No. 1 Nebraska volleyball ends non-conference slate with sweep over Arizona
No. 1 Nebraska volleyball (10-0) concluded its non-conference slate against Arizona (6-4) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers moved to 10-0 for the third time since joining the Big Ten in 2011 with a sweep over the Wildcats (25-19, 25-23, 25-18).
Six Nebraska attackers recorded at least five kills as Harper Murray led the way with 14. Virginia Adriano and Andi Jackson each finished with nine, while Bergen Reilly added a season-high five kills along with 40 assists.
All-Big 12 First Team outside hitter Jordan Wilson led Arizona with 17 of its 38 total kills. The Wildcats hit .250 on the night compared to the Huskers’ .392 clip.
Set 1: Huskers start out hot
Nebraska opened the match with a 25-19 victory in set one. A late run by Arizona closed the gap, but the Huskers were in full command with a .441 hitting percentage to the Wildcats’ .258.
Nebraska started the set on an 8-1 run while holding the Wildcats to a negative hitting percentage. Reilly made her presence known early on both ends with a pair of kills and digs.
After Arizona got some points back, the Huskers extended their lead to 12-5 and forced a Wildcat timeout. Nebraska kept the momentum rolling with Rebekah Allick and Adriano recording their third kills of the set.
The Huskers let Arizona get back into the set, but not for long. Adriano picked up from where she left off at Creighton with consecutive kills leading to another Wildcat timeout down 22-13.
While a 4-0 Arizona run with Nebraska at set point made it interesting, Murray closed out the set with her fifth kill of the match.
Set 2: Nebraska prevails in close set
Hitting .256 in the second set, the Huskers pieced together just enough points to scrap by with a 25-23 win. Nebraska held the Wildcats to a .216 clip with six of their 14 kills coming from Wilson.
The two sides went back and forth before the Huskers took control with a 4-0 run. Allick forced an Arizona timeout as a kill and a solo block made it 9-4 Nebraska.
While Murray and Taylor Landfair moved their kill totals to seven and eight, respectively, the Wildcats kept up. A 4-0 Arizona run gave it an 18-17 lead off an Avery Scoggins service ace. Scoggins, the niece of Husker great Janet Kruse, finished with 30 assists and nine digs.
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The Huskers bounced back with back-to-back Adriano points and retook the lead on a Wildcat attack error. Nebraska pushed its advantage to 22-18 after Adriano’s eighth kill of the match.
For the second time, the Wildcats fought off multiple Husker set points. They forced head coach Dani Busboom Kelly to call a timeout after cutting the deficit to 24-23. All Nebraska needed was the quick huddle, as it ended the set with another Murray kill.
Set 3: Huskers cap off sweep
Nebraska completed its sixth sweep of the season, taking the third set 25-18. The Husker attack had its best set of the match with a .542 hitting percentage compared to the Wildcats’ .286.
Nebraska jumped out to an 8-3 lead with Reilly collecting her fourth and fifth kills. Arizona called a timeout with the Huskers hitting .714 to its .000.
Jackson’s third kill of the set moved Nebraska’s hitting percentage up to an elite .833 mark, up 15-9. The Huskers kept their percentage above .600 for the majority of the set.
The Wildcats never backed down, but the likes of Jackson and Murray were too much to overcome. The two traded kills and gave the Huskers a 22-16 lead. Nebraska secured the sweep thanks to an Arizona service error.
The Huskers will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 24, against Michigan. Nebraska’s Big Ten opener will be at 6 p.m. CT at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and will be on the Big Ten Network.
