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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Exit NCAA Tourney in the Second Round
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Volleyball
December 5, 1998
LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Nebraska advanced to the Pacific Region semifinals with a 14-16, 15-4, 15-8, 15-9 win over the University of Utah in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in front of a crowd of 4,098 at the Nebraska Coliseum in Licoln, Neb., on Saturday night.
The Huskers rode the left arm of sophomore Nancy Meendering to the four-game win. Meendering had a career-best 33 kills on 66 attacks. Meendering hit .485 with only one error.
As a team, Nebraska hit .335 as three players had double figures in kills. Meendering was joined by Megan Kover who had 15 kills and Tonia Tauke who had 11. Nebraska was tough defensively with four players with double-figure digs, led by Mandy Monson, who totaled a career-high 26.
Utah had three players in double figures with Sara Shakula and Kalani Tonga leading the way with 14 kills each. Utah hit .185 as a team and had four players with double figures in digs, led by Tonga and Graciella Torres, who had 18 digs apiece.
In the fourth game, Utah took a 6-3 lead before the Huskers made a run. Nebraska scored eight consecutive points to take and 11-6 lead. Utah closed to within 13-9 before Nebraska scored the final two points of the game to win 15-9.
In the third game, Utah came out hot, taking a 3-0 lead, but Nebraska scored six straight points to take a 6-3 lead on a kill by Meendering. The Utes clawed back and tied the game at 6-6 on a service ace by Shakula. Nebraska went on a four-point run before the Utes pulled within 10-8, but it was a close as theu would get. The Huskers ran off the next five points for a 15-8 game three win.
After a disappointing loss in game one, Nebraska stormed back to win game two 15-4. The Husker defense held the Utes to just a .024 hitting percentage. Nebraska hit .333 in the second game behind a six-kill effort ny Meendering.
In the first game, Shakula put the Utes ahead 1-0 with a dink shot over the Husker front line for a 16-14 victory. In game one, Shakula led all players with nine kills and hit .471 as the Utes as a team registered a .265 hitting percentage.
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