Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
No. 1 Nebraska volleyball solidified its claim as the top team in the nation with a dominant 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 sweep of No. 2 Texas Sunday in the Players Era Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev.
On their way to the victory, the Cornhuskers (2-0) relied on strengths both familiar and new-found. As usual, Nebraska’s defense was stifling, holding the Longhorns (2-2) to just .152 hitting while notching 10 blocks to Texas’s four. But the story of the weekend may have been the emergence of the Huskers’ serve, as Nebraska tallied seven aces while the Longhorns scored none. That was after the Huskers had stated they wanted to serve tougher this season.
Andi Jackson led Nebraska with nine kills while also registering two blocks. Manaia Ogbechie contributed seven kills and a team-leading seven blocks. Harper Murray pitched in eight kills and three blocks, while Teraya Sigler added seven kills and three blocks. Bergen Reilly, Laney Choboy and Sigler all served two aces each, while Reilly piled up 30 set assists. Cari Spears led Texas with 12 kills.
The Longhorns jumped out to a 3-1 lead in set one and led 8-5. But with Reilly serving, the Huskers scored 10 straight points, taking control of the set with a 15-8 lead. Texas drew to within two on a couple of occasions later in the set, the last time at NU 21-19, before Nebraska closed out the set with four straight points. The Huskers clinched the set with a Reilly ace.
The second set started similarly to the first, with the Longhorns scoring the first three points and leading 4-1. But six straight Nebraska points with Choboy serving swung the set to the Huskers, as NU led 7-4. A 6-1 Nebraska run pushed the lead to 20-11 and all but clinched the set for the Huskers. Texas won six of eight rallies late in the set to cut Nebraska’s lead to 23-18, before the Huskers won two of the last three points to finish set two.
Nebraska led the early part of set three, leading 5-2 before three straight Texas points tied the set at five. But after the Huskers won eight of the next 11 rallies, Nebraska led 13-8. The Longhorns were never again within four of the Huskers. Nebraska won eight of the last 11 rallies to finish the match with a flourish.
Nebraska returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 2, as the Huskers visit South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m., with pregame coverage at 6 p.m. on KLIN and B-107.3.