Lincoln – All-American Sarah Pavan’s 19-kill night led a potent offensive attack, as No. 1 Nebraska turned in one of its best hitting nights in school history in a 30-23, 30-19, 30-14 sweep of previously unbeaten Saint Mary’s at the Nebraska Invitational Friday evening.

Pavan totaled a match-high 19 kills on .600 hitting, marking the third time in her career that the Kitchener, Ontario, native hit over .600 in a match.

The junior was one of three Huskers that finished in double figures in kills, as NU’s .489 hitting was its best in any match since 2002 and the highest in a non-conference match in seven seasons against a team which returned six starters from a year ago when it ranked second to the Huskers in blocks.

Sophomore Jordan Larson finished with 13 kills on .522 hitting and 12 digs for her sixth career double-double, while Danu Mancuso added 11 kills and three blocks. Pavan, Larson and middle blocker Tracy Stalls, who had nine kills on .615 hitting, combined for just three errors all evening and one in the first two games, as the Huskers (2-0) extended their home winning streak to 36.

Nebraska Head Coach John Cook said the team did a good job of bouncing back from an opening night performance where they were held to .191 hitting against San Diego.

"It's a matter of our hitters getting in a rhythm," Cook said. I think they were a lot more comfortable with our offensive plan tonight than they were Tuesday night, and I think that's why we were so much better tonight."

Cook gave much of the credit for the big offensive night to freshman Rachel Holloway, who totaled 50 assists, seven digs and five kills on six swings against the Gaels.

"She makes it hard on the other teams, because she has a little different look to her and she can get a lot of different looks on blockers," Cook said. "They are a team that was (second) in the nation in blocking last year, and they have four seniors that have been the core of that group. We did a good job with them tonight.

"I think mentally we might be a fairly young group, and they just have to learn how to mentally prepare and come out. I think Holloway did a really good job tonight. I think she got through a lot of nerves (against San Diego) on Tuesday."

The Huskers used a strong offensive performance in taking the opener 30-23. NU hit a torrid .600, committing two errors in 35 swings. Pavan led the charge with eight kills without an error on 13 swings while Mancuso and Stalls combined for nine kills on 13 swings.

The game featured 11 ties and five lead changes before the Huskers pulled away down the stretch. Leading 21-20, a Holloway kill started a run of three unanswered points, as a kill by Pavan and a service ace by Larson gave the Huskers a four-point lead and forced a Saint Mary’s timeout. NU continued the run after the timeout, as kills by Pavan and Mancuso pushed the lead to six. NU would not be threatened again.

In game two, the Huskers continued to hum on all cylinders, posting a 30-19 victory. NU hit .359 as Larson totaled seven kills on 11 swings while Pavan and Stalls chipped in five and four kills, respectively. NU took command early on, using the serving of Dani Busboom and Rachel Schwartz to highlight a 7-2 spurt.

Busboom served three straight points, including a service ace, while Schwartz’s tough serving took the Gaels out of rythem, leading to a pair of Larson kills that made it 10-5. Saint Mary’s pulled to within 15-9, but the Huskers scored three unanswered points to extend the margin to 18-9 on a Pavan kill. The visitors would get to within six points, the last being at 24-16, but NU closed strongly to take a 2-0 advantage into the locker room.

The Huskers quickly raced out in the finale, jumping to leads of 5-1 and 8-2 en route to a 30-14 victory. NU hit .513 and committed just two errors while all 11 players who dressed saw action in the finale.

Tournament action continues Saturday evening, as Saint Mary’s and Long Beach State square off in the day’s first match at 5 p.m., while Nebraska takes on Middle Tennessee beginning at 7:30 p.m.