No. 1 Nebraska volleyball improves to 15-0 with sweep over Washington

No. 1 Nebraska volleyball moved to 15-0 on the season with a sweep over Washington (25-14, 25-18, 25-16). The Huskers (15-0, 5-0) broke in their new Teraflex court with a .307 hitting percentage compared to the Huskies’ (7-8, 2-3) .147 clip.
Harper Murray led the way with 12 kills on .407 hitting. Andi Jackson joined her in double-digits with a match-high .562 hitting percentage.
Washington’s defense tested Nebraska as libero Zoria Heard tied her season-high with 18 digs. However, the Husker did the same to the Huskies, shutting down All-Big Ten outside hitter Kierstyn Barton to a season-low .026 hitting percentage.
Set 1: Nebraska comes out hot
The Huskers carried over their elite hitting from last week into the first set. Nebraska dominated in a 25-14 victory and hit an unreal .500 as a team. Four Huskers had at least three kills in the set, while the Huskies were held to a .161 clip.
Nebraska jumped out to a 5-1 lead, with Virginia Adriano’s serve causing problems for Washington. Out of system early and often, the Huskies did everything they could to get the ball over the net, only for the likes of Rebekah Allick to hammer home kills.
The Huskers took a 13-4 lead after a 6-0 run with Bergen Reilly at the service line. While Washington gained some momentum with a 3-0 run, that was quickly shut down by a Jackson kill.
Everything went Nebraska’s way as a block from Allick and Taylor Landfair forced the Huskies to use a timeout down 22-12. Adriano capped the set off with back-to-back kills to give Nebraska the advantage.
Set 2: Huskers challenged by Huskies
Nebraska may have taken the second set convincingly, 25-18, but it did not come easily. Washington’s defense posed a valiant effort and held the Huskers to a .273 hitting percentage. However, Nebraska brought that same energy on defense, holding its opponent to a .146 clip and four blocks.
Allick asserted her dominance early with a kill on an overpass and a block assist. The Huskies stayed competitive, however, with three kills from Simona Mateska cutting Nebraska’s lead to 7-6.
Both defenses were strong as multiple long rallies resulted in points for Washington. With their hitting percentage falling to .148, Allick gave the Huskers a 13-11 lead with her fifth kill of the night.
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Murray and Jackson each stepped up for Nebraska against a surging Huskie team that refused to give up. Pairs of kills from the two extended the Husker lead to 19-15. The Huskers had to earn every point, with a Washington attack error ending the set.
Set 3: Nebraska takes care of business
Nebraska closed out the sweep with a 25-15 set three win. The Huskers hit .211 in the final game compared to the Huskies’ .133 mark.
Consecutive Olivia Mauch aces helped Nebraska take an early 5-1 lead. Jackson briefly moved herself into the team lead in kills as Washington called a timeout.
The break helped the Huskies go on a 6-2 run to cut the Husker lead to 10-8. However, an Allick and Adriano block and Murray overpass kill gave Nebraska some cushion.
The Huskers stayed comfortably ahead with Murray and Jackson reaching double-digit kills. After an attack error by Allick squandered Nebraska’s first match point, she redeemed herself with a kill on the next opportunity she got.
The Huskers travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on No. 12 Purdue on Sunday, Oct. 12, at noon CT. The match will be streaming on B1G+.