement there was “no change to the government position to do everything to achieve safe and secure Olympics.”

Tokyo organizers said they, the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee “are fully focused on hosting the games this summer.” They said Suga “has repeatedly expressed the government’s commitment” to holding the Olympics.

COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan. On Thursday, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area of Osaka recorded 1,208 new cases. It was the third straight day that new cases surpassed 1,000. Tokyo hit 729, its highest total in more than two months. Japan has attributed 9,500 death to COVID-19, good by world standards but poor by results in Asia.

Tokyo and Osaka have been under an alert status since earlier this month, but officials are concerned there is little sense of urgency. Experts on a Tokyo metropolitan government taskforce warned that the new variant could replace the conventional virus and trigger explosive infections by early May. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to take maximum protection and asked non-Tokyo residents not to visit the area.

Taro Kono, the government minister in charge of Japan’s vaccine rollout, said even if the Olympics go on, there may be no fans of any kind in the venues. He said it’s likely that the Olympics will have to be held in empty venues, particularly as cases surge across the country.

That means only television cameras and still cameras will be around to record the action, joined by some reporters, judges and match officials.

The delayed Tokyo Olympics are to open in just over three months on July 23, and the Paralympics follow on Aug. 24. Fans from abroad have already been banned. Now even Japanese spectators could be kept away.

“I think the question is how to do the Olympics in a way that is possible in this situation,” Kono said Thursday on a television talk show. “That may mean there will probably be no spectators.”

Kono did not suggest the Olympics would not go ahead, but he said they could be held under only “certain conditions.”

“The way these Olympics will be held will be very different from past ones,” he said.

Tokyo organizers have said they expect to announce a decision this month on the number of fans allowed into each venue.

Organizers had expected to receive about $800 million from ticket sales, their third-largest source of income. Any shortfall will have to be made up by Japanese government entities, which are already footing most of the bills.

The official cost for the Olympics is $15.4 billion, but several government audits have suggested it might be twice that much, and all but $6.7 billion is public money.

AP Sports Writer Stephen Wade contributed to this report.

&nbsp; By MARI YAMAGUCHI and YURI KAGEYAMA - Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Two officials in Japan’s ruling LDP party on Thursday said changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics. One suggested they still could be canceled, and the other said even if they proceed, it might be without any fans.Toshihiro Nikai, the No. 2 and secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, mentioned the cancellation only a day after Tokyo reached the 100-days-to-go mark on Wednesday.He made his comments in a show recorded by Japan’s TBS TV.“If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be definitely canceled,” Nikai said. “If there is a surge in infections because of the Olympics, there will be no meaning to having the Olympics.”Asked if a cancellation was still an option, Nikai said: “Of course.”But he also added: “It is important for Japan to have a successful Olympics. It is a big opportunity. I want to make it a success. We will have many issues to resolve and prepare, and it is important to take care of them one by one.”Prime Minister Toshihide Suga said in a statement there was “no change to the government position to do everything to achieve safe and secure Olympics.”Tokyo organizers said they, the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee “are fully focused on hosting the games this summer.” They said Suga “has repeatedly expressed the government’s commitment” to holding the Olympics.COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan. On Thursday, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area of Osaka recorded 1,208 new cases. It was the third straight day that new cases surpassed 1,000. Tokyo hit 729, its highest total in more than two months. Japan has attributed 9,500 death to COVID-19, good by world standards but poor by results in Asia.Tokyo and Osaka have been under an alert status since earlier this month, but officials are concerned there is little sense of urgency. Experts on a Tokyo metropolitan government taskforce warned that the new variant could replace the conventional virus and trigger explosive infections by early May. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to take maximum protection and asked non-Tokyo residents not to visit the area.Taro Kono, the government minister in charge of Japan’s vaccine rollout, said even if the Olympics go on, there may be no fans of any kind in the venues. He said it’s likely that the Olympics will have to be held in empty venues, particularly as cases surge across the country.That means only television cameras and still cameras will be around to record the action, joined by some reporters, judges and match officials.The delayed Tokyo Olympics are to open in just over three months on July 23, and the Paralympics follow on Aug. 24. Fans from abroad have already been banned. Now even Japanese spectators could be kept away.“I think the question is how to do the Olympics in a way that is possible in this situation,” Kono said Thursday on a television talk show. “That may mean there will probably be no spectators.”Kono did not suggest the Olympics would not go ahead, but he said they could be held under only “certain conditions.”“The way these Olympics will be held will be very different from past ones,” he said.Tokyo organizers have said they expect to announce a decision this month on the number of fans allowed into each venue.Organizers had expected to receive about $800 million from ticket sales, their third-largest source of income. Any shortfall will have to be made up by Japanese government entities, which are already footing most of the bills.The official cost for the Olympics is $15.4 billion, but several government audits have suggested it might be twice that much, and all but $6.7 billion is public money.___AP Sports Writer Stephen Wade contributed to this report.

Officials say Olympic cancellation, no fans still an option

Area Sports: Track and Field Girls results from Dutch Zorn invite (4/16) 

Area Sports: Track and Field Boys results from Dutch Zorn invite (4/15) 

NPHS Track and Field: Jo Dusatko results (4/15)

Playing its first match in nearly three weeks, the Nebraska volleyball team showed little sign of rust in a dominant sweep of Texas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday afternoon in Omaha.

The fifth-seeded Huskers (15-2) trailed in only one rally during the 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 victory. Nebraska hit .398 in the match, its highest attacking percentage of the season. With the win, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 36th time, an NCAA record. The Huskers will take on 12th-seeded Baylor on Sunday (time TBA).

Madi Kubik paced the Huskers with a match-high 13 kills on a season-best .407 hitting percentage. Lauren Stivrins, who played only the first two sets, had 10 kills on .571 hitting, the eighth time in her postseason career she has hit over .500. Kayla Caffey had nine kills on only 12 swings, as Nebraska's two starting middles combined for 19 kills on 26 swings and a .615 attack percentage. Jazz Sweet added eight kills on 20 error-free swings and Lexi Sun had seven kills and eight digs. Kenzie Knuckles led Nebraska with nine digs and a season-high-tying two aces, while Nicklin Hames dished out 43 assists while leading the Huskers to their highest hitting percentage of the season.

Texas State, the nation's wins leader, ended its season with a 31-9 record. Tyeranee Scott and Janell Fitzgerald led the Bobcats with eight kills apiece. Nebraska held Texas State to a .185 hitting percentage.

Set 1: Nebraska jumped out to a 5-2 lead on early kills from Kubik, Stivrins and Sun. Texas State answered with three straight points to tie the set. The Huskers used a 4-0 run to turn a 10-10 tie into a 14-10 lead to begin to pull away. Three more consecutive points gave Nebraska a 20-14 advantage and forced a Texas State timeout. Two straight Husker attack errors and an ace then pulled the Bobcats within three at 21-18 and forced a Nebraska timeout. But the Huskers scored the final four points out of the timeout to take the first set, 25-18. Stivrins led Nebraska with five kills on six error-free swings in the set, as the Huskers hit .323 and held Texas State to an .094 attack percentage.

Set 2:  The Huskers won the first five rallies of set two to force Texas State to take a quick timeout. Nebraska found the floor on six of its first eight swings to push the lead to 10-4. The Huskers continued to lead by at least five, stretching the score to 17-9 on three straight kills from Stivrins, which forced another Bobcat timeout. Nebraska's lead grew to nine twice before the Huskers closed out the eight-point set win on a Sweet kill. Nebraska had 19 kills and hit .500 in the second set. Caffey, Kubik and Stivrins each had five kills in the set.

Set 3: Texas State won two of the first three rallies of set three to take its first lead of the match at 2-1. The Huskers quickly regained the lead with two straight points and never trailed again. Nebraska led 10-6 after a double-stuff block from Caffey and Sun before Texas State won three straight rallies to pull within one. But the Huskers scored the next four points to take a 15-11 lead. Nebraska still led by four until Texas State won four straight rallies to tie the set at 17-17. The set was still tied at 20-all before the Huskers won the final five rallies to close out the match. NU hit .375 in the third set and was led by six kills from Kubik and five kills on nine error-free swings from Sweet.

Up Next: Nebraska will take on 12th-seeded Baylor on Sunday in an NCAA Regional Semifinal. Start time for the match has not been determined.

Nebraska officially made its 39th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday, the second-longest streak in NCAA history.

Today's win came in the Huskers' 150th NCAA Tournament match. Nebraska and Stanford (162) are the only programs in NCAA history to play 150 NCAA Tournament matches.

With the win over Texas State, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 36th time in program history and for the 26th time in the past 27 seasons. The Huskers' 36 trips to an NCAA Regional are the most in NCAA history.

Nebraska has advanced to nine consecutive NCAA Regionals, the third-longest streak in the country. The two teams with longer streaks – Penn State (17) and Texas (14) – aim to join the Huskers in the same regional by winning their matches later today.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 117-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.780).

Nebraska improved to 26-2 all-time in second-round NCAA Tournament matches.

NU took a 2-0 lead on Texas State. The Huskers improved to 88-1 in the NCAA Tournament when winning the first two sets. Nebraska has won 86 consecutive postseason matches when taking a 2-0 lead.

The Huskers improved to 54-1 against unranked opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Regional in 20 of his 21 seasons.

John Cook improved to 84-21 in his NCAA Tournament career, including a 76-16 record as Nebraska's head coach. Cook ranks third in NCAA history in career postseason wins and NCAA Tournament wins as the head coach of one school.

The Huskers have won 68 consecutive matches against unranked opponents dating back to 2017.

Nebraska's .398 attack percentage was a season high.

Madi Kubik had 13 kills and hit a season-high .407.

Starting middle blockers Lauren Stivrins (10-2-14) and Kayla Caffey (9-1-12) combined for 19 kills on 26 swings while hitting .615.

Kenzie Knuckles tied her season high with two aces in the match. Nebraska scored 13 points on Knuckles' serves in the match.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsPlaying its first match in nearly three weeks, the Nebraska volleyball team showed little sign of rust in a dominant sweep of Texas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday afternoon in Omaha.The fifth-seeded Huskers (15-2) trailed in only one rally during the 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 victory. Nebraska hit .398 in the match, its highest attacking percentage of the season. With the win, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 36th time, an NCAA record. The Huskers will take on 12th-seeded Baylor on Sunday (time TBA).Madi Kubik paced the Huskers with a match-high 13 kills on a season-best .407 hitting percentage. Lauren Stivrins, who played only the first two sets, had 10 kills on .571 hitting, the eighth time in her postseason career she has hit over .500. Kayla Caffey had nine kills on only 12 swings, as Nebraska's two starting middles combined for 19 kills on 26 swings and a .615 attack percentage. Jazz Sweet added eight kills on 20 error-free swings and Lexi Sun had seven kills and eight digs. Kenzie Knuckles led Nebraska with nine digs and a season-high-tying two aces, while Nicklin Hames dished out 43 assists while leading the Huskers to their highest hitting percentage of the season.Texas State, the nation's wins leader, ended its season with a 31-9 record. Tyeranee Scott and Janell Fitzgerald led the Bobcats with eight kills apiece. Nebraska held Texas State to a .185 hitting percentage.Set 1: Nebraska jumped out to a 5-2 lead on early kills from Kubik, Stivrins and Sun. Texas State answered with three straight points to tie the set. The Huskers used a 4-0 run to turn a 10-10 tie into a 14-10 lead to begin to pull away. Three more consecutive points gave Nebraska a 20-14 advantage and forced a Texas State timeout. Two straight Husker attack errors and an ace then pulled the Bobcats within three at 21-18 and forced a Nebraska timeout. But the Huskers scored the final four points out of the timeout to take the first set, 25-18. Stivrins led Nebraska with five kills on six error-free swings in the set, as the Huskers hit .323 and held Texas State to an .094 attack percentage.Set 2: The Huskers won the first five rallies of set two to force Texas State to take a quick timeout. Nebraska found the floor on six of its first eight swings to push the lead to 10-4. The Huskers continued to lead by at least five, stretching the score to 17-9 on three straight kills from Stivrins, which forced another Bobcat timeout. Nebraska's lead grew to nine twice before the Huskers closed out the eight-point set win on a Sweet kill. Nebraska had 19 kills and hit .500 in the second set. Caffey, Kubik and Stivrins each had five kills in the set.Set 3: Texas State won two of the first three rallies of set three to take its first lead of the match at 2-1. The Huskers quickly regained the lead with two straight points and never trailed again. Nebraska led 10-6 after a double-stuff block from Caffey and Sun before Texas State won three straight rallies to pull within one. But the Huskers scored the next four points to take a 15-11 lead. Nebraska still led by four until Texas State won four straight rallies to tie the set at 17-17. The set was still tied at 20-all before the Huskers won the final five rallies to close out the match. NU hit .375 in the third set and was led by six kills from Kubik and five kills on nine error-free swings from Sweet.Up Next: Nebraska will take on 12th-seeded Baylor on Sunday in an NCAA Regional Semifinal. Start time for the match has not been determined.Nebraska Post-Match NotesNebraska officially made its 39th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday, the second-longest streak in NCAA history.Today's win came in the Huskers' 150th NCAA Tournament match. Nebraska and Stanford (162) are the only programs in NCAA history to play 150 NCAA Tournament matches.With the win over Texas State, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 36th time in program history and for the 26th time in the past 27 seasons. The Huskers' 36 trips to an NCAA Regional are the most in NCAA history.Nebraska has advanced to nine consecutive NCAA Regionals, the third-longest streak in the country. The two teams with longer streaks – Penn State (17) and Texas (14) – aim to join the Huskers in the same regional by winning their matches later today.With the win, Nebraska improved to 117-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.780).Nebraska improved to 26-2 all-time in second-round NCAA Tournament matches.NU took a 2-0 lead on Texas State. The Huskers improved to 88-1 in the NCAA Tournament when winning the first two sets. Nebraska has won 86 consecutive postseason matches when taking a 2-0 lead.The Huskers improved to 54-1 against unranked opponents in the NCAA Tournament.John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Regional in 20 of his 21 seasons.John Cook improved to 84-21 in his NCAA Tournament career, including a 76-16 record as Nebraska's head coach. Cook ranks third in NCAA history in career postseason wins and NCAA Tournament wins as the head coach of one school.The Huskers have won 68 consecutive matches against unranked opponents dating back to 2017.Nebraska's .398 attack percentage was a season high.Madi Kubik had 13 kills and hit a season-high .407.Starting middle blockers Lauren Stivrins (10-2-14) and Kayla Caffey (9-1-12) combined for 19 kills on 26 swings while hitting .615.Kenzie Knuckles tied her season high with two aces in the match. Nebraska scored 13 points on Knuckles' serves in the match.

NU Sweeps Texas State to Advance to NCAA Regional

Story by Heather Johnson -&nbsp;Area Public Information Specialist

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball Team lost the lead late in a 12-5 defeat to Lamar Community College Wednesday.

The first game of the home doubleheader was tied at four with Lamar batting in the top of the eighth when Lamar’s LisaMarie Begay doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.

The Knights struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Lamar, giving up 12 runs.

They fired up the offense in the second inning, when Jordan Young, of Johnstown, Colo.,

The Knights totaled six hits. Young, Madisyn Hamar, of Chadron, and Jace Cundiff, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., each managed two hits for the Knights.

The Knights fought back in the second game after falling by five runs in the fifth inning. The comeback fell just short, in an 8-6 defeat.

The Knights were right in it until the eighth inning. The Knights scored five runs on error in the sixth inning and a home run by Cundiff in the seventh.

They had the game knotted up at six in the bottom of the seventh inning when an error scored them one run. Altogether, they notched four runs in the seventh inning.

Contributing NPCC batters included Cundiff and Essence McRae, of Las Vegas, Nev., who all drove in runs.

Young was in the circle for the Knights. The righthander lasted eight innings, allowing three hits and seven runs while striking out two.

The Knights tallied eight hits and one home run on the day. Cundiff went yard in the seventh inning.

Cundiff, Kirsten Greenwalt, of Aurora, Colo., and Zoey Bredleau-Beehler, of Portland, Ore., all had two hits each to lead the Knights.

“On a day most teams would have folded, we played, and we showed how tough we are when we play together and for each other,” said NPCC Knights Softball head coach Janelle Higgins. “Lamar is a good team, and we took them to extra innings both games. We just lost focus in the top of the seventh of game one and couldn’t refocus quick enough to pick up the win. Game two, they could have rolled over in the sixth, but they chipped away and again played hard for each other. We didn’t get the wins, but these were definitely wins for us today. I am very proud of how hard we worked together today in the elements and never gave up on each other.”

The Knights were originally scheduled to play Southeast Community College on Saturday. However, due to concerns about the weather, those games have been moved to 1 and 3 p.m. Monday at the Dowhower Softball Complex in North Platte.

The home doubleheader planned for April 29 against Northeastern Junior College has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Story by Heather Johnson -&nbsp;Area Public Information SpecialistThe North Platte Community College Knights Softball Team lost the lead late in a 12-5 defeat to Lamar Community College Wednesday.The first game of the home doubleheader was tied at four with Lamar batting in the top of the eighth when Lamar’s LisaMarie Begay doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.The Knights struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Lamar, giving up 12 runs.They fired up the offense in the second inning, when Jordan Young, of Johnstown, Colo.,singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.The Knights totaled six hits. Young, Madisyn Hamar, of Chadron, and Jace Cundiff, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., each managed two hits for the Knights.The Knights fought back in the second game after falling by five runs in the fifth inning. The comeback fell just short, in an 8-6 defeat.The Knights were right in it until the eighth inning. The Knights scored five runs on error in the sixth inning and a home run by Cundiff in the seventh.They had the game knotted up at six in the bottom of the seventh inning when an error scored them one run. Altogether, they notched four runs in the seventh inning.Contributing NPCC batters included Cundiff and Essence McRae, of Las Vegas, Nev., who all drove in runs.Young was in the circle for the Knights. The righthander lasted eight innings, allowing three hits and seven runs while striking out two.The Knights tallied eight hits and one home run on the day. Cundiff went yard in the seventh inning.Cundiff, Kirsten Greenwalt, of Aurora, Colo., and Zoey Bredleau-Beehler, of Portland, Ore., all had two hits each to lead the Knights.The team is now 6-24 on the season.“On a day most teams would have folded, we played, and we showed how tough we are when we play together and for each other,” said NPCC Knights Softball head coach Janelle Higgins. “Lamar is a good team, and we took them to extra innings both games. We just lost focus in the top of the seventh of game one and couldn’t refocus quick enough to pick up the win. Game two, they could have rolled over in the sixth, but they chipped away and again played hard for each other. We didn’t get the wins, but these were definitely wins for us today. I am very proud of how hard we worked together today in the elements and never gave up on each other.”The Knights were originally scheduled to play Southeast Community College on Saturday. However, due to concerns about the weather, those games have been moved to 1 and 3 p.m. Monday at the Dowhower Softball Complex in North Platte.The home doubleheader planned for April 29 against Northeastern Junior College has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Despite strong fight, Knights can’t top Lamar 

Starting next season, major college football and basketball players will be permitted to transfer one time before graduating without being required to sit out a year of competition.

The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to changed the long-standing rule that has often deterred players in high-profile sports from switching schools, two people with knowledge of the council’s decision told The Associated Press.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because two-day meeting was still in session and the council’s decisions would not become official until it ends Thursday. The Athletic first reported the council’s vote.

The so-called one-time exception has been available to athletes in other NCAA sports for years, allowing them to transfer and play immediately. Athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and baseball have not had that available to them without asking the NCAA for a special waiver and claiming a hardship caused the need for a transfer.

Athletes who have graduated have also been permitted to transfer without sitting out, but not undergraduates.

Starting this fall semester, all athletes will be operating under the same rules: Transfers will be allowed to play right away.

Those in fall and winter sports must notify their schools they intend to transfer by May 1; in spring sports, the notification date will be July 1. The notification dates begin in 2022.

For this year, athletes in all sports will be required to notify their schools about their intent to transfer by July 1.

The council also voted to let the current dead period in recruiting in all sports expire June 1. A ban in in-person recruiting has been in place for more than a year because of the pandemic. Coaches will again be permitted to visit recruits off campus, hold camps on campus and welcome prospective student-athletes on official recruiting visits.

Story by Ralph Russo - Associated PressStarting next season, major college football and basketball players will be permitted to transfer one time before graduating without being required to sit out a year of competition.The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to changed the long-standing rule that has often deterred players in high-profile sports from switching schools, two people with knowledge of the council’s decision told The Associated Press.The people spoke on condition of anonymity because two-day meeting was still in session and the council’s decisions would not become official until it ends Thursday. The Athletic first reported the council’s vote.The so-called one-time exception has been available to athletes in other NCAA sports for years, allowing them to transfer and play immediately. Athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and baseball have not had that available to them without asking the NCAA for a special waiver and claiming a hardship caused the need for a transfer.Athletes who have graduated have also been permitted to transfer without sitting out, but not undergraduates.Starting this fall semester, all athletes will be operating under the same rules: Transfers will be allowed to play right away.Those in fall and winter sports must notify their schools they intend to transfer by May 1; in spring sports, the notification date will be July 1. The notification dates begin in 2022.For this year, athletes in all sports will be required to notify their schools about their intent to transfer by July 1.The council also voted to let the current dead period in recruiting in all sports expire June 1. A ban in in-person recruiting has been in place for more than a year because of the pandemic. Coaches will again be permitted to visit recruits off campus, hold camps on campus and welcome prospective student-athletes on official recruiting visits.

AP sources: NCAA dumps requirement that transfers sit a year

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">We are excited to announce that Hershey High School is adding Girls Softball for the 21-22 school year. Our first varsity contest will be @ Cozad on August 18, 2021. Brittney Stenger has been named the head coach.&mdash; Hershey Panthers (@HersheyPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/HersheyPanthers/status/1381995785261359106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Hershey adds girls softball

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Marcus Zegarowski says he’s leaving Creighton and declaring for the NBA draft. 

He's the biggest name in an exodus that started after the Bluejays’ run to the NCAA Sweet 16. 

Zegarowski was one of the top point guards in the nation and averaged a team-leading 15.8 points per game as a junior after being named the Big East preseason player of the year. 

Zegarowski is the fourth starter to announce his departure. 

The attrition follows head coach Greg McDermott’s use of racially insensitive language during a locker-room talk following a Feb. 27 loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566913090971.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Marcus Zegarowski says he’s leaving Creighton and declaring for the NBA draft. He's the biggest name in an exodus that started after the Bluejays’ run to the NCAA Sweet 16. Zegarowski was one of the top point guards in the nation and averaged a team-leading 15.8 points per game as a junior after being named the Big East preseason player of the year. Zegarowski is the fourth starter to announce his departure. The attrition follows head coach Greg McDermott’s use of racially insensitive language during a locker-room talk following a Feb. 27 loss.

Creighton star Zegarowski says he's declaring for NBA draft

Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-North Region Team on Tuesday, the AVCA announced. Nicklin Hames, Madi Kubik, Lauren Stivrins and Lexi Sun were the Huskers' four honorees for the second year in a row. Stivrins and Sun earned their third career all-region honors.

Stivrins is a two-time AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten First-Team selection. She posted 3.23 kills per set, 1.09 blocks per set and a team-best .468 hitting percentage during the regular season. Stivrins' hitting percentage was the best in the Big Ten and ranked No. 4 in the nation. The middle blocker from Scottsdale, Ariz., had double-digit kills in 10 of 16 matches and hit .400 or better in 13 of 16 matches. Stivrins holds a career hitting percentage of .384, which is fourth-best average in school history and the No. 1 mark in the rally scoring era, which began in 2001. She led the Huskers to a .272 season hitting average and .157 opponent hitting percentage, both of which ranked second in the conference. Stivrins was a unanimous selection for the third year in a row.

Sun earned All-Big Ten First-Team honors for the second straight year last week after leading the Huskers in kills with 3.82 per set. She also added 2.13 digs per set with 39 blocks and 19 aces on the season and recorded five double-doubles. Sun, who hit .247 for the season, was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week during the 11-week regular season. An AVCA third-team All-American in 2019, Sun reached double-digit kills in 14 of 16 regular-season matches. She ranked fifth among all Big Ten Players in kills per set and was a unanimous choice to the All-Big Ten First Team. In addition to AVCA All-North Region honors in 2019, Sun was an AVCA All-Southwest Region selection while at Texas in 2017.

Hames also garnered AVCA All-North Region and All-Big Ten First-Team accolades for the second straight season. The junior setter led the Big Ten in assists at 10.93 per set and ranked 17th nationally. The Maryville, Tenn., native posted eight double-doubles in 16 matches, and she served 12 aces. Hames set the Huskers to a .272 regular-season hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the Big Ten.

Kubik, a sophomore, made the AVCA All-North Region for the second time in as many seasons. She was the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year in 2019, and this year she put up 2.70 kills and 2.52 digs per set with 19 blocks and 12 aces. A six-rotation hitter for the Big Red, Kubik posted double-doubles in six matches and had nine matches with at least 10 kills. 

The four Huskers will be eligible for AVCA All-America honors, which will be announced next Wednesday, April 21.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsFour Nebraska volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-North Region Team on Tuesday, the AVCA announced. Nicklin Hames, Madi Kubik, Lauren Stivrins and Lexi Sun were the Huskers' four honorees for the second year in a row. Stivrins and Sun earned their third career all-region honors.Stivrins is a two-time AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten First-Team selection. She posted 3.23 kills per set, 1.09 blocks per set and a team-best .468 hitting percentage during the regular season. Stivrins' hitting percentage was the best in the Big Ten and ranked No. 4 in the nation. The middle blocker from Scottsdale, Ariz., had double-digit kills in 10 of 16 matches and hit .400 or better in 13 of 16 matches. Stivrins holds a career hitting percentage of .384, which is fourth-best average in school history and the No. 1 mark in the rally scoring era, which began in 2001. She led the Huskers to a .272 season hitting average and .157 opponent hitting percentage, both of which ranked second in the conference. Stivrins was a unanimous selection for the third year in a row.Sun earned All-Big Ten First-Team honors for the second straight year last week after leading the Huskers in kills with 3.82 per set. She also added 2.13 digs per set with 39 blocks and 19 aces on the season and recorded five double-doubles. Sun, who hit .247 for the season, was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week during the 11-week regular season. An AVCA third-team All-American in 2019, Sun reached double-digit kills in 14 of 16 regular-season matches. She ranked fifth among all Big Ten Players in kills per set and was a unanimous choice to the All-Big Ten First Team. In addition to AVCA All-North Region honors in 2019, Sun was an AVCA All-Southwest Region selection while at Texas in 2017.Hames also garnered AVCA All-North Region and All-Big Ten First-Team accolades for the second straight season. The junior setter led the Big Ten in assists at 10.93 per set and ranked 17th nationally. The Maryville, Tenn., native posted eight double-doubles in 16 matches, and she served 12 aces. Hames set the Huskers to a .272 regular-season hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the Big Ten.Kubik, a sophomore, made the AVCA All-North Region for the second time in as many seasons. She was the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year in 2019, and this year she put up 2.70 kills and 2.52 digs per set with 19 blocks and 12 aces. A six-rotation hitter for the Big Red, Kubik posted double-doubles in six matches and had nine matches with at least 10 kills. The four Huskers will be eligible for AVCA All-America honors, which will be announced next Wednesday, April 21.

Four Huskers Named to AVCA All-North Region Team

News Release North Platte Area Sports Commission

Due to many needing late registrations, Platte Valley Girls Softball Associaton has chosen to open up registration to allow those players to still get signed up. 

However, teams are being made and if you do not get signed up soon your daughter may not play on the school of her choice. 

Find more information <a href="https://nppvgsa.leagueapps.com/">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618330351272.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release North Platte Area Sports CommissionDue to many needing late registrations, Platte Valley Girls Softball Associaton has chosen to open up registration to allow those players to still get signed up. However, teams are being made and if you do not get signed up soon your daughter may not play on the school of her choice. Find more information <a href="https://nppvgsa.leagueapps.com/">HERE</a>.

Platte Valley Girls Softball extends registration period

Story and Photo by Daniel Stinman&nbsp;Area Director of Marketing and Public Information

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College will get the chance to continue their magical postseason run, after defeating Rochester Community and Technical College in the Northwest Plains Championship on Saturday afternoon, 68-63. A 9-0 run, over the final seventy seconds helped the Knights complete the comeback and secure a spot at the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship.

“I could not be prouder of our team and their fight today,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “We had a great effort defensively and showed a lot of toughness against a very good Rochester team.

Rochester worked quickly out of the gate and built a 4-2 advantage in the opening sixty-five seconds of the first quarter. Diamond Moore-Heath knotted the game up at 4-4 with a short-range jumper, before a short 3-0 run by the Yellowjackets extended their lead to three, 7-4.

North Platte answered with a 6-2 run over the next two minutes to take their first lead of the game on a layup by Moore-Heath, 10-9. Rochester retook the lead on their next possession, but the Knights quickly answered with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to five at 16-11 with 3:20 to play in the first quarter. The scoring slowed over the final minutes of the quarter, as the Knights clung to a two-point advantage after the first ten minutes, 17-15.

In the second quarter, a reverse layup by Jocylin Sellers pushed the Knights lead back out to four, 19-15. Knights extended their lead out to eight, as Sellers grabbed a loose ball and was able to lay it in for two with 7:06 to play, 25-17. Rochester trimmed the deficit down to five, but a deep corner three by Jennessy Aragon-Dennis put the Knights back up by eight with 5:14 remaining.

Yellowjackets made a run at the deficit over the next four minutes trimming the lead back to one with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter. Knights responded with a 5-2 run over the final minute of the quarter and took a four-point advantage into the break, 33-29.

Rochester erased the deficit and retook the lead in the opening 2:30 of the third quarter, 35-33. Needing a switch in the momentum, the Knights went back inside to Moore-Heath, as she earned her way to the free throw line and was able to connect on the second of two free throws. North Platte applied pressure on the inbound and the Knights were able to turn a steal into quick points in transition.

Leading 36-35, the Knights continued with the full court pressure and Rochester again turned the ball over. In transition, Kayla Pope was able to outrun the Rochester defenders and laid it off the glass giving North Platte a three-point advantage with 5:13 to play in the third quarter.

Knights and Yellowjackets continued to exchange the lead over the final five minutes, but an opportunity in the final thirty seconds gave Rochester a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 45-43.

North Platte forced the Yellowjackets into a turnover in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter and tied it up on a layup by Pope. Knights and Yellowjackets continued to trade buckets, before Rochester extended their lead out to three on a pair of free throws, 53-50.

Knights attempted to regain the momentum, but Rochester managed to extend their lead to four inside the final 1:30. Janay Brauer gave the Knights the spark they were looking for by connecting on a deep three pointer. Trailing 63-62, the Knights went back to work defensively and forced Rochester into some tough looks at the basket.

Amber Wolever earned her way to the free throw line and knocked down back-to-back free throws to give the Knights back the lead with forty-eight seconds to play, 64-63. A Rochester turnover forced the Yellowjackets to foul and the Knights sealed the game at the foul line.

Over the remaining seconds of the fourth quarter, Pope pushed the Knights advantage to three after connecting on both free throw opportunities, 66-63. Rochester had an opportunity to tie the game with a three, but the shot was off the mark and a rebound by Jordyn Moon forced the Yellowjackets to foul. Moon went to the free throw line and with ice in her veins put the game out of reach by going a perfect two-of-two from the line.

“We talk about the team who handles all this adversity the best, will be the team with the most success in the end,” said Thurman. “We believed in one another, trusted each other and continued to stay positive.”

Pope led the Knights with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting from the field in 35 minutes against Rochester. Moore-Heath tallied 14 points and eight rebounds, while Moon finished the afternoon with 10 points, nine rebounds and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

North Platte will await the announcement of the NJCAA National Championship seedings, which will be announced on Monday, April 12 at 10:00 PM CT via the NJCAA Selection Show. The 2021 NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship will be held April 20-24 at the Tarlton Complex on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C.

Story and Photo by Daniel Stinman&nbsp;Area Director of Marketing and Public InformationNorth Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College will get the chance to continue their magical postseason run, after defeating Rochester Community and Technical College in the Northwest Plains Championship on Saturday afternoon, 68-63. A 9-0 run, over the final seventy seconds helped the Knights complete the comeback and secure a spot at the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship.“I could not be prouder of our team and their fight today,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “We had a great effort defensively and showed a lot of toughness against a very good Rochester team.Rochester worked quickly out of the gate and built a 4-2 advantage in the opening sixty-five seconds of the first quarter. Diamond Moore-Heath knotted the game up at 4-4 with a short-range jumper, before a short 3-0 run by the Yellowjackets extended their lead to three, 7-4.North Platte answered with a 6-2 run over the next two minutes to take their first lead of the game on a layup by Moore-Heath, 10-9. Rochester retook the lead on their next possession, but the Knights quickly answered with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to five at 16-11 with 3:20 to play in the first quarter. The scoring slowed over the final minutes of the quarter, as the Knights clung to a two-point advantage after the first ten minutes, 17-15.In the second quarter, a reverse layup by Jocylin Sellers pushed the Knights lead back out to four, 19-15. Knights extended their lead out to eight, as Sellers grabbed a loose ball and was able to lay it in for two with 7:06 to play, 25-17. Rochester trimmed the deficit down to five, but a deep corner three by Jennessy Aragon-Dennis put the Knights back up by eight with 5:14 remaining.Yellowjackets made a run at the deficit over the next four minutes trimming the lead back to one with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter. Knights responded with a 5-2 run over the final minute of the quarter and took a four-point advantage into the break, 33-29.Rochester erased the deficit and retook the lead in the opening 2:30 of the third quarter, 35-33. Needing a switch in the momentum, the Knights went back inside to Moore-Heath, as she earned her way to the free throw line and was able to connect on the second of two free throws. North Platte applied pressure on the inbound and the Knights were able to turn a steal into quick points in transition.Leading 36-35, the Knights continued with the full court pressure and Rochester again turned the ball over. In transition, Kayla Pope was able to outrun the Rochester defenders and laid it off the glass giving North Platte a three-point advantage with 5:13 to play in the third quarter.Knights and Yellowjackets continued to exchange the lead over the final five minutes, but an opportunity in the final thirty seconds gave Rochester a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 45-43.North Platte forced the Yellowjackets into a turnover in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter and tied it up on a layup by Pope. Knights and Yellowjackets continued to trade buckets, before Rochester extended their lead out to three on a pair of free throws, 53-50.Knights attempted to regain the momentum, but Rochester managed to extend their lead to four inside the final 1:30. Janay Brauer gave the Knights the spark they were looking for by connecting on a deep three pointer. Trailing 63-62, the Knights went back to work defensively and forced Rochester into some tough looks at the basket.Amber Wolever earned her way to the free throw line and knocked down back-to-back free throws to give the Knights back the lead with forty-eight seconds to play, 64-63. A Rochester turnover forced the Yellowjackets to foul and the Knights sealed the game at the foul line.Over the remaining seconds of the fourth quarter, Pope pushed the Knights advantage to three after connecting on both free throw opportunities, 66-63. Rochester had an opportunity to tie the game with a three, but the shot was off the mark and a rebound by Jordyn Moon forced the Yellowjackets to foul. Moon went to the free throw line and with ice in her veins put the game out of reach by going a perfect two-of-two from the line.“We talk about the team who handles all this adversity the best, will be the team with the most success in the end,” said Thurman. “We believed in one another, trusted each other and continued to stay positive.”Pope led the Knights with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting from the field in 35 minutes against Rochester. Moore-Heath tallied 14 points and eight rebounds, while Moon finished the afternoon with 10 points, nine rebounds and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.North Platte will await the announcement of the NJCAA National Championship seedings, which will be announced on Monday, April 12 at 10:00 PM CT via the NJCAA Selection Show. The 2021 NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship will be held April 20-24 at the Tarlton Complex on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C.