NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH WITH BADGERS:
The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team will face off against No. 5 Wisconsin in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Championship match when the teams meet on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (CT) at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Nebraska (18-1, 10-0 Big Ten) is riding an 11-match win streak and is the only Big Ten team without a conference loss at the midway point of the league schedule. Nebraska’s 18-1 start to the season is its best since 2016, when the Big Red went 26-1 before a Nov. 23 loss at Minnesota.
The Huskers have won six Big Ten matches in a row by sweep for the first time since joining the conference in 2011.
No. 5 Wisconsin is 15-3 overall and 9-1 in the Big Ten and has won eight matches in a row. The Badgers are 8-0 at the UW Field House this season and have won 16 in a row overall at the Field House dating back to Nov. 12 of last year.
Pregame begins at 7:30 PM on KGFW with first serve at 8 PM.
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR HUSKERS:
The Big Ten Conference announced its 2023 football schedule Wednesday morning, with Nebraska set to play host to five conference games next fall.
Nebraska will begin the season with a Big Ten game for the fourth consecutive season, opening at Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31. Nebraska played at Ohio State in 2020, traveled to Illinois in 2021 and met Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland, to open the 2022 season.
Following its season opener against Minnesota, Nebraska will play three non-conference games beginning with a Sept. 9 game at Colorado, followed by home contests against Northern Illinois (Sept. 16) and Louisiana Tech (Sept. 23). The Sept. 16 home opener will be Nebraska’s latest in full-season schedule since also opening on Sept. 16 in 1995.
Nebraska resumes Big Ten play with a Sept. 30 home game against Michigan at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers return to the road for an Oct. 7 game at Illinois, followed by their lone bye week of the season on Oct. 14.
Following its bye, Nebraska plays three of its next four contests in Memorial Stadium, starting with a two-game October homestand against Northwestern (Oct. 21) and Purdue (Oct. 28). The Huskers travel to Michigan State on Nov. 4, before returning home to face Maryland on Nov. 11.
Nebraska will travel to Madison on Nov. 18, before the Huskers finish the regular season by hosting their traditional Black Friday matchup with Iowa on Nov. 24.
2023 Nebraska Football Schedule
Aug. 31—at Minnesota (Thursday)
Sept. 9—at Colorado
Sept. 16—Northern Illinois
Sept. 23—Louisiana Tech
Sept. 30—Michigan
Oct. 7—at Illinois
Oct. 14—BYE
Oct. 21—Northwestern
Oct. 28—Purdue
Nov. 4—at Michigan State
Nov. 11—Maryland
Nov. 18—at Wisconsin
Nov. 24—Iowa (Friday)
HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS RATED IN USA TODAY TOP 25:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team will begin the 2022-23 season at No. 22 in the USA Today Preseason Top 25 announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Wednesday.
The Huskers, who were also preseason No. 22 in the Associated Press Poll, are one of six Big Ten women’s basketball teams in the USA Today/WBCA Top 25, joining No. 6 Iowa (2), No. 11 Indiana, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 18 Maryland (2) and No. 23 Michigan (2).
Kansas, which the Huskers will play at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 21, is also receiving top-25 votes in both the USA Today/WBCA and AP polls.
Nebraska opens exhibition play for the 2022-23 season on Sunday, when the Huskers play host to Washburn.
UNK VOLLEYBALL MOVE PAST HAYS IN FOUR SETS:
The eighth-ranked Nebraska Kearney volleyball team recorded 11 team blocks and rallied at the end of the third and fourth sets to get past rival Fort Hays State Tuesday night in Kansas.
With the win, the Lopers (24-3, 14-3) take the season series from the Tigers (10-15, 5-12) and now prepare for a first-place battle Saturday afternoon at No. 12 Northwest Missouri (19-5, 13-3). The Bearcats first must face Hays Friday night.
INTERIM JOSEPH COMMENTS ON COLEMAN; BREAKS NCAA RECRUITMENT VIOLATION:
Mickey Joseph slipped up in his role as Nebraska’s interim head coach Tuesday when he responded to a reporter’s comment and question about a standout high school player who recently pledged to sign with the Cornhuskers.
Malachi Coleman, a four-star wide receiver from Lincoln East High, held an event Saturday to announce he had chosen Nebraska over five other schools. He is the highest-rated prospect in the state.
The first day he can sign his letter of intent is Dec. 21. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on an unsigned prospective recruit.
Spokesman Keith Mann wrote in an email to The Associated Press that Joseph contacted the school’s compliance office immediately after the news conference to make its staff aware of the comment.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – MICKEY JOSEPH:
JOSEPH – ILLINOIS PREVIEW; MATCH PHYSICALITY:
Interim Head Coach for the Nebraska Football team Mickey Joseph opened his Tuesday press conference previewing his thoughts on Illinois and what Nebraska needs to match in the contest…
Nebraska has a chance for their first win over a Top 25 opponent since 2016 when the Huskers took down Oregon at Memorial Stadium.
JOSEPH – ILLINI PASS DEFENSE IS SOUND:
Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph was asked at his Tuesday press conference what stands out regarding the Illinois pass defense and how their stats match their play…
Nebraska is hoping Trey Palmer can continue his hot streak as one of the nation’s top receiving threats, currently leading the conference in most receiving categories.
JOSEPH – FINDING OTHER RECEIVING OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF PALMER:
Mickey Joseph, interim Head Coach for the Huskers, was asked at his Tuesday press conference what the Big Red offense will do if Trey Palmer – one of the nation’s leading receivers – begins to be taken away by double teams from the defense…
Nebraska’s next leading receiver is Marcus Washington with nearly 200 receiving yards and no touchdowns.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – JOHN COOK:
COOK – WISCONSIN PREVIEW:
Head Coach for Nebraska Volleyball John Cook spoke during his Tuesday press conference about the talent of the No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers team the Huskers face on Wednesday…
Nebraska is currently No. 1 in the latest coaches poll and aims to claim the revenge match over last year’s national champion.
COOK – JUST ANOTHER ROAD MATCH AT WISCONSIN:
Nebraska Volleyball faces a road rematch of their national championship contest from 2021 at Wisconsin on Wednesday night. Head Coach John Cook added at his Tuesday press conference that it is just another Big Ten road contest for his squad…
Nebraska has swept their past six opponents and have won every match since falling in their only loss on the season to Stanford back in early September.
COOK – OFFENSIVE TWEAKS:
Head Coach for Nebraska Volleyball John Cook spoke to the media Tuesday and was asked what is needed to slightly improve the Big Red offensive attack…
Nebraska faces No. 5 Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
LOPERS, BEARCATS NOT IN FIRST REGION RANKINGS:
The Nebraska Kearney football team is not in the first edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings. Both the Lopers and Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are settled into the “Next Best Candidates” category.
These rankings determine the 28-team playoff field (seven teams in four regions) come November. National rankings don’t factor into the regional ranking formula. UNK is currently 31st in the American Football Coaches Assoc. (AFCA) poll.
The MIAA is in “Super Region 3” along with the GAC (Great American Conf.), GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conf.) and GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conf.).
UNK and Northwest Missouri State are both 6-2 and sitting just outside the Top 10. The Lopers host the Bearcats Saturday at 2 p.m. in Ron & Carol Cope Stadium in what basically is a playoff elimination game.
CHIEFS’ CLARK SUSPENDED TWO GAMES:
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was suspended two games by the NFL on Tuesday after pleading no contest last month to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon in Los Angeles.
The league announced the suspension as the Chiefs (5-2) head into their bye week. He will miss games against the Titans and Jaguars and will be allowed back with the team on Nov. 14 in time for that week’s game against the Chargers.
The three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service after he was arrested in March 2021, when he was pulled over while riding with another man in a vehicle that did not have a license plate. An officer noticed a weapon in the car and recovered two loaded firearms.
GRINER APPEAL REJECTED IN RUSSIAN COURT:
A Russian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, a step that could move her closer to a possible high-stakes prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington.
The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
Griner, 32, was not at the Moscow Regional Court hearing but appeared via video link from a penal colony outside the capital where she is held.
At her trial, Griner admitted to having the canisters in her luggage but testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements saying she had been prescribed cannabis to treat chronic pain.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Volleyball: A-2 DISTRICTS @ Millard North
- #2 Millard North 3-0
- Volleyball: A-2 DISTRICTS @ Millard North
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Volleyball: SUB-DISTRICTS Final @ Gothenburg
- #1 Gothenburg 3-1
- Volleyball: SUB-DISTRICTS Final @ Gothenburg
- UNK:
- Volleyball: @ Fort Hays State
- UNK 3-1
- Volleyball: @ Fort Hays State
WEDNESDAY:
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 7:30 PM)
- Nebraska Volleyball (7:30 PM – 10:45 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Football: PLAYOFFS v. Millard South @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM
- #5 Kearney v. #12 Millard South – KGFW Pregame at 6 PM
- Football: PLAYOFFS v. Millard South @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Women’s Swimming: Homecoming Scrimmage – 5 PM
- Women’s Basketball: @ Iowa (Exhibition) – 6:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Football PLAYOFFS v. Millard South (6 PM – 10 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Volleyball: District Final – TBA
- UNK:
- Football: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 2 PM (Homecoming)
- Volleyball: @ Northwest Missouri State – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Football v. Illinois (10:30 AM – 9:30 PM; KGFW)
- Nebraska Football v. Illinois (1:45 PM – 7:45 PM; KQKY)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a