OMAHA — If last season was a breakthrough year for Tracy Stalls, what should we call 2007?

Nebraska’s senior captain, Stalls once again had the hot hand in a Nebraska victory against No. 5 UCLA at Qwest Center Omaha.

Stalls had a career-high 17 kills in last year’s NU victory in the national semifinals. Saturday, she nearly topped that with 16 kills on .640 hitting in the top-ranked Huskers’ 30-23, 22-30, 30-18, 30-21 win in the finals of the AVCA Showcase.

“The thing I love about UCLA is the way they play. They just bring it,” Stalls said. “That kind of competition is exciting for everyone.”

Nebraska (2-0) overcame inconsistent passing at times and a level of defensive play by UCLA that can on occasion frustrate the Huskers.

But after dropping game two, a game in which UCLA produced 26 digs, Nebraska answered with a power surge. Leading just 18-16 in game three, Nebraska won 12 of the next 14 rallies, including two crushing five-point runs.

Stalls, who had six kills in eight game-three swings, also had two blocks in the key run while Jordan Larson had three kills and a pair of blocks for the Huskers.

Christina Houghtelling threw off the Bruins with some tough serves, one resulting in an ace and another in a Bruins’ hitting error.

Nebraska maintained control throughout game four, wrapping up its 60th consecutive win in matches played in its home state without ever giving up the lead. The Huskers are 3-for-3 against UCLA at Qwest Center Omaha after eliminating the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament each of the past two years.

Saturday’s championship match got a late start, but it didn’t take long for Nebraska to get going. The Huskers, who were at peak efficiency for a season opener Friday against Tennessee, carried that solid play over into Saturday’s opening game.

Tournament MVP Sarah Pavan had eight kills in game one alone, three coming in a 9-1 run by the Huskers to take control.

In game two, however, UCLA limited Nebraska to just 13 kills as a team and Ali Daley, one of the keys for the Bruins in last year’s national semifinals, came through with 10 kills of her own to even the match.

Nellie Spicer, the Bruins’ All-America setter, gave her team a lift with seven digs in game two.

But ultimately, the Huskers’ power proved too much. Kori Cooper, Nebraska’s middle blocker opposite Stalls, had 10 kills and hit .526 for the Huskers.

Pavan led Nebraska with 25 kills. Defensively, Houghtelling had 23 digs and libero Rachel Schwartz added 17.

Daley and Rachell Johnson both finished with 19 kills for UCLA.

Saturday’s crowd of 11,076 was a single-session record for the AVCA Showcase, a tournament won by the host only once before (Nebraska in 2005).

Tennessee rallied to defeat No. 21 Utah 10-30, 30-25, 23-30, 30-23, 18-16 in Saturday’s third-place match.

Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.