Nebraska Volleyball Continues Undefeated Streak with Sweep of Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. – In a dominating display of skill and athleticism, the No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team swept Northwestern 25-15, 25-16, 25-21 on Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The win improves Nebraska’s record to a perfect 18-0 overall and 9-0 in Big Ten play.
The Huskers showcased their offensive prowess, hitting a season-best .395 in the match. Merritt Beason led the charge with 13 kills and an impressive .323 hitting percentage. Beason also contributed seven digs and three blocks. Harper Murray had a standout performance, recording 10 kills and hitting an impressive .412. Additionally, Murray served a career-high four aces. Bekka Allick had a strong showing as well, tallying nine kills on .800 hitting and contributing two blocks. Andi Jackson added seven kills, hitting an outstanding .667.
Bergen Reilly orchestrated the Huskers’ offense with 38 set assists and six digs. Reilly also served a pair of aces. Nebraska’s serving game was on point, as they recorded a total of nine aces in the match. On the defensive end, Nebraska outperformed Northwestern, winning the digs battle 35-26. Lexi Rodriguez led the way with nine digs.
Northwestern struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, resulting in a disappointing .125 hitting percentage overall.
In the first set, the Huskers took control early, building a 14-6 lead. Allick’s impressive play, which included three kills and two blocks, propelled Nebraska’s dominance. Although Northwestern managed to narrow the gap, the Huskers continued to surge forward, eventually winning the set 25-15.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with the Huskers taking an early lead and maintaining their momentum. Murray’s excellent performance, along with key contributions from Allick and Beason, helped Nebraska secure a 25-16 victory.
The third set proved to be the most challenging for the Huskers, as Northwestern mounted a comeback. However, Murray stepped up once again with eight of her 10 kills in the final set. With strong kills from Allick and Batenhorst, Nebraska managed to secure a 25-21 win.
Looking ahead, Nebraska has a highly anticipated match against No. 1 Wisconsin on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network. With their unbeaten streak on the line, the Huskers will undoubtedly bring their A-game and hope to continue their dominance in Big Ten play.