Creighton Handles Kansas State in Match Featuring Five Former Nebraska Prep Standouts
Berk Brown
<p>OMAHA - Five different former Nebraska high school standouts saw action Friday night as #13 Creighton cruised to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-21, 24-26 win over Kansas State in an exhibition match at D.J. Sokol Arena.</p>
<p>Even though Creighton won the first three matches, the two teams played a fourth set to take full advantage of the exhibition.</p>
<p>Both the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year - Brooke Heyne of Kansas State, from Skutt Catholic - and Malcolm's 2107 Gatorade POY Jaela Zimmerman of Creighton saw quite a bit of playing time. Creighton senior middle Kelsey O'Connell, junior libero Brittany Witt - both of Omaha Marian - and sophomore defensive specialist Grace Nelson of Elkhorn constituted the remaining homegrown talent in the match. </p>
<p>Heyne redshirted last year and was the third outside hitter used by Kansas State in the match. She got a total of 10 swings on the night, which produced one kill. She also had a dig in two sets of play. </p>
<p>Creighton showcased what might just be one of the most talent-laden rosters in the nation in terms of overall depth. All 14 players that suited up played in at least two sets. Zimmerman saw her first action in the second set and finished her night with five kills on 15 swings. She also had eight digs to do with as assist and ace serve. </p>
<p>Witt, meanwhile, is a potential All-American in her third year as a starting libero for the Bluejays. She played the whole night, leading the team with 11 digs and an assist while quarterbacking the team's back row. Nelson, who transferred back to her home state after a freshman season at Ball State, played in two sets and had three digs and an ace serve.</p>
<p>O'Connell played in three of the four sets and had a kill on her only swing.</p>
<p>Kylee Zumach, a senior outside hitter, led Kansas State with 18 kills while hitting .444 and also had 12 digs. Her younger sister, Kari, a freshman right side for the Bluejays, had 11 kills and hit .292 and added seven digs and 3.5 blocks. Creighton also got 14 kills apiece from Jail Winters (.387) and Taryn Kloth (.333) and freshman middle Annika Welty had 3.5 blocks in the middle. Madelyn Cole, a transfer from Marshall, had 41 assists and Megan Sharkey, a transfer from Rutgers, had 10. </p>
<p>Creighton begins the season for real next weekend at the Trojan Invitational where it will take on #5 Kentucky, Northern Iowa and #10 USC, the tournament host. Heyne and the Wildcats open their season next weekend at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic where it will face #11 UCLA, Hawaii and Gonzaga. </p>
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