No. 2 Texas triumphs over Nebraska volleyball for 4th national championship
Nebraska volleyball had one final box to check on Sunday afternoon.
From Volleyball Day in Nebraska, to the most wins since 2006, and finally a showdown with former Big 12 rival Texas in the national championship match, the Huskers saw it all. In the end, John Cook’s squad came up well short of the defending champions as No. 2 Texas swept Nebraska 25-22, 25-14, 25-11.
The loss marked the Huskers’ sixth in national championship matches and the first ever to the Longhorns in that setting. Texas kept the pressure with its serve throughout the match posting 12 service aces as a result while holding Nebraska to a season-low .013 hitting percentage.
Harper Murray led the Huskers with seven kills on 23 swings while Merritt Beason posted three kills on 17 attacks. Ally Batenhorst struggled mightily as Nebraska’s third outside with two kills, five attack errors, and a -.214 attack percentage.
Here’s more on how the action unfolded at Amalie Arena as the Huskers finished the 2023 season national runners up with a 33-2 record.
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Texas grabs the early advantage
Texas swung first with a 4-0 run to open the match but Nebraska responded by winning 11 of the next 16 rallies to build a 11-9 edge. The Longhorns battled back and used a 4-0 run to take regain a 17-14 cushion. Texas maintained its momentum with blocks along with other plays at the net in key moments and claimed the Huskers’ second timeout with a 22-19 lead.
Following a block from Bekka Allick, Longhorn head coach Jerritt Elliot was assessed a red card which awarded Nebraska with another point. Harper Murray fired an ace to tie the game at 22-22 and make it a 3-0 Husker run.
A Texas timeout gave way to a 3-0 response and set point came off a service ace of former Nebraska defensive specialist Keonilei Akana. The Longhorns held the Huskers to a .065 hitting percentage with three blocks while Madison Skinner paced Texas with six kills on 11 swings.
Monster run gives the Longhorns 2-0 chokehold
There were five ties and a pair of lead changes in the second before a 3-0 run, capped by a back-row kill from Murray, put Nebraska in front 10-7. But just like the first, Texas immediately responded with a 11-0 counterpunch, featuring four consecutive aces from Asjia O’Neal, to give the Longhorns a 18-10 lead.
The deficit proved to be too much for the Huskers to overcome and Texas took a commanding 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-14 win. Nebraska hit -.036 in the set. Skinner added four more kills to her total as Murray finished the set leading the Huskers with five kills on 19 swings.
Nebraska swept for second time in 2023
Another 3-0 run marked the start of the third set for Texas. Although Nebraska cut the Longhorn edge down to one, Texas kept the Huskers at arm’s length. Continued struggles with serve receive and offensive production doomed Nebraska as the Longhorn’s began to pull away.
A 5-0 run forced a Husker timeout and proved to be the difference maker in the final set. Texas’ smelled blood in the water and extended its run to 7-1 to take a 21-11 advantage. The stoppage did nothing to slow the Longhorn momentum and Texas closed the match on a 6-0 run with an ace from O’Neal.
The sixth-year senior finished with four kills, three blocks and five aces. Meanwhile, Skinner finished with a match-high 16 kills on 33 swings and a .273 attacking percentage.
