**Nebraska Volleyball Sweeps Long Island, Advances in NCAA Tournament**
The Nebraska volleyball team swept aside Long Island 25-13, 25-16, 25-22 to advance in the NCAA Tournament. The game, which was played in front of a crowd of 8,599 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, saw the top-ranked Huskers dominate their opposition.
Nebraska posted a balanced offensive performance with five players contributing at least six kills. Merritt Beason impressed with a match-high 13 kills, while Harper Murray added nine kills in her NCAA Tournament debut and Ally Batenhorst chipped in with seven kills. Additionally, Middles Andi Jackson and Maggie Mendelson contributed six kills apiece, with the latter tying her career high in kills and blocks(4).
The Huskers outperformed Long Island in several essential statistics, recording 44 kills to LIU’s 28 and hitting .280 compared to the Sharks’ .151. Nebraska also dominated in digs, overcoming Long Island 46-33, and recorded seven service aces.
In the first set, Nebraska took control early, establishing an 8-3 lead thanks to polished offensive play. Long Island struggled with their offensive game throughout, culminating in a -.040 hitting percentage in the first set. The Huskers clinched the first set with a score of 25-13.
The second set saw a spirited performance from the Sharks, but Nebraska ultimately proved to be too much for them. Despite a brief fightback from Long Island, Nebraska claimed the set with a score of 25-16 and took a 2-0 lead.
Long Island came out strong in the third set, building an 8-3 lead. However, Nebraska rallied and managed to take the lead at 23-22, closing out the match with a score of 25-22.
With this win, the Huskers secured their 30th sweep in 37 all-time first-round NCAA Tournament matches and extended their remarkable record of 80-7 in home NCAA Tournament matches. They will now face Missouri in the NCAA Second Round on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Nebraska coach John Cook expressed his pride in the team, emphasizing the balanced offensive play and the resilience shown throughout the game. The Huskers will be looking to build on this performance as they continue their pursuit of NCAA glory.