Colleges

Huskers deny UF Final Four VB bid

By wire services
Published December 11, 2005

OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska, ranked No. 1 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, ousted No. 4 Florida 30-26, 30-24, 30-16 Saturday to earn a berth in the Final Four this week in San Antonio, Texas.

Senior Jane Collymore led the Gators with 12 kills. Collymore, sophomore setter Angie McGinnis and sophomore opposite hitter Amber McCray were named to the Omaha Region All-Tournament team.

Florida (33-3) had its third 30-win season in the last four years and the program's 12th Elite Eight berth in coach Mary Wise's 15 seasons.

FLORENCE, Ala. - Brandon Langston caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cullen Finnerty in the final minutes to lead Grand Valley State to a 21-17 national title victory over Northwest Missouri State.

The Lakers then came up with a key defensive stop after Northwest Missouri moved to the 3-yard line as the game ended. After a sack left the Bearcats with fourth and 15 from the 22 with one second left, quarterback Josh Lamberson rolled right and hit Raphael Robinson inside the 5 on the opposite side of the field. Robinson spun, but Tommy Miller and Joe Ballard brought him down at the 4.

Grand Valley (13-0) of Allendale, Mich., won in 2002 and 2003. Northwest Missouri (11-4) was the first to win four straight road playoff games, but lost for the first time in three title game appearances.

DIVISION I-AA: Backup quarterback Trey Elder scored on a 1-yard run with about two minutes left as host Appalachian State (11-3) edged Furman (11-3) 29-23 for a berth in Friday's title game in Chattanooga, Tenn., against NorthernIowa, a 40-37 overtime winner over Texas State late Friday.

DIVISION III: Nate Kmic had 48 carries for 160 yards as host Mount Union (13-1), which held Rowan (11-3) to minus-1 yard rushing, advanced to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the eighth time in the past 10 years with a 19-7 victory. ... Justin Jacobs threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns to Derek Stanley, helping host Wisconsin-Whitewater (14-0) eliminate Wesley (12-2) 58-6.

SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP: Bruce Eugene threw for six touchdowns and 473 yards as Grambling State (11-1) routed Alabama A&M (9-3) 45-6 in the title game in Birmingham, Ala.

BUTKUS AWARD: Paul Posluszny, who helped Penn State earn a share of the Big Ten championship, won the award as the nation's best linebacker. He beat Ohio State's A.J. Hawk and Alabama's DeMeco Ryans

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]