Huskers End UNF Invite With Win Over Mercer

The Nebraska beach volleyball team finished the North Florida Invitational with a 3-2 win over Mercer on Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida. 

The Huskers lost to Jacksonville in a close match in the morning, 3-2, before rebounding for their first win of the weekend, 3-2 over the Bears. Nebraska’s record now stands at 3-4 on the season heading into a busy two-week stretch that features 14 more matches to be played.

Bekka Allick and Lexi Rodriguez highlighted the day for the Huskers by winning both of their matches in straight sets. Allick and Rodriguez were Nebraska’s No. 3 pair in both matches and defeated Jacksonville, 21-16, 21-10, and Mercer, 21-10, 23-21. Lindsay Krause and Nicklin Hames also went undefeated on the day. The duo swept Jacksonville’s No. 5 team, 21-16, 21-10, and held off Mercer’s No. 4 team, 21-15, 15-21, 15-8. 

Against Mercer, Kenzie Knuckles and Madi Kubik teamed up for a 21-15, 22-20 victory in the No. 2 spot to help clinch the 3-2 Husker win. Whitney Lauenstein and Kennedi Orr won an exhibition against Mercer, 21-16, 21-19. 

The Huskers will have a quick turnaround before their next matches. Nebraska will play Oklahoma Wesleyan at Noon on Monday at the Hawks Championship Center. NU will then host Ottawa (Kan.) on Tuesday at Noon in the final home match of the spring. Both matches will have a free live stream available on the Husker Volleyball Twitter and Facebook pages.

Jacksonville 3, Nebraska 2

1. Shaylee Befus/Olivia Szyszkiewicz (JU) def. Madi Kubik/Kenzie Knuckles (NEB) 21-18, 19-21, 15-8

2. Emily Kubiscko/Sydney Eckhardt (JU) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-18, 13-21, 16-14

3. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) def. Jenna McNamara/Macie Sacristan (JU) 21-16, 21-10

4. Anna Dunbar/Miller Reames (JU) def. Whitney Lauenstein/Kennedi Orr (NEB) 21-18, 21-12

5. Nicklin Hames/Lindsay Krause (NEB) def. Marissa Rakauskas/Colleen Ziegelmaier (JU) 21-16, 21-10

Exh. Amanda Cunningham/Giao Huynh (JU) def. Anni Evans/Hayden Kubik (NEB) 22-20, 21-18

Nebraska 3, Mercer 2

1. Olivia Boeve/Lexi Polychrones (MER) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-18, 21-15

2. Kenzie Knuckles/Madi Kubik (NEB) def. Nicole O’Mara/Sydney Benson (MER) 21-15, 22-20

3. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) def. Hana Robertson/Ellie Miller (MER) 21-10, 23-21

4. Lindsay Krause/Nicklin Hames (NEB) def. Jordan Paddock/Reese Hood (MER) 21-15, 15-21, 15-8

5. Jordan Morris/Kathryn Corbett (MER) def. Hayden Kubik/Anni Evans (NEB) 23-21, 21-17

Exh. Whitney Lauenstein/Kennedi Orr (NEB) def. Elena Sanfrey/Emily Earwood (MER) 21-16, 21-19