Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
For the second straight match, No. 1 Nebraska volleyball dropped a set, but rebounded to win the match in four. On Saturday, the Cornhuskers (23-0, 12-0 Big Ten) beat No. 25 Michigan State 21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-12. That was just the sixth set Nebraska had dropped all season and just the third in Big Ten play. The victory was the Huskers’ 54th straight in regular-season play.
Harper Murray and Andi Jackson tied for the Nebraska lead in kills with 12 each, while Manaia Ogbechie tallied 11 kills with a team-leading eight blocks. Jackson and Bergen Reilly both piled up six blocks, with Reilly tallying 45 set assists. Alanna Bankston had 12 kills to lead the Spartans (17-5, 7-5). NU outhit MSU, .340-.093 and outblocked them 15-11.
After Michigan State won set one, the Spartans led late in set two, 18-17. But Ogbechie sparked a late Husker run with three kills and a block in five rallies as Nebraska won eight of the final nine rallies to clinch the set. The third set started close with Nebraska gradually pulling away. With NU leading 10-9, the Huskers won five of the next six rallies to open a 15-10 advantage. The Spartans drew within two on a couple of occasions, but the Huskers won six of the last seven points to finish the set. Any hopes for the Spartans in set four were squashed as Nebraska built a five-point run to open a 14-6 lead. The Huskers finished with a kick, as Skyler Pierce first got a kill, then an ace to finish the match.
Nebraska now prepares to face Oregon Friday in Eugene. First serve is scheduled for 9 p.m.., with pregame coverage beginning at 8 p.m. on KLIN and B-107.3.