LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska beach volleyball team took advantage of record-high temperatures by playing its first ever home outdoor beach matches on Monday. 

With the temperature climbing into the 80s and the sun shining down, the Huskers swept Ottawa 5-0 and beat Wayne State 4-1 on the campus beach volleyball courts. 

Nebraska improved to 5-0 on the season with the victories. The Huskers will play their last home match of the season on Tuesday at 10 a.m. against Southwest Baptist. As of Monday afternoon, it is scheduled to be played outdoors. 

Lindsay Krause and Lexi Rodriguez played as NU's No. 1 pair in the first match and won 21-10, 21-5, and they competed as the No. 2 team against Wayne State, winning 21-14, 21-14. 

Harper Murray and Laney Choboy swept Ottawa as the No. 2 pair in the morning, 21-7, 21-14. They fell in three sets to Wayne State's top pair, 21-13, 15-21, 3-15. 

Ally Batenhorst and Bergen Reilly were Nebraska's No. 3 team in both matches, winning 21-7, 21-8 and 21-14, 21-9. 

Merritt Beason and Skyler Pierce were the No. 4 squad and swept their foes, 21-7, 21-12 and 21-10, 21-11. 

Andi Jackson and Olivia Mauch played as the No. 5 team and claimed 21-11, 21-12 and 21-10, 15-21, 15-10 wins. 

Maisie Boesiger and Kyla Kenney won both of their exhibition matches, 21-13, 21-7 and 21-11, 21-11. 

Nebraska 5, Ottawa 0
1. Lindsay Krause/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) def. Kennedy Krokroskia/Loraine Ruiz (OTT): 21-10, 21-5
2. Harper Murray/Laney Choboy (NEB) def. Blythe Manson/Carson Schuman (OTT): 21-7, 21-14
3. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) def. Chaney Barth/Brittan Lee (OTT): 21-7, 21-8
4. Merritt Beason/Skyler Pierce (NEB) def. Madison Brauner/Bailee Nickel (OTT): 21-7, 21-12
5. Andi Jackson/Olivia Mauch (NEB) def. Brenna Diller/Raevyn Russell (OTT): 21-11, 21-12
Exh. Maisie Boesiger/Kyla Kenney (NEB) def. Asia Cole/Sam Stahl (OTT): 21-13, 21-7
 
Order of Finish: 5,4,3,1,2

Wayne State 5, Ottawa 0
1. Taya Beller/Allie Petry (WSC) def. Kennedy Krokroskia/Loraine Ruiz (OTT): 21-5, 21-8
2. Jordan McCormick/Channatee Robles (WSC) def. Blythe Manson/Carson Schuman (OTT): 21-8, 21-19
3. Ella Myler/Brooke Peltz (WSC) def. Chaney Barth/Brittan Lee (OTT): 21-8, 21-16
4. Brooklyn Kusler/Molly Romano (WSC) def. Madison Brauner/Bailee Nickel (OTT): 21-17, 21-19
5. Taylor Bunjer/Rhianna Wilhelm (WSC) def. Brenna Diller/Raevyn Russell (OTT): 21-16, 21-14
Exh. Asia Cole/Sam Stahl (OTT) def. Laney Kathol/Jordie Nekl (WSC): 21-19, 21-17

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

Nebraska 4, Wayne State 1
1. Taya Beller/Allie Petry (WSC) def. Harper Murray/Laney Choboy (NEB): 13-21, 21-15, 15-3
2. Lindsay Krause/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) def. Jordan McCormick/Channatee Robles (WSC): 21-14, 21-14 
3. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) def. Ella Myler/Brooke Peltz (WSC): 21-14, 21-9
4. Merritt Beason/Skyler Pierce (NEB) def. Brooklyn Kusler/Molly Romano (WSC): 21-10, 21-11
5. Andi Jackson/Olivia Mauch (NEB) def. Taylor Bunjer/Rhianna Wilhelm (WSC): 21-10, 15-21, 15-10
Exh. Maisie Boesiger/Kyla Kenney (NEB) def. Laney Kathol/Jordie Nekl (WSC): 21-11, 21-11

Order of Finish: 5,3,4,2,1 

STRAND, HUSKERS TAKE FIFTH AT WESTBROOK

Kelli Ann Strand battled for the individual title until the final holes before taking fifth to help the Nebraska women's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Monday.

Strand played outstanding golf again over the final 18 holes, after closing the first 36 holes at 136 (-8) in a tie for third. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho, was five-under through 15 on Monday, including birdies on No. 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15, after beginning her day with five consecutive pars (No. 4-8) in the shotgun start on the 6,248-yard, par-72 layout of the Westbrook Village Golf Club.

She ran into her only blemish of the day on No. 1, settling for a bogey before closing the round with back-to-back pars on No. 2 and 3. She finished the round with a 68 (-4) to close the 54-hole tournament at 204 (-12) in fifth place. It was Strand's second top-five finish of the season and sixth top-15 showing in seven events in 2023-24.

Wisconsin's Chloe Chan earned the individual title with a 202 (-14) that included a final-round 65 (-7) after opening the tournament with a 66 (-8). Jordan Rothman from Kansas, Oklahoma's Savannah Barber  and Colorado State's Andrea Bergsdottir shared runner-up honors at 203 (-13). Rothman closed with back-to-back rounds of 67 (-5), while Barber and Bergsdottir capped their tournaments with a final rounds of 66 (-8).

Kansas took the team title at 821 (-43), while Oklahoma finished second with an 827 (-37). The hosts from Wisconsin took third at 830 (-34), while South Florida snuck ahead of the Huskers late in the final round for a fourth-place finish at 837 (-27). Nebraska finished fifth with a season-best three-round total of 838 (-26) that included wins over eight top-100 teams in the 14-team tournament field, including Kansas State, Colorado State and Minnesota, who were ranked ahead of the Huskers entering the tournament. Nebraska's final-round 278 (-10) matched its best round of the season, joining a 278 in the opening-round of the Sam Golden Invitational (Sept. 11).

Miu Takahashi capped a solid tournament with her three consecutive round better than par with a 71 (-1) on Monday. She tied for 29th with a career-best 211 (-5), just ahead of senior teammate Lindsey Thiele, who tied for 32nd at (212), including a second straight round of 70 (-2) to close the tournament.

Freshman Arden Louchheim added a top-40 finish of her own in the 77-player field, posting a final-round 71 (-1) to end the tournament with a career-best 214 (-2) in a tie for 40th.

Michaela Vavrova, who notched Nebraska's second-best score in the final round with a 69 (-3), completed the Husker contingent in a tie for 62nd at 219 (+3).

The Huskers return to action for the Briar's Creek Invitational in Johns Island, S.C., March 11-12.

Westbrook Spring Invitational
Feb. 25-26, 2024
Peoria, Arizona
Westbrook Village Golf Club (Par 72, 6,248 Yards) 

Final Team Standings
1. (40) Kansas - 277-269-275=821 (-43)
2. (53) Oklahoma - 276-278-273=827 (-37)
3. (76) Wisconsin - 276-284-270=830 (-34)
4. (32) South Florida - 283-282=565 (-11)
5. (67) Nebraska - 279-281-278=838 (-26)
6. (58) Kansas State - 283-277-280=840 (-24)
7. (43) Colorado State - 281-285-278=844 (-20)
8. (52) Minnesota - 292-280-274=846 (-18)
9. (94) Iowa - 288-280-279=847 (-17)
T10. (72) Sam Houston - 279-284-285=848 (-16)
T10. (82) Missouri - 280-280-288=848 (-16)
12. (103) Rutgers - 287-283-281=851 (-13)
13. (87) North Florida - 284-286-284=854 (-10)
14. (86) UNCW - 287-285-289=861 (-3)

Final Individual Standings
1. Chloe Chan, Wisconsin - 66-71-65=202 (-14)
T2. Savannah Barber, Oklahoma - 68-69-66=203 (-13)
T2. Andrea Bergsdottir, Colorado State - 69-68-66=203 (-13)
T2. Jordan Rothman, Kansas - 69-67-67=203 (-13)
5. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 66-70-68=204 (-12)
T6. Lauren Clark, Kansas - 69-68-68=205 (-11)
T6. Leigha Devine, Rutgers - 72-65-68=205 (-11)
T6. Mallory Fobes, UNCW - 68-69-68=205 (-11)
T6. Melanie Green, South Florida - 71-70-64=205 (-11)
T6. Lily Hirst, Kansas - 68-67-70=205 (-11)

Nebraska Individuals
5. Kelli Ann Strand - 66-70-68=204 (-12)
T29. Miu Takahashi - 71-69-71=211 (-5)
T32. Lindsey Thiele - 72-70-70=212 (-4)
T40. Arden Louchheim - 70-73-71=214 (-2)
T62. Michaela Vavrova - 78-72-69=219 (+3)

BILLIE ANDREWS NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Billie Andrews was named the Big Ten Softball Player of the Week Monday following an outstanding performance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic over the weekend. Andrews was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time in her career, while a Husker won the award for the second straight week.

Andrews put up impressive numbers in five games against top competition. She went 13-for-21 (.619) at the Mary Nutter Classic with one double, four home runs, six RBIs, eight runs scored and a 1.238 slugging percentage. Her staggering statistics came as Nebraska played three ranked opponents and a fourth team who is receiving votes in the polls. All five of Nebraska’s games last weekend were against 2023 NCAA Tournament teams.

The Mary Nutter Classic featured 30 teams, including nine ranked teams and two more teams receiving votes in the coaches’ poll. Among that impressive field, Andrews led all players in hits, home runs and slugging percentage while ranking third in batting average and runs scored. Andrews had a hit in all five games, including a two-hit game, two three-hit efforts and a four-hit game.

Andrews was at her best in Nebraska’s three games against ranked teams last weekend. She went 3-for-5 with two home runs, two RBIs and three runs against No. 19 UCLA. The next day, Andrews was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored against No. 23 Oregon. On the final day of the tournament, Andrews went 4-for-4 with another homer against No. 20 Utah. In the Huskers’ three games against top-25 teams at the Mary Nutter Classic, Andrews went 10-for-13 with four home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored.

Northwestern’s Ashley Miller was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week while Penn State’s Bridget Nemeth was the conference freshman of the week.

POTTS EARNS SEVENTH BIG TEN FRESHMAN HONOR

Nebraska's Natalie Potts captured her conference-leading seventh Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award of 2023-24 when the league announced its honors on Monday, Feb. 26.

Potts, a 6-2 forward from O'Fallon, Mo., averaged 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals to help power Nebraska to a pair of home wins last week. In a 75-50 victory over Northwestern on Tuesday, Potts produced her fourth double-double of the season with game highs of 18 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. She closed out the week with 12 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot in a 70-51 win over Minnesota at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday.

For the week, Potts hit 11-of-16 shots from the field (.688), including her only three-point attempt, while going a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. For the season, Potts is averaging 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, while hitting 52.6 percent of her shots from the field and 85.9 percent of her free throws.

Potts has started all 28 games this season for a Nebraska team that is 19-9 overall and 11-6 in the Big Ten. She is the only Big Ten freshman to win more than three weekly honors.

Potts and Nebraska will enjoy the mid-week off before traveling to Illinois to close out the regular season on Sunday, March 3. Tip-off with the Fighting Illini is set for 3 p.m. (CT) with live television coverage by the Big Ten Network. The final Big Ten weekly honors will be announced on Monday, March 4, before the conference releases its annual postseason awards on Tuesday, March 5.

Natalie Potts Big Ten Freshman of the Week Awards
Nov. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, Feb. 26

All Other Big Ten Freshman Honors in 2023-24
Dec. 4, Jan. 22, Feb. 19 (Grace Grocholski, Minnesota - 3)
Jan. 2, Feb. 12 (Mary Ashley Stevenson, Purdue - 2) 
Nov. 20 (Rashunda Jones, Purdue)
Dec. 18 (D'Yanis Jimenez, Wisconsin)
Jan. 29 (Tessa Grady, Wisconsin)
Feb. 5 (Jillian Huerter, Rutgers)