Huskers Fall to Top-10 Foes California, Hawaii

The Nebraska beach volleyball team took to Queen’s Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii for day two of the Queen’s Cup on Friday. The Huskers faced a pair of top-10 teams, falling 5-0 to No. 10 California and 5-0 to No. 9 Hawaii. 

Two Husker pairs were able to push Hawaii to a third set. Bekka Allick and Lexi Rodriguez, NU’s No. 3 team, lost their first set, 19-21, but rebounded with a 21-19 win. However, Hawaii’s team of Sarah Penner and Ilihia Huddleston pulled away 15-5 in the third set. 

Hayden Kubik and Whitney Lauenstein dropped their first set to Hawaii’s No. 5 pair of Sydney Rau-Kim and Amirah Ali, 16-21, but bounced back to win 21-19. The Husker duo came up just short in the third set, falling 12-15. 

The Huskers, now 5-8 this season, will compete in the knockout rounds of the Queen’s Cup on Saturday on Queen’s Beach. NU’s opponent and match time will be determined late Friday night after day two matches are completed. 

#10 California 5, Nebraska 0

March 11, 2022

Honolulu, Hawaii (Queen’s Beach)

1. Mima Mirkovic/Ana Costa (CAL) def. Kenzie Knuckles/Madi Kubik (NEB) 21-13, 21-15

2. Ainsley Radell/Ava Mann (CAL) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-13, 21-8

3. Ashley Delgado/Brooke Buchner (CAL) def. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) 21-13, 21-6

4. Lexi Mckeown/Ella Dreibholz (CAL) def. Lindsay Krause/Nicklin Hames (NEB) 21-17, 21-7

5. Natalie Martin/Maya Gessner (CAL) def. Whitney Lauenstein/Hayden Kubik (NEB) 21-9, 21-18

Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

#9 Hawaii 5, Nebraska 0

March 11, 2022

Honolulu, Hawaii (Queen’s Beach)

1. Brooke Van Sickle/Riley Wagoner (UH) def. Kenzie Knuckles/Madi Kubik (NEB) 21-11, 21-19

2. Kaylee Glagau/Megan Widener (UH) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-15, 21-10

3. Sarah Penner/Ilihia Huddleston (UH) def. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) 21-19, 19-21, 15-5

4. Sofia Russo/Anna Maidment (UH) def. Lindsay Krause/Nicklin Hames (NEB) 21-8, 21-12

5. Sydney Rau-Kim/Amirah Ali (UH) def. Hayden Kubik/Whitney Lauenstein (NEB) 21-16, 19-21, 15-12

Order of finish: 4,2,1,5,3