Fire &amp; Ice Mechanical High School Sports Scoreboard - Thursday, August 31

Scottsbluff def. Alliance, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13 (3-1)

Bayard def. Morrill, 25-14, 20-25, 25-14, 25-14 (3-1)

Gering def. Bridgeport, 25-13, 25-21, 25-16 (3-0)

Hyannis def. Sandhills Valley, 25-14, 25-21 (2-0)

Minatare def. Creek Valley, 27-25, 23-25, 19-25, 25-13, 17-15 (3-2)

Mitchell def. Hemingford, 25-17, 25-15, 25-16 (3-0)

Sidney def. North Platte, 25-17, 25-20 (2-0)

Paxton def. Garden County, 25-15, 25-22, 27-25 (3-0)

Sioux County def. Guernsey-Sunrise, WY, 25-21, 11-25, 25-20, 25-19 (3-1)

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663982235627.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Fire &amp; Ice Mechanical High School Sports Scoreboard - Thursday, August 31BY: Dave Collins Sports Director🏈 FootballAlliance 24, Gordon-Rushville 20Garden County 51, Paxton 50🏐 VolleyballScottsbluff def. Alliance, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13 (3-1)Bayard def. Morrill, 25-14, 20-25, 25-14, 25-14 (3-1)Gering def. Bridgeport, 25-13, 25-21, 25-16 (3-0)Hyannis def. Sandhills Valley, 25-14, 25-21 (2-0)Wallace def. Hyannis, 25-11, 25-16 (2-0)Minatare def. Creek Valley, 27-25, 23-25, 19-25, 25-13, 17-15 (3-2)Mitchell def. Hemingford, 25-17, 25-15, 25-16 (3-0)Ogallala def. Sidney, 25-19, 25-17 (2-0)Sidney def. North Platte, 25-17, 25-20 (2-0)Paxton def. Garden County, 25-15, 25-22, 27-25 (3-0)Sioux County def. Guernsey-Sunrise, WY, 25-21, 11-25, 25-20, 25-19 (3-1)🥎 SoftballAlliance 13, Hershey 1Alliance 18, Hershey 13Chadron 15, Bayard 4Source: NSAA

🏈🏐🥎 High School Sports Scoreboard - Thursday, August 31

By: John Murphy CSC Sports Information Director

&nbsp;AUGUST 31, 2023 -- QUINCY, Ill. --&nbsp;At the
conclusion of an up and down game, Chadron State College defeated Quincy
University 35-34 Thursday night in Quincy, Illinois, in the season opener for
both squads.

The Eagles opened the game in
rousing fashion, taking a 22-0 lead. However, Quincy kept clawing back and
eventually took its first lead of the game, 34-29, in the fourth quarter. 

A defensive touchdown started
Quincy's comeback in the second half when a defensive player rambled 99 yards
for a score. Quincy then punched in another score in the fourth quarter to
claim the lead.

Later in the quarter, Quincy was
trying to run the clock out but the Eagles forced the Hawks to punt. Thankfully
for CSC, the kick traveled less than 20 yards, giving the Eagles the ball at
the 35-yard line with just under two minutes to play.

During the Eagles' final drive,&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/heath-beemiller/9098">Heath Beemiller</a>, who accounted for two TDs in the game, found&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/jahani-wright/4265">Jahani Wright</a>&nbsp;for a first down on third and long.

After a rush,&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/tommy-thomas/9169">Tommy Thomas</a>&nbsp;found the end zone on a jet sweep to put CSC up 35-34
with 36 seconds left.

Quincy would not go down without a
fight, though, and traveled to the Eagles' side of the field for a 53-yard
field goal that came up short.

The Eagles will host Augustana
University Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for noon.

*Complete stats were
not available for the game due to technical difficulties at Quincy University.
This article will be updated once complete stats are available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693540940838.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: John Murphy CSC Sports Information Director&nbsp;AUGUST 31, 2023 -- QUINCY, Ill. --&nbsp;At the
conclusion of an up and down game, Chadron State College defeated Quincy
University 35-34 Thursday night in Quincy, Illinois, in the season opener for
both squads.The Eagles opened the game in
rousing fashion, taking a 22-0 lead. However, Quincy kept clawing back and
eventually took its first lead of the game, 34-29, in the fourth quarter. A defensive touchdown started
Quincy's comeback in the second half when a defensive player rambled 99 yards
for a score. Quincy then punched in another score in the fourth quarter to
claim the lead.Later in the quarter, Quincy was
trying to run the clock out but the Eagles forced the Hawks to punt. Thankfully
for CSC, the kick traveled less than 20 yards, giving the Eagles the ball at
the 35-yard line with just under two minutes to play.During the Eagles' final drive,&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/heath-beemiller/9098">Heath Beemiller</a>, who accounted for two TDs in the game, found&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/jahani-wright/4265">Jahani Wright</a>&nbsp;for a first down on third and long. After a rush,&nbsp;<a href="https://chadroneagles.com/sports/football/roster/tommy-thomas/9169">Tommy Thomas</a>&nbsp;found the end zone on a jet sweep to put CSC up 35-34
with 36 seconds left.Quincy would not go down without a
fight, though, and traveled to the Eagles' side of the field for a 53-yard
field goal that came up short.The Eagles will host Augustana
University Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for noon.*Complete stats were
not available for the game due to technical difficulties at Quincy University.
This article will be updated once complete stats are available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chadron State survives wild opening game at Quincy, 35-34

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dragan Kesich kicked a 47-yard field goal for Minnesota as time expired after Daniel Jackson's toe-tap touchdown catch from Athan Kaliakmanis tied the game with 2:32 left, and the Gophers beat Nebraska 13-10 to ruin Huskers coach Matt Rhule's debut on Thursday night.

Tyler Nubin had two of Minnesota's three interceptions of Nebraska newcomer Jeff Sims, including a leaping grab in the final minute that gave the Gophers the ball at their 49.

Athan Kaliakmanis completed three passes and Sean Tyler had a first-down run to get them in range for Kesich, who made two of three field goals in his first game as the primary kicker. Kaliakmanis went 24 for 44 for 196 yards and one interception plus the tying score to Jackson.

Sims, who transferred from Georgia Tech, rushed 19 times for 91 yards. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and a broken-play touchdown that gave the Huskers the lead

The Gophers have beaten the Huskers five straight times.

Nebraska: Plays at Colorado on Sept. 9. The two former Big 12 rivals have played twice since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, with the Buffaloes winning in both 2018 and 2019.

Minnesota: Hosts Eastern Michigan on Sept. 9. The two schools have never met in football.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693540226006.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Dave Campbell Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dragan Kesich kicked a 47-yard field goal for Minnesota as time expired after Daniel Jackson's toe-tap touchdown catch from Athan Kaliakmanis tied the game with 2:32 left, and the Gophers beat Nebraska 13-10 to ruin Huskers coach Matt Rhule's debut on Thursday night.Tyler Nubin had two of Minnesota's three interceptions of Nebraska newcomer Jeff Sims, including a leaping grab in the final minute that gave the Gophers the ball at their 49.Athan Kaliakmanis completed three passes and Sean Tyler had a first-down run to get them in range for Kesich, who made two of three field goals in his first game as the primary kicker. Kaliakmanis went 24 for 44 for 196 yards and one interception plus the tying score to Jackson.Sims, who transferred from Georgia Tech, rushed 19 times for 91 yards. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and a broken-play touchdown that gave the Huskers the leadThe Gophers have beaten the Huskers five straight times.UP NEXTNebraska: Plays at Colorado on Sept. 9. The two former Big 12 rivals have played twice since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, with the Buffaloes winning in both 2018 and 2019.Minnesota: Hosts Eastern Michigan on Sept. 9. The two schools have never met in football.

Huskers clipped at finish by field goal as Minnesota prevails 13-10

Gering&nbsp; led 9-0 after two innings, but the Alliance Lady Bulldogs showed grit in crawling their way back into the game by scoring five unanswered runs to trim Gering's lead to 9-5. However, Gering scored 4 runs in the 6th to pull away.

Highlights for Alliance included a Hallie Schneider 3-run homerun to center field for Alliance, her first home run of the season. Alivia Osborn and Cali Acosta each joined Schneider with 3 hits in the game.&nbsp;

Alliance had 9 hits to Gering's 18 with both teams committing 2 errors. Alliance Falls to 4-5 on the season and next faces Hershey on the road on Thursday.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostGering&nbsp; led 9-0 after two innings, but the Alliance Lady Bulldogs showed grit in crawling their way back into the game by scoring five unanswered runs to trim Gering's lead to 9-5. However, Gering scored 4 runs in the 6th to pull away.Highlights for Alliance included a Hallie Schneider 3-run homerun to center field for Alliance, her first home run of the season. Alivia Osborn and Cali Acosta each joined Schneider with 3 hits in the game.&nbsp;Alliance had 9 hits to Gering's 18 with both teams committing 2 errors. Alliance Falls to 4-5 on the season and next faces Hershey on the road on Thursday.

RECAP: Bulldogs softball rally but falls to Gering

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle Post

Last week was not the way the Alliance Bulldogs football program envisioned starting the season under new Head Coach T.D Stein, but after a 38-8 loss to Chase County, the Bulldogs feel good about their chances against 0-1 Gordon-Rushville.

"Our mantra this week was physical and intentional, we went back to the basics with how we tackle, focused on our route running from our receivers to get that as crisp as possible, so we feel confident."

The Bulldogs face a Gordon-Rushville team that lost to Stein's alma mater Chadron 48-0 last week, their worst loss since a 56-0 loss to Mitchell in 2020. Despite this, Stein knows his players cannot underestimate the Mustangs.

"Dating back to when I was in high school, they've always been a tough team," Stein said.&nbsp; "The biggest thing we've been trying to convey is that no game is an easy game.&nbsp; they might have gotten beat last week but so did we. These guys are going to be physical; they're going to give us a run for our money, and we have to execute the game plan, our plays to win."

Stein feels a big key is to establish a running game against G-R and have a more balanced attack against a Mustangs defense that is different than what they saw last week in Chase County.&nbsp; Quarterback Landon Crowe is looking to build off of one of his better passing yard totals of his career, while also limiting mistakes. 

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. in Gordon tonight, with no radio coverage due to Huskers CSC Eagles football games going on at the same time. KCOW News/Sports Director Alex Benzegala will be at the game, providing updates on the Panhandle Post Facebook page.&nbsp;

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle Post Last week was not the way the Alliance Bulldogs football program envisioned starting the season under new Head Coach T.D Stein, but after a 38-8 loss to Chase County, the Bulldogs feel good about their chances against 0-1 Gordon-Rushville. "Our mantra this week was physical and intentional, we went back to the basics with how we tackle, focused on our route running from our receivers to get that as crisp as possible, so we feel confident."The Bulldogs face a Gordon-Rushville team that lost to Stein's alma mater Chadron 48-0 last week, their worst loss since a 56-0 loss to Mitchell in 2020. Despite this, Stein knows his players cannot underestimate the Mustangs."Dating back to when I was in high school, they've always been a tough team," Stein said.&nbsp; "The biggest thing we've been trying to convey is that no game is an easy game.&nbsp; they might have gotten beat last week but so did we. These guys are going to be physical; they're going to give us a run for our money, and we have to execute the game plan, our plays to win."Stein feels a big key is to establish a running game against G-R and have a more balanced attack against a Mustangs defense that is different than what they saw last week in Chase County.&nbsp; Quarterback Landon Crowe is looking to build off of one of his better passing yard totals of his career, while also limiting mistakes. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. in Gordon tonight, with no radio coverage due to Huskers CSC Eagles football games going on at the same time. KCOW News/Sports Director Alex Benzegala will be at the game, providing updates on the Panhandle Post Facebook page.&nbsp;

Preview: Alliance goes to Gordon-Rushville in search of big win

Nebraska at Minnesota, Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT (Fox).

Matt Rhule makes his Huskers debut, the sixth head coach of the once-dominant program in the 26 seasons since Tom Osborne retired on top with a third national title in four years. Nebraska's best record in five seasons under Scott Frost was 5-7. Athan Kaliakmanis is the first new starting QB to open a season for Minnesota since 2018. Kaliakmanis started five games last year for the injured Tanner Morgan.

Rhule and defensive coordinator Tony White vs. Fleck and Minnesota co-offensive coordinators Greg Harbaugh and Matt Simon. White spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator at Syracuse. Fleck has not revealed who will call the plays. He said the Gophers were “preparing for ghosts” with all the strategic unknowns that come with the new staff at Nebraska.

Nebraska: QB Jeff Sims came from Georgia Tech as one of 20 incoming transfers this year and will lead offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s pro-style spread system. The Huskers need Sims to be a more polished passer than he was in 23 starts over three seasons for the run-heavy Yellow Jackets. The offensive line is a question mark, so don’t be surprised if the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Sims takes off running when the pass rush comes.

Minnesota: RB Sean Tyler rushed for 2,820 yards over four years at Western Michigan and ranked ninth in the FBS last season with an average of 147 all-purpose yards per game. Don't expect a workload like the program's all-time leading rusher Mohamed Ibrahim had, though. Freshmen Zach Evans and Darius Taylor are well-regarded prospects, and Bryce Williams is back for his sixth year.

Nebraska starts the season with consecutive road games for the first time since 1995, with a visit to Colorado on Sept. 9. Rhule's home debut is against Northern Illinois on Sept. 16. ... Rhule, who was head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers from 2020-22, spent three years at Baylor prior to that. He went 1-11, 7-6 and 10-3. ... Minnesota is 7-5 against Nebraska since 2011 when the Huskers joined the Big Ten. Head coach P.J. Fleck is 5-1. ... This is the 11th time in the program's 140 seasons that Minnesota opens against a conference opponent. ... Only Michigan (25-3) and Ohio State (22-4) have a better overall record among Big Ten teams than the Gophers (18-8) over the past two years. ... Minnesota has allowed 16 points or less in 18 games over the last two seasons, second-most in the FBS behind back-to-back national champion Georgia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691500016683.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Associated PressNebraska at Minnesota, Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT (Fox).Line: Minnesota by 7Series record: Minnesota leads 36-25-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Matt Rhule makes his Huskers debut, the sixth head coach of the once-dominant program in the 26 seasons since Tom Osborne retired on top with a third national title in four years. Nebraska's best record in five seasons under Scott Frost was 5-7. Athan Kaliakmanis is the first new starting QB to open a season for Minnesota since 2018. Kaliakmanis started five games last year for the injured Tanner Morgan.KEY MATCHUPRhule and defensive coordinator Tony White vs. Fleck and Minnesota co-offensive coordinators Greg Harbaugh and Matt Simon. White spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator at Syracuse. Fleck has not revealed who will call the plays. He said the Gophers were “preparing for ghosts” with all the strategic unknowns that come with the new staff at Nebraska.PLAYERS TO WATCHNebraska: QB Jeff Sims came from Georgia Tech as one of 20 incoming transfers this year and will lead offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s pro-style spread system. The Huskers need Sims to be a more polished passer than he was in 23 starts over three seasons for the run-heavy Yellow Jackets. The offensive line is a question mark, so don’t be surprised if the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Sims takes off running when the pass rush comes.Minnesota: RB Sean Tyler rushed for 2,820 yards over four years at Western Michigan and ranked ninth in the FBS last season with an average of 147 all-purpose yards per game. Don't expect a workload like the program's all-time leading rusher Mohamed Ibrahim had, though. Freshmen Zach Evans and Darius Taylor are well-regarded prospects, and Bryce Williams is back for his sixth year.FACTS &amp; FIGURESNebraska starts the season with consecutive road games for the first time since 1995, with a visit to Colorado on Sept. 9. Rhule's home debut is against Northern Illinois on Sept. 16. ... Rhule, who was head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers from 2020-22, spent three years at Baylor prior to that. He went 1-11, 7-6 and 10-3. ... Minnesota is 7-5 against Nebraska since 2011 when the Huskers joined the Big Ten. Head coach P.J. Fleck is 5-1. ... This is the 11th time in the program's 140 seasons that Minnesota opens against a conference opponent. ... Only Michigan (25-3) and Ohio State (22-4) have a better overall record among Big Ten teams than the Gophers (18-8) over the past two years. ... Minnesota has allowed 16 points or less in 18 games over the last two seasons, second-most in the FBS behind back-to-back national champion Georgia.

Preview: Nebraska opens football season at Minnesota Thursday night

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's fight song begins, “There is no place like Nebraska.” When it comes to volleyball, those words never rang more true than Wednesday night.

The Cornhuskers laid claim to the world record for largest attendance at a women's sporting event with 92,003 filling Memorial Stadium for their volleyball match against Omaha.

The university took aim at the record last spring when it announced it would hold a daylong celebration of a sport that enjoys immense popularity in this state of fewer than 2 million.

“We took a chance by playing in Memorial Stadium, and to go for the record and break it. ... I don’t think anybody could have envisioned that when this whole thing started,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “It feels like a great accomplishment for this sport called volleyball played by women. It’s a state treasure. We proved it.”

The event began with an exhibition between in-state Division II powers Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State and was followed by the Huskers' three-set sweep of Omaha in a regular-season match. Country artist Scotty McCreery performed afterward.

The previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-womens-soccer-sports-soccer-barcelona-0abf21b88c76e5183fda8cc4ac03244a">attendance record was 91,648, set during a Champions League soccer match</a>&nbsp;when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium in 2022.

Memorial Stadium's official capacity is just over 85,000 for football, but that number was higher for this event because there were seats and standing room on the field.

Fans in red and white started their tailgate parties outside the stadium hours before first serve of an exhibition Wayne State won in three sets. The stadium was one-quarter full at the start of that match and gradually filled to capacity as players for Omaha and Nebraska were warming up.

There was a flyover during the national anthem and, minutes before first serve, Cook led his Huskers into the stadium to the Tunnel Walk, the longtime tradition of the football team. Synchronized chants of “Go Big Red!” were heard all around.

Conditions were 83 degrees, clear skies and a south wind listed at 4-mph at court level with gusts that sometimes moved the ball in unpredictable ways.

Though 91,648 was widely acknowledged as the women’s sports attendance record, at least one match at the unofficial&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/mundo-women71.html">1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico City reportedly drew 110,000 people.</a>

The American record attendance for a women’s sporting event had been 90,185 for the 1999 World Cup soccer final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California — the game where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/sports/soccer/23seconds.html">Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt</a>&nbsp;after scoring the decisive penalty shot for the U.S. win.

The NCAA does not track attendance across all sports, but associate director of media coordination and statistics Jeff Williams said a crowd of 90,000-plus was easily among the largest for a non-football game. A 2010 outdoor&nbsp;<a href="https://collegehockeyinc.com/stats/boxes11.php?mmicmsu1.d11">hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor drew more than 113,000 fans.</a>

A message seeking comment from officials of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/">Guinness World Records</a>&nbsp;was not immediately returned.

Nebraska has sold out 306 consecutive regular-season matches. (Wednesday's event won't count toward the streak because it is not being held on the team's Devaney Center court.) The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since 2013, and eight of the top nine crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved Nebraska.

Nebraska has won five national championships in volleyball, and its program is one of the few in Division I women's sports that turns a profit — $1 million last year, according to athletic department CFO Doug Ewald.

“This is a statement on Title IX, and having two daughters of my own, what Title IX has done for women's sports is huge,” fan Troy Pfannenstiel of Omaha said before the matches.

Chancellor Rodney Bennett canceled classes for the day. NCAA President Charlie Baker, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti were on hand, as was Gov. Jim Pillen. So were Husker volleyball players who were part of iconic coach Terry Pettit's teams over four decades. High school teams from across a state stretching 430 miles border to border were excused from classes to attend.

There are 75 women from the state of Nebraska who are on Division I volleyball rosters this season. At 44 players per million in population, the state trails only Hawaii (67 per million) in Division I players produced per capita, according to volleyball statistician and historian Rich Kern of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.richkern.com/vb/FreePage.asp">RichKern.com.</a>

“You don’t think you’re going to be part of a world record event, and seeing how much everyone supports volleyball and wanted to be part of that record is awesome to see,” Omaha's Shayla McCormick said.

Volleyball has surpassed basketball as the No. 1 girls high school team sport in the United States. It’s long been No. 1 in Nebraska.

About 7,000 girls play high school volleyball in the state. Volleyball has been played in varying forms in Nebraska since the early 1900s. For many years, girls volleyball matches were warmup acts for boys basketball games. Volleyball became a sanctioned sport in 1972 and took off in the late 1970s when Pettit invited many of the state’s high school coaches to work at his camps in Lincoln.

Pettit also conducted so-called “satellite” clinics in small towns across the state. In a place where boys grow up dreaming of becoming Cornhusker football players, many girls are equally passionate about some day playing volleyball for a Nebraska team that annually ranks among the nation’s elite.

Ella Beck, 10, came with a group from tiny Pierce to see her first college volleyball match and root for her favorite player, setter Lexi Rodriguez.

Neveah Kehr, 10, came with her mom, Nicki, from Bismarck, North Dakota, to be part of the event. Nicki graduated from Nebraska, and she brought up her daughter watching the Huskers on television.

Neveah wore the No. 5 jersey of middle blocker Bekka Allick at a pep rally before the matches and, with more than 1,000 fans cheering, was invited to walk to where the players stood and was introduced to the woman she called her idol.

Neveah teared up, and Bekka gave her a hug.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693453778144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's fight song begins, “There is no place like Nebraska.” When it comes to volleyball, those words never rang more true than Wednesday night.The Cornhuskers laid claim to the world record for largest attendance at a women's sporting event with 92,003 filling Memorial Stadium for their volleyball match against Omaha.The university took aim at the record last spring when it announced it would hold a daylong celebration of a sport that enjoys immense popularity in this state of fewer than 2 million.“We took a chance by playing in Memorial Stadium, and to go for the record and break it. ... I don’t think anybody could have envisioned that when this whole thing started,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “It feels like a great accomplishment for this sport called volleyball played by women. It’s a state treasure. We proved it.”The event began with an exhibition between in-state Division II powers Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State and was followed by the Huskers' three-set sweep of Omaha in a regular-season match. Country artist Scotty McCreery performed afterward.The previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-womens-soccer-sports-soccer-barcelona-0abf21b88c76e5183fda8cc4ac03244a">attendance record was 91,648, set during a Champions League soccer match</a>&nbsp;when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium in 2022.Memorial Stadium's official capacity is just over 85,000 for football, but that number was higher for this event because there were seats and standing room on the field.Fans in red and white started their tailgate parties outside the stadium hours before first serve of an exhibition Wayne State won in three sets. The stadium was one-quarter full at the start of that match and gradually filled to capacity as players for Omaha and Nebraska were warming up.There was a flyover during the national anthem and, minutes before first serve, Cook led his Huskers into the stadium to the Tunnel Walk, the longtime tradition of the football team. Synchronized chants of “Go Big Red!” were heard all around.Conditions were 83 degrees, clear skies and a south wind listed at 4-mph at court level with gusts that sometimes moved the ball in unpredictable ways.Though 91,648 was widely acknowledged as the women’s sports attendance record, at least one match at the unofficial&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/mundo-women71.html">1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico City reportedly drew 110,000 people.</a>The American record attendance for a women’s sporting event had been 90,185 for the 1999 World Cup soccer final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California — the game where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/sports/soccer/23seconds.html">Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt</a>&nbsp;after scoring the decisive penalty shot for the U.S. win.The NCAA does not track attendance across all sports, but associate director of media coordination and statistics Jeff Williams said a crowd of 90,000-plus was easily among the largest for a non-football game. A 2010 outdoor&nbsp;<a href="https://collegehockeyinc.com/stats/boxes11.php?mmicmsu1.d11">hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor drew more than 113,000 fans.</a>A message seeking comment from officials of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/">Guinness World Records</a>&nbsp;was not immediately returned.Nebraska has sold out 306 consecutive regular-season matches. (Wednesday's event won't count toward the streak because it is not being held on the team's Devaney Center court.) The Huskers have led the nation in attendance every season since 2013, and eight of the top nine crowds in NCAA volleyball history are matches that have involved Nebraska.Nebraska has won five national championships in volleyball, and its program is one of the few in Division I women's sports that turns a profit — $1 million last year, according to athletic department CFO Doug Ewald.“This is a statement on Title IX, and having two daughters of my own, what Title IX has done for women's sports is huge,” fan Troy Pfannenstiel of Omaha said before the matches.Chancellor Rodney Bennett canceled classes for the day. NCAA President Charlie Baker, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti were on hand, as was Gov. Jim Pillen. So were Husker volleyball players who were part of iconic coach Terry Pettit's teams over four decades. High school teams from across a state stretching 430 miles border to border were excused from classes to attend.There are 75 women from the state of Nebraska who are on Division I volleyball rosters this season. At 44 players per million in population, the state trails only Hawaii (67 per million) in Division I players produced per capita, according to volleyball statistician and historian Rich Kern of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.richkern.com/vb/FreePage.asp">RichKern.com.</a>“You don’t think you’re going to be part of a world record event, and seeing how much everyone supports volleyball and wanted to be part of that record is awesome to see,” Omaha's Shayla McCormick said.Volleyball has surpassed basketball as the No. 1 girls high school team sport in the United States. It’s long been No. 1 in Nebraska.About 7,000 girls play high school volleyball in the state. Volleyball has been played in varying forms in Nebraska since the early 1900s. For many years, girls volleyball matches were warmup acts for boys basketball games. Volleyball became a sanctioned sport in 1972 and took off in the late 1970s when Pettit invited many of the state’s high school coaches to work at his camps in Lincoln.Pettit also conducted so-called “satellite” clinics in small towns across the state. In a place where boys grow up dreaming of becoming Cornhusker football players, many girls are equally passionate about some day playing volleyball for a Nebraska team that annually ranks among the nation’s elite.Ella Beck, 10, came with a group from tiny Pierce to see her first college volleyball match and root for her favorite player, setter Lexi Rodriguez.Neveah Kehr, 10, came with her mom, Nicki, from Bismarck, North Dakota, to be part of the event. Nicki graduated from Nebraska, and she brought up her daughter watching the Huskers on television.Neveah wore the No. 5 jersey of middle blocker Bekka Allick at a pep rally before the matches and, with more than 1,000 fans cheering, was invited to walk to where the players stood and was introduced to the woman she called her idol.Neveah teared up, and Bekka gave her a hug.

🏐 Husker fans set new world record with 92,003 at match in Memorial Stadium

By: Con Marshall CSC Sports Information

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Chadron State College football team hopes to get its season off to a rousing start when it plays the Quincy Hawks at Quincy, Ill., on the banks of the Mississippi River on Thursday, Sept. 1.&nbsp; 

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and the game can be heard live on Double Q Country radio, 97.5 FM / 105.9 FM, panhandlepost.com and through the Panhandle Post App.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The game was arranged last spring when neither of the head coaches, Jay Long of Chadron State and Gary Bass of Quincy, could find a closer opponent for their season-opener.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said he can’t make any guarantees about this year’s team, but he’s excited about the season and knows the Eagles will play hard.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The teams have some similarities.&nbsp; Both are coming off disappointing seasons. The Eagles had a 3-8 record last fall and the Hawks were 4-7.&nbsp; Each has just five seniors on its list of probable starters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Because of injuries, Chadron State was forced to start three different quarterbacks last season. The one who played the most, senior Heath Beemiller, is expected to start the opener. Offensive Coordinator Micah Smith said Beemiller has shaken off the injuries and become more consistent.&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “We have a lot of good playmakers among our receivers and running backs. We’ll try to get the ball to them in space,” Smith said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The offensive line leader is center Michael DeCamillis, who will be the starting for the fifth consecutive season, including 2020, when the Eagles bucked the national trend and played four games despite COVID 19. DeCamillis was second-team all-conference last fall and is one of the six co-captains that the players elected last week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Eagles’ defense will feature a strong front line, where nine players are expected to rotate and play physical football.&nbsp; The group includes&nbsp;Hunter O’Connor, who, as a sophomore last fall, finished with 60 total tackles, 24 of them for minus yards, including 16 quarterback sacks that led NCAA II through the regular season and broke the CSC single-season record.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Senior linebacker Joey Geil long ago established the reputation for playing hard and making big plays.&nbsp; Defensive Coordinator Clint Sasse believes redshirt freshman Reed Henkel is from the same mold.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A year ago Reed was on the scout team, but he had a great spring, a great off-season and has made huge strides,” Sasse said.

The secondary has several newcomers, but Sasse says they are talented and will provide excellent depth. A big plus is the return of cornerback Jahvonte "JJ" Hair, who sustained a broken leg in last year’s season opener. Sasse often talks about the “high football IQ” of this year’s group and believes they are “well prepared and ready for anything.”&nbsp;

Not a whole lot is known about the Quincy Hawks, but they have some players with impressive numbers.

They have a new quarterback in Drake Davis, a transfer from Northern Michigan, where in 17 games the past three years, he completed 227 of 371 passes for 2,412 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 12 interceptions.&nbsp; He also ran for 546 yards and six TDs.

The Hawks return their top receiver from a year ago in senior Jason Lawrence, who caught 51 passes for 818 yards and nine scores. Their defensive leader is Peyton Plunkett, a 6-3, 237-pound senior who had eight sacks among his 18 tackles for minus yards last fall and also forced six fumbles.

The Eagles will play their second game at home starting at noon on Saturday, Sept. 9 against the Augustana Vikings.&nbsp; At halftime of that game, the 1989 and 1990 teams, both of which were nationally ranked in the top 10 and were the first from CSC to qualify for the playoffs while be inducted into the CSC Athletic Hall of Fame.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693407219947.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Con Marshall CSC Sports Information&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Chadron State College football team hopes to get its season off to a rousing start when it plays the Quincy Hawks at Quincy, Ill., on the banks of the Mississippi River on Thursday, Sept. 1.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and the game can be heard live on Double Q Country radio, 97.5 FM / 105.9 FM, panhandlepost.com and through the Panhandle Post App.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The game was arranged last spring when neither of the head coaches, Jay Long of Chadron State and Gary Bass of Quincy, could find a closer opponent for their season-opener.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said he can’t make any guarantees about this year’s team, but he’s excited about the season and knows the Eagles will play hard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The teams have some similarities.&nbsp; Both are coming off disappointing seasons. The Eagles had a 3-8 record last fall and the Hawks were 4-7.&nbsp; Each has just five seniors on its list of probable starters.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Because of injuries, Chadron State was forced to start three different quarterbacks last season. The one who played the most, senior Heath Beemiller, is expected to start the opener. Offensive Coordinator Micah Smith said Beemiller has shaken off the injuries and become more consistent.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “We have a lot of good playmakers among our receivers and running backs. We’ll try to get the ball to them in space,” Smith said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The offensive line leader is center Michael DeCamillis, who will be the starting for the fifth consecutive season, including 2020, when the Eagles bucked the national trend and played four games despite COVID 19. DeCamillis was second-team all-conference last fall and is one of the six co-captains that the players elected last week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Eagles’ defense will feature a strong front line, where nine players are expected to rotate and play physical football.&nbsp; The group includes&nbsp;Hunter O’Connor, who, as a sophomore last fall, finished with 60 total tackles, 24 of them for minus yards, including 16 quarterback sacks that led NCAA II through the regular season and broke the CSC single-season record.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Senior linebacker Joey Geil long ago established the reputation for playing hard and making big plays.&nbsp; Defensive Coordinator Clint Sasse believes redshirt freshman Reed Henkel is from the same mold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A year ago Reed was on the scout team, but he had a great spring, a great off-season and has made huge strides,” Sasse said.The secondary has several newcomers, but Sasse says they are talented and will provide excellent depth. A big plus is the return of cornerback Jahvonte "JJ" Hair, who sustained a broken leg in last year’s season opener. Sasse often talks about the “high football IQ” of this year’s group and believes they are “well prepared and ready for anything.”&nbsp;Not a whole lot is known about the Quincy Hawks, but they have some players with impressive numbers.They have a new quarterback in Drake Davis, a transfer from Northern Michigan, where in 17 games the past three years, he completed 227 of 371 passes for 2,412 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 12 interceptions.&nbsp; He also ran for 546 yards and six TDs.The Hawks return their top receiver from a year ago in senior Jason Lawrence, who caught 51 passes for 818 yards and nine scores. Their defensive leader is Peyton Plunkett, a 6-3, 237-pound senior who had eight sacks among his 18 tackles for minus yards last fall and also forced six fumbles.The Eagles will play their second game at home starting at noon on Saturday, Sept. 9 against the Augustana Vikings.&nbsp; At halftime of that game, the 1989 and 1990 teams, both of which were nationally ranked in the top 10 and were the first from CSC to qualify for the playoffs while be inducted into the CSC Athletic Hall of Fame.

Chadron State opens season Thursday night: Con Marshall's Game Preview

The Alliance Bulldogs volleyball program had their home opener on Tuesday night, but South Dakota power Rapid City Christian used key runs in important moments to win 3-0. (25-15, 25-23- 25-14)

Alliance Head Coach Manda Clarke says her team started the match slow and against an elite team that is hard to overcome.

"Our plan was to take them out of system and we had a hard time receiving serves," Clarke said.&nbsp; "We also had a hard time getting our offense going so it was a double-edged sword."

After a tough first set, Alliance settled into the 2nd set before another Comets&nbsp; big run gave RCC a commanding 24-17 lead, forcing Clarke to call a timeout. Alliance went on a 7-0 run&nbsp; behind the strong serving of Haylie Winter and got the score to 24-23 before a service error gave the set to Rapid City Christian 25-23.

"I'm really proud how the girls bounced back in the 2nd set, overall it was a good battle." Clarke said.

Down 2-0, the Bulldogs fell behind 5-0 in the 3rd set and eventually made a comeback near the middle of the set before an 8-0 run for RCC helped the Comets pull away 25-14.

Jaelynne Clarke led Alliance with 11 kills and 4 blocks. Kinley Pfeiffer had 2 aces as well for the Bulldogs.&nbsp;

Alliance falls to 5-3 overall with a trip to Western Conference foe Scottsbluff looming on Thursday. Rapid City Christian improves their record to 6-0.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostThe Alliance Bulldogs volleyball program had their home opener on Tuesday night, but South Dakota power Rapid City Christian used key runs in important moments to win 3-0. (25-15, 25-23- 25-14)Alliance Head Coach Manda Clarke says her team started the match slow and against an elite team that is hard to overcome. "Our plan was to take them out of system and we had a hard time receiving serves," Clarke said.&nbsp; "We also had a hard time getting our offense going so it was a double-edged sword."After a tough first set, Alliance settled into the 2nd set before another Comets&nbsp; big run gave RCC a commanding 24-17 lead, forcing Clarke to call a timeout. Alliance went on a 7-0 run&nbsp; behind the strong serving of Haylie Winter and got the score to 24-23 before a service error gave the set to Rapid City Christian 25-23."I'm really proud how the girls bounced back in the 2nd set, overall it was a good battle." Clarke said.Down 2-0, the Bulldogs fell behind 5-0 in the 3rd set and eventually made a comeback near the middle of the set before an 8-0 run for RCC helped the Comets pull away 25-14.Jaelynne Clarke led Alliance with 11 kills and 4 blocks. Kinley Pfeiffer had 2 aces as well for the Bulldogs.&nbsp;Alliance falls to 5-3 overall with a trip to Western Conference foe Scottsbluff looming on Thursday. Rapid City Christian improves their record to 6-0.

Recap: Alliance VB drops home opener against Rapid City Christian

🏐 Volleyball - High School Scoreboard - Tuesday, August 29

Bayard def. Sioux County, 25-12, 25-6, 25-13 (3-0)

Brady def. South Platte, 25-13, 25-15 (2-0)

Bridgeport def. Mitchell, 25-13, 21-25, 25-17 (2-1)

Gordon-Rushville def. Bridgeport, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19 (2-1)

Hay Springs def. Banner County, 25-17, 25-7 (2-0)

Hay Springs def. Garden County, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 (2-1)

Leyton def. Kimball, 25-7, 25-16, 25-19 (3-0)

&nbsp; Scottsbluff def. Chadron, 25-15, 25-19, 26-28, 25-22 (3-1)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693367025450.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Dave Collins Sports Director🏐 Volleyball - High School Scoreboard - Tuesday, August 29Bayard def. Sioux County, 25-12, 25-6, 25-13 (3-0)Brady def. South Platte, 25-13, 25-15 (2-0)Bridgeport def. Mitchell, 25-13, 21-25, 25-17 (2-1)Gordon-Rushville def. Bridgeport, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19 (2-1)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629461621684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hay Springs def. Banner County, 25-17, 25-7 (2-0)Hay Springs def. Garden County, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 (2-1)Leyton def. Kimball, 25-7, 25-16, 25-19 (3-0)&nbsp; Scottsbluff def. Chadron, 25-15, 25-19, 26-28, 25-22 (3-1)🥎 SoftballGering 13, Alliance 5Scottsbluff 16, Chadron 8

🏐🥎 High School Scoreboard - Tuesday, August 29

DENVER (AP) — Two fans who ran onto the field and made contact with Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. during Monday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies are facing charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace.

The misdemeanor charges against the fans, 21- and 23-year-old Denver residents, were outlined in arrest affidavits released by the Denver Police Department on Tuesday. The men were ordered to appear in court Sept. 27.

Acuña said he was OK after fending off the fans, including one who knocked him over, during the middle of the seventh inning at Coors Field in a 14-4 victory. He was not injured and remained in the game.

One fan got his arms around Acuña in right field before security personnel quickly grabbed the man. A second fan then sprinted toward the group, knocking down Acuña, and that fan was tackled as a member of the security staff chased him down.

“I was a little scared at first,” Acuña said through an interpreter. “I think the fans were out there and asking for pictures. I really couldn’t say anything because at that point, security was already there and we were already kind of tangled up, but security was able to get there and everything’s OK. We’re all OK and I hope they’re OK.”

Teammate Kevin Pillar expressed relief Acuña wasn’t hurt.

“Thankfully, they weren’t there to do any harm, but you just never know during those situations,” said Pillar, who was among the teammates and coaches who rushed to Acuña’s defense. “They were extreme fans and wanted to get a picture, put their hands on him. But in no way is it appropriate for people to leave the stands, even more to put their hands on someone else.”

The arrest affidavits did not say why the fans ran onto the field.

Acuña tied career highs with four hits and five RBIs, hitting his 29th home run and stealing two bases to increase his major league-leading total to 61. He is one homer shy of becoming the first 30/60 player.

Major league-best Atlanta (85-45) had 18 hits. The Braves have won four of five and 10 of 13. Colorado (49-82) was assured its fifth consecutive losing season.

Acuña became the fourth player with 25 or more homers and 60 or more steals, joining Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (1973, ’76) and Rickey Henderson (1986, ’90), along with Eric Davis (1986).

“He’s a special, special player, a gifted young man,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Anything he’s going to do in this game is not going to surprise me. I just think he’s that talented.”

Acuña, who leads the major leagues with 119 runs, scored on Austin Riley's third-inning homer against Austin Gomber and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Karl Kaufmann (1-4).

Acuña singled leading off the seventh and stole second off Evan Justice, getting a huge jump and sliding into second as Justice threw vainly to first. He scored on a single by Riley, who had three RBIs.

Acuña singled in the eighth and stole second off Tommy Doyle without a throw.

Pillar put the Braves in front to stay at 5-4 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then robbed Nolan Jones of extra bases in the bottom half with a spectacular diving catch in left.

Sean Murphy doubled three times and drove in a run for the Braves, who have won six in a row at Coors Field.

Ryan McMahon homered for the Rockies, who fell to 0-5 this season against the Braves.

“They’ve got a good ballclub, no doubt,” McMahon said. “They’ve got some really special players over there.”

Braves All Star second baseman Ozzie Albies went 0 for 4 in his return from the injured list after missing 12 games due to a strained left hamstring.

Bryce Elder (11-4) won his third straight decision, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.

Braves: RHP Darius Vines was recalled from Gwinnett. Lefty Jared Shuster was optioned to the Triple-A team along with infielder Vaughn Grissom, who had started a handful of games at second in Albies’ absence.

Rockies: 2B Brendan Rodgers was a late scratch from the lineup because of illness. … INF-OF Kris Bryant was scheduled to have an X-ray of his fractured left index finger to determine if it has healed to the point where he can intensify his rehab efforts in hopes of returning this season. He has been sidelined since July 22. … RHP Ryan Feltner was set to take the next step in his recovery from a fractured skull and concussion. Feltner, who was injured May 13 when he was struck in the head by a comebacker, was headed to the High-A Spokane Indians. He’s scheduled to make a pitching appearance Wednesday, his first in a game since the injury.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693366855442.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Two fans who ran onto the field and made contact with Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. during Monday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies are facing charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace.The misdemeanor charges against the fans, 21- and 23-year-old Denver residents, were outlined in arrest affidavits released by the Denver Police Department on Tuesday. The men were ordered to appear in court Sept. 27.Acuña said he was OK after fending off the fans, including one who knocked him over, during the middle of the seventh inning at Coors Field in a 14-4 victory. He was not injured and remained in the game.One fan got his arms around Acuña in right field before security personnel quickly grabbed the man. A second fan then sprinted toward the group, knocking down Acuña, and that fan was tackled as a member of the security staff chased him down.“I was a little scared at first,” Acuña said through an interpreter. “I think the fans were out there and asking for pictures. I really couldn’t say anything because at that point, security was already there and we were already kind of tangled up, but security was able to get there and everything’s OK. We’re all OK and I hope they’re OK.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693366882261.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Teammate Kevin Pillar expressed relief Acuña wasn’t hurt.“Thankfully, they weren’t there to do any harm, but you just never know during those situations,” said Pillar, who was among the teammates and coaches who rushed to Acuña’s defense. “They were extreme fans and wanted to get a picture, put their hands on him. But in no way is it appropriate for people to leave the stands, even more to put their hands on someone else.”The arrest affidavits did not say why the fans ran onto the field.Acuña tied career highs with four hits and five RBIs, hitting his 29th home run and stealing two bases to increase his major league-leading total to 61. He is one homer shy of becoming the first 30/60 player.Acuña tied career highs with four hits and five RBIs, hitting his 29th home run and stealing two bases to increase his major league-leading total to 61. He is one homer shy of becoming the first 30/60 player.Major league-best Atlanta (85-45) had 18 hits. The Braves have won four of five and 10 of 13. Colorado (49-82) was assured its fifth consecutive losing season.Acuña became the fourth player with 25 or more homers and 60 or more steals, joining Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (1973, ’76) and Rickey Henderson (1986, ’90), along with Eric Davis (1986).“He’s a special, special player, a gifted young man,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Anything he’s going to do in this game is not going to surprise me. I just think he’s that talented.”Acuña, who leads the major leagues with 119 runs, scored on Austin Riley's third-inning homer against Austin Gomber and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Karl Kaufmann (1-4).Acuña singled leading off the seventh and stole second off Evan Justice, getting a huge jump and sliding into second as Justice threw vainly to first. He scored on a single by Riley, who had three RBIs.Acuña singled in the eighth and stole second off Tommy Doyle without a throw.Pillar put the Braves in front to stay at 5-4 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then robbed Nolan Jones of extra bases in the bottom half with a spectacular diving catch in left.Sean Murphy doubled three times and drove in a run for the Braves, who have won six in a row at Coors Field.Ryan McMahon homered for the Rockies, who fell to 0-5 this season against the Braves.“They’ve got a good ballclub, no doubt,” McMahon said. “They’ve got some really special players over there.”Braves All Star second baseman Ozzie Albies went 0 for 4 in his return from the injured list after missing 12 games due to a strained left hamstring.Bryce Elder (11-4) won his third straight decision, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.TRAINER’S ROOMBraves: RHP Darius Vines was recalled from Gwinnett. Lefty Jared Shuster was optioned to the Triple-A team along with infielder Vaughn Grissom, who had started a handful of games at second in Albies’ absence.Rockies: 2B Brendan Rodgers was a late scratch from the lineup because of illness. … INF-OF Kris Bryant was scheduled to have an X-ray of his fractured left index finger to determine if it has healed to the point where he can intensify his rehab efforts in hopes of returning this season. He has been sidelined since July 22. … RHP Ryan Feltner was set to take the next step in his recovery from a fractured skull and concussion. Feltner, who was injured May 13 when he was struck in the head by a comebacker, was headed to the High-A Spokane Indians. He’s scheduled to make a pitching appearance Wednesday, his first in a game since the injury.

Foolish fans that charged Acuna at Coors Field face legal system next

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert, who transferred from Georgia and was awaiting a ruling on his eligibility from the NCAA, was arrested on suspicion of burglary early Tuesday after police received a report of a store break-in.

Officers dispatched to SJ's Liquor and Vape Shop shortly before 2 a.m. found a glass door shattered with large cement chunks from the parking lot, police said, and they saw Gilbert walking toward the exit carrying a bag.

The bag contained stolen vape products, Delta 8, cigars and lighters with a total value of $1,672.07, and damage to the business was estimated at $650, police said.

Lancaster County court records did not indicate if Gilbert has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Gilbert, a sophomore from Marietta, Georgia, was a five-star recruit who was the top-ranked tight end prospect and 2019 Gatorade National Player of the Year.

He initially played at LSU, where he started eight games in 2020 and was named to the All-SEC freshman team after catching 35 passes for 368 yards. He transferred to Georgia and sat out the 2021 season. He played in three games for the Bulldogs last season, catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, without elaborating, said Gilbert has been working through some life issues.

“Had been really proud of the job he had done in the spring and summer but, to be honest, during camp he's had some struggles and he's been working to overcome them,” Rhule said. “We have a great group of people here trying to help him, and obviously last night happened. Disapointed for him and his family and disappointed obviously for the business owner, and we'll have to work through it as we move forward.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693366615538.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert, who transferred from Georgia and was awaiting a ruling on his eligibility from the NCAA, was arrested on suspicion of burglary early Tuesday after police received a report of a store break-in.Officers dispatched to SJ's Liquor and Vape Shop shortly before 2 a.m. found a glass door shattered with large cement chunks from the parking lot, police said, and they saw Gilbert walking toward the exit carrying a bag.The bag contained stolen vape products, Delta 8, cigars and lighters with a total value of $1,672.07, and damage to the business was estimated at $650, police said.Lancaster County court records did not indicate if Gilbert has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.Gilbert, a sophomore from Marietta, Georgia, was a five-star recruit who was the top-ranked tight end prospect and 2019 Gatorade National Player of the Year.He initially played at LSU, where he started eight games in 2020 and was named to the All-SEC freshman team after catching 35 passes for 368 yards. He transferred to Georgia and sat out the 2021 season. He played in three games for the Bulldogs last season, catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, without elaborating, said Gilbert has been working through some life issues.“Had been really proud of the job he had done in the spring and summer but, to be honest, during camp he's had some struggles and he's been working to overcome them,” Rhule said. “We have a great group of people here trying to help him, and obviously last night happened. Disapointed for him and his family and disappointed obviously for the business owner, and we'll have to work through it as we move forward.”

Five-star Husker tight end transfer arrested for alleged burglary Tuesday

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle Post

The Alliance Bulldogs won five of their six games in Wyoming to finish 2nd in the Douglas Tournament over the weekend, now the 5-2 Bulldogs&nbsp; host South Dakota power Rapid City Christian tonight, Tuesday.&nbsp;

It's the first home game of the season for the Bulldogs against a Comets team that went 29-7 last year, including a three&nbsp; set sweep of Alliance. Head Coach Manda Clarke knows how big of a test 2-0 Rapid City presents.

"They're always strong, they're always fundamentally sound and they never give you anything," Clarke said. "We really have to minimize those errors and work for every point."

Tuesday's varsity match begins at 6 pm with radio coverage starting at approximately 5:45 on KCOW, AM 1400 and 92.5. Listen live online at panhandlepost.com and click KCOW.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostThe Alliance Bulldogs won five of their six games in Wyoming to finish 2nd in the Douglas Tournament over the weekend, now the 5-2 Bulldogs&nbsp; host South Dakota power Rapid City Christian tonight, Tuesday.&nbsp;It's the first home game of the season for the Bulldogs against a Comets team that went 29-7 last year, including a three&nbsp; set sweep of Alliance. Head Coach Manda Clarke knows how big of a test 2-0 Rapid City presents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693323021894.jpeg" alt="Jaelynne Clarke tips it over the net in a game in Wyoming" />
 <figcaption>Jaelynne Clarke tips it over the net in a game in Wyoming</figcaption>
 </figure>"They're always strong, they're always fundamentally sound and they never give you anything," Clarke said. "We really have to minimize those errors and work for every point."Tuesday's varsity match begins at 6 pm with radio coverage starting at approximately 5:45 on KCOW, AM 1400 and 92.5. Listen live online at panhandlepost.com and click KCOW.

PREVIEW: Alliance VB hosts SD power Rapid City Christian

By University Nebraska-Lincoln Sports Information Department

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska volleyball team moved to 3-0 after a 25-16, 25-23, 25-16 sweep of SMU in front of a crowd of 8,311 on Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The Huskers kept their opponent under a .100 hitting percentage for the third straight match, as the Mustangs (1-2) hit .045. Nebraska hit .144 with 38 kills and 22 errors, but outserved SMU with a 4-1 edge in aces and a six fewer service errors. Nebraska had four more blocks (11-7) and 19 more digs (60-41).&nbsp;

Harper Murray led Nebraska with 14 kills with a .310 hitting percentage. She also had 10 digs and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. Merritt Beason added eight kills and eight digs, and Bekka Allick chipped in seven kills and four blocks.&nbsp;

Andi Jackson had five kills and seven blocks, while Lindsay Krause had three kills and five blocks.&nbsp;

Bergen Reilly posted 29 assists and nine digs, and Lexi Rodriguez notched 14 digs and two service aces. Rodriguez was also named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Laney Choboy, who had seven digs on Sunday.&nbsp;

The Huskers had 38 kills to SMU's 25 and outdug the Mustangs 60-41.

Set 1: The Huskers went on the first run of the game behind two aces from Rodriguez to take a 6-3 lead. SMU got to within one point before Allick and Murray notched two kills each as NU went on a 10-2 run to make the score 18-9. Nebraska rattled off six straight points to get to set point at 24-10 before the Mustangs went on a 6-0 run of their own. The Huskers closed out the set on Murray’s eighth kill of the set to win 25-16.

Set 2: The teams traded points for the first half of the second set. NU scored two straight heading into the media timeout, part of a 5-0 run that gave the Huskers a 17-13 advantage. Kills by Krause and Jackson helped the Huskers make the score 20-15. SMU fought back and cut NU's lead to 23-22 before a Krause kill took the Huskers to set point. With NU clinging to a 24-23 lead, Jackson and Krause ended the set with a block to give Nebraska a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Set 3: The Huskers started quickly in the third set, notching three blocks in the first four points to grab a 4-1 lead. Behind kills from Allick and Krause, NU brought the advantage to 7-2 and forced a Mustang timeout. Murray had two kills and Beason had one in a 4-0 Husker run later in the set that made it 16-7, and the Big Red never looked back. NU pulled away to a 25-16 win for a perfect three sweeps in three matches to start the season.&nbsp;

Up Next: The Huskers will face the Omaha Mavericks on Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised on BTN and streamed on the Fox Sports app. Fans can also listen on the Huskers Radio Network.

By University Nebraska-Lincoln Sports Information DepartmentLINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska volleyball team moved to 3-0 after a 25-16, 25-23, 25-16 sweep of SMU in front of a crowd of 8,311 on Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.The Huskers kept their opponent under a .100 hitting percentage for the third straight match, as the Mustangs (1-2) hit .045. Nebraska hit .144 with 38 kills and 22 errors, but outserved SMU with a 4-1 edge in aces and a six fewer service errors. Nebraska had four more blocks (11-7) and 19 more digs (60-41).&nbsp;Harper Murray led Nebraska with 14 kills with a .310 hitting percentage. She also had 10 digs and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. Merritt Beason added eight kills and eight digs, and Bekka Allick chipped in seven kills and four blocks.&nbsp;Andi Jackson had five kills and seven blocks, while Lindsay Krause had three kills and five blocks.&nbsp;Bergen Reilly posted 29 assists and nine digs, and Lexi Rodriguez notched 14 digs and two service aces. Rodriguez was also named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Laney Choboy, who had seven digs on Sunday.&nbsp;The Huskers had 38 kills to SMU's 25 and outdug the Mustangs 60-41.Set 1: The Huskers went on the first run of the game behind two aces from Rodriguez to take a 6-3 lead. SMU got to within one point before Allick and Murray notched two kills each as NU went on a 10-2 run to make the score 18-9. Nebraska rattled off six straight points to get to set point at 24-10 before the Mustangs went on a 6-0 run of their own. The Huskers closed out the set on Murray’s eighth kill of the set to win 25-16.Set 2: The teams traded points for the first half of the second set. NU scored two straight heading into the media timeout, part of a 5-0 run that gave the Huskers a 17-13 advantage. Kills by Krause and Jackson helped the Huskers make the score 20-15. SMU fought back and cut NU's lead to 23-22 before a Krause kill took the Huskers to set point. With NU clinging to a 24-23 lead, Jackson and Krause ended the set with a block to give Nebraska a 2-0 advantage in the match.Set 3: The Huskers started quickly in the third set, notching three blocks in the first four points to grab a 4-1 lead. Behind kills from Allick and Krause, NU brought the advantage to 7-2 and forced a Mustang timeout. Murray had two kills and Beason had one in a 4-0 Husker run later in the set that made it 16-7, and the Big Red never looked back. NU pulled away to a 25-16 win for a perfect three sweeps in three matches to start the season.&nbsp;Up Next: The Huskers will face the Omaha Mavericks on Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised on BTN and streamed on the Fox Sports app. Fans can also listen on the Huskers Radio Network.

Huskers volleyball sweeps SMU on Sunday 

Alliance softball was coming off of a huge scoring output last&nbsp; Tuesday against Chadron in a 10-9 loss, but Friday was a defensive battle that Gothenberg edged 3-0. The Swedes scored one run in the 1st and two in the 3rd and that is all they needed to get the win.

Hannah Schneider got the only hit in the game for Bulldogs her sister and&nbsp; Hallie Schneider was excellent in the circle for Big Blue.

Alliance falls to 3-4 on the season and face one of the top teams in the Western Conference on Tuesday in Gering.&nbsp; The other Bulldogs are led by Gabby Moreno who leads the state with four homeruns. That game will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening in Gering.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostAlliance softball was coming off of a huge scoring output last&nbsp; Tuesday against Chadron in a 10-9 loss, but Friday was a defensive battle that Gothenberg edged 3-0. The Swedes scored one run in the 1st and two in the 3rd and that is all they needed to get the win.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693179665210.jpeg" alt="Hallie Schneider throws a pitch in a game this season" />
 <figcaption>Hallie Schneider throws a pitch in a game this season</figcaption>
 </figure>Hannah Schneider got the only hit in the game for Bulldogs her sister and&nbsp; Hallie Schneider was excellent in the circle for Big Blue.Alliance falls to 3-4 on the season and face one of the top teams in the Western Conference on Tuesday in Gering.&nbsp; The other Bulldogs are led by Gabby Moreno who leads the state with four homeruns. That game will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening in Gering.

RECAP: Bulldog softball falls to Gothenburg, looks for bounce back week

The Alliance Bulldogs were looking for a confidence boost at the Douglas Tournament in Wyoming, and they got it by winning their first five matches and ended up as the runner-up in the tourney.

The tournament started out with 2-0 sweep of Moorcroft on Friday (25-14, 25-9)

On Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs lost the first set 26-24 to the host school Douglas, but came back two win the next two sets 25-19, 15-9 to beat the Bearcats.

On Friday&nbsp; night, Alliance had another close match as they got past Southeast from Yoder WY, in three sets (25-19, 24-26, 15-6)

To get to the championship match, the Bulldogs edged Torrington 2-1 (26-24, 14-25, 16-15)

After winning a whopping five straight matches, Alliance matched up with Buffalo, and the Bulldogs fell short 2-1.&nbsp; (21-25, 25-21, 15-10)

After a tough loss at Gering, Alliance won five of six matches at the Douglas Tournament to earn runner-up honors at the Tournament, improving to 5-2 overall. Next up is a match hosting South Dakota power Rapid City Christian on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. KCOW and Panhandle Post will have the full broadcast of that match starting at 5:45.

Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostThe Alliance Bulldogs were looking for a confidence boost at the Douglas Tournament in Wyoming, and they got it by winning their first five matches and ended up as the runner-up in the tourney.The tournament started out with 2-0 sweep of Moorcroft on Friday (25-14, 25-9)On Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs lost the first set 26-24 to the host school Douglas, but came back two win the next two sets 25-19, 15-9 to beat the Bearcats.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693178486441.jpeg" alt="Bulldogs volleyball team picture after 2nd place finish at Douglas&nbsp; Tourney" />
 <figcaption>Bulldogs volleyball team picture after 2nd place finish at Douglas&nbsp; Tourney</figcaption>
 </figure>On Friday&nbsp; night, Alliance had another close match as they got past Southeast from Yoder WY, in three sets (25-19, 24-26, 15-6)To get to the championship match, the Bulldogs edged Torrington 2-1 (26-24, 14-25, 16-15)After winning a whopping five straight matches, Alliance matched up with Buffalo, and the Bulldogs fell short 2-1.&nbsp; (21-25, 25-21, 15-10)After a tough loss at Gering, Alliance won five of six matches at the Douglas Tournament to earn runner-up honors at the Tournament, improving to 5-2 overall. Next up is a match hosting South Dakota power Rapid City Christian on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. KCOW and Panhandle Post will have the full broadcast of that match starting at 5:45.

RECAP: Bulldogs VB has strong outing in Wyoming 

The Alliance Bulldogs had moments of success on Friday night that made it look like they might break their 22-game losing skid, but ultimately Chase County relied on their dominant running game and four Alliance interceptions to pull away 38-8 at Bulldog Stadium.

"We did some really good things, we did some bad things," first year Head Coach T.D Stein said.&nbsp; "The biggest focus point moving forward is our tackling, a lot of the time we were in the right spots and we just couldn't get the running back down so that's a big focus point."

The start of the game could not have gone any worse for the Bulldogs,&nbsp; senior quarterback Landon Crowe threw an interception for a touchdown to Longhorns linebacker Tyler O'Neil on the 2nd play from scrimmage. Chase County added a short James McArthur rushing touchdown to end the first quarter to give CC a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs were limited to zero first downs in the first quarter,&nbsp;&nbsp;but the 2nd quarter belonged to Alliance as they're rushing defense improved and Crowe began finding chemistry with his receivers.&nbsp; 

A Crowe touchdown&nbsp; pass late in the first half to senior receiver Tristen Timbers from 10 yards and a 2-point conversion cut the lead to 14-8.&nbsp; James McArthur&nbsp; kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Longhorns&nbsp; a 17-8 advantage at halftime.

Chase County got the ball to start the 2nd half, and while Alliance forced the Longhorns to several 3rd down and longs, Chase County converted with long runs by Thomas Reeves among others to set up a touchdown pass to make it 24-8.

An interception thrown by Crowe gave the ball to Chase County with a chance to almost ice it in the 3rd, but Jett Herian came up with a fumble recovery that gave life to the Bulldogs sideline in the 2nd half.

Alliance was unable to find the end zone&nbsp; and Chase County added a passing TD, a safety, and a 52 rushing TD by Thomas Reeves&nbsp; for the 38-8 win.

Landen Crowe did do some nice things at quarterback,&nbsp; he completed 16-30 passes for 191 yards, his 3rd most yardage total of his career.&nbsp; He had the one touchdown pass but the four interceptions were&nbsp; also tied for most in his career.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostThe Alliance Bulldogs had moments of success on Friday night that made it look like they might break their 22-game losing skid, but ultimately Chase County relied on their dominant running game and four Alliance interceptions to pull away 38-8 at Bulldog Stadium."We did some really good things, we did some bad things," first year Head Coach T.D Stein said.&nbsp; "The biggest focus point moving forward is our tackling, a lot of the time we were in the right spots and we just couldn't get the running back down so that's a big focus point."The start of the game could not have gone any worse for the Bulldogs,&nbsp; senior quarterback Landon Crowe threw an interception for a touchdown to Longhorns linebacker Tyler O'Neil on the 2nd play from scrimmage. Chase County added a short James McArthur rushing touchdown to end the first quarter to give CC a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs were limited to zero first downs in the first quarter,&nbsp;&nbsp;but the 2nd quarter belonged to Alliance as they're rushing defense improved and Crowe began finding chemistry with his receivers.&nbsp; A Crowe touchdown&nbsp; pass late in the first half to senior receiver Tristen Timbers from 10 yards and a 2-point conversion cut the lead to 14-8.&nbsp; James McArthur&nbsp; kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Longhorns&nbsp; a 17-8 advantage at halftime.Chase County got the ball to start the 2nd half, and while Alliance forced the Longhorns to several 3rd down and longs, Chase County converted with long runs by Thomas Reeves among others to set up a touchdown pass to make it 24-8.An interception thrown by Crowe gave the ball to Chase County with a chance to almost ice it in the 3rd, but Jett Herian came up with a fumble recovery that gave life to the Bulldogs sideline in the 2nd half.Alliance was unable to find the end zone&nbsp; and Chase County added a passing TD, a safety, and a 52 rushing TD by Thomas Reeves&nbsp; for the 38-8 win.Landen Crowe did do some nice things at quarterback,&nbsp; he completed 16-30 passes for 191 yards, his 3rd most yardage total of his career.&nbsp; He had the one touchdown pass but the four interceptions were&nbsp; also tied for most in his career.Tristen Timbers led Alliance with four receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, including a catch for 50 yards.&nbsp; Seth Meyring had 67 yards on four receptions, and Espen Lanik had five receptions for&nbsp; 34 yards. The Bulldogs&nbsp; had just 16 rushing yards on 14 carries and Stein commented on that. "I think the biggest thing is getting the running game started, Chase County was in the 4-3 making it tough for us to block," Stein said. "Getting a good push up front is going to be huge for us, so we can mix it up more. We had to rely on the pass game at the end and we don't want to be a one dimensional team."Next up for Alliance (0-1) is a road game on Thursday night against Gordon Rushville (0-1) Who got blanked 48-0 against Chadron on Friday.