Nebraska Volleyball Triumphs Over Kansas in NCAA Regional Semifinal
In a thrilling display of skill and teamwork, the Nebraska volleyball team secured a commanding victory in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, maintaining their undefeated streak.
Friday night’s match at the packed Devaney Center saw the Huskers, boasting a 33-0 record, dominate Kansas with set scores of 25-12, 25-11, and 25-12. Nebraska achieved a .450 hitting percentage, marking their third-highest of the season, while restricting Kansas to a mere .029. The team excelled with 41 kills, 48 digs, 10 blocks, and 6 aces.
The Huskers consistently led throughout the match, driven by the performance of their middle blockers. Rebekah Allick achieved a flawless nine kills on nine swings, along with three blocks. Andi Jackson contributed nine kills with a .600 hitting percentage and five blocks. Manaia Ogbechie added three kills on four swings during the third set.
Harper Murray led the defensive effort with seven kills and ten digs. Bergan Reilly provided 30 assists, while Olivia Mauch recorded a personal best of three aces this season.
Before the third set, head coach Dani Busboom Kelly praised the team’s middle blockers for their exceptional performance, noting, “That’s probably going to be a season-high for us. I just feel like we came out on a mission, and our goal was to block a lot of balls tonight. So it’s great to see that, come out and come to fruition.”
Busboom Kelly expressed pride in the team overcoming challenges during the week. Despite battling an illness, Reilly’s performance was pivotal, with Busboom Kelly remarking, “She didn’t look 100%, but she played great.”
Libero Maisie Boesiger was prepared to step in if needed, having practiced warmup sets. Busboom Kelly mentioned Boesiger’s previous experience as a setter at Norris High School.
Unexpected setbacks included freshman backup setter Campbell Flynn, who appeared in street clothes with her hand bandaged, sidelined for the season due to a broken pinky. Additionally, freshman outside hitter Teraya Sigler was seen taking rests with a back wrap, which was a precautionary measure after a slight issue during warm-ups.
Busboom Kelly reflected on the team’s resolve, stating, “It was just good to see us overcome that with a statement.”
Libero Laney Choboy and middle blocker Andi Jackson joined Busboom Kelly post-game, with Choboy highlighting the crowd’s role in their performance. “As soon as we walked out today, we could just feel the vibes from the crowd,” Choboy noted. “They were probably the loudest I’ve heard for a game like this. When our crowd is like that, it allows us to keep going.”
Advancing to the Elite Eight, Nebraska will face Texas A&M on Sunday. The Aggies emerged victorious against Louisville, coming back from a two-set deficit to win 3-2. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central time and will be broadcast on ABC.
