LINCOLN, Neb. - The second-ranked Nebraska volleyball team delivered an impressive performance on Senior Night, defeating the sixth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers with a commanding 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 victory before a lively crowd of 9,009 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

With this victory, the Huskers not only marked their 25th consecutive win but also celebrated their 41st straight home victory. Their season record now stands at an outstanding 28-1 and they remain undefeated in Big Ten play at 18-0. In contrast, Wisconsin's record fell to 21-6 overall, with a 15-3 Big Ten record. This win also signifies a milestone for Nebraska, as it is the first time since 2012 they have swept Wisconsin twice in a single season.

In her final regular-season match on her home court, Merritt Beason led the way for the Husker team with 11 kills. Rebekah Allick bolstered the offense with 10 kills and an impressive hitting percentage of .667. Other contributors included Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair, who added nine and eight kills, respectively, while Andi Jackson recorded seven kills and five blocks.

Bergen Reilly was pivotal in orchestrating the offensive plays, finishing with 36 assists, while Lexi Rodriguez shone defensively, recording a match-high of 16 digs in her final home match. The defensive unit also saw solid performances from Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch, contributing eight and seven digs, respectively.

Statistically, Nebraska outperformed Wisconsin in nearly all areas, hitting .259 compared to Wisconsin's .169. They had a greater number of kills (47-34) and digs (54-37), though Wisconsin held a slight edge in blocks (11-7) and service aces (3-1). Notably, Nebraska’s disciplined approach was evident with only four service errors, while Wisconsin struggled with 11.

Wisconsin’s Sarah Franklin was a standout for the Badgers, leading them with 10 kills throughout the match.

Match Highlights:

In the first set, Nebraska surged to an early 7-1 lead, powered by a 7-0 service run from Rodriguez. Despite a challenging back-and-forth, the Huskers maintained composure and sealed the set at 25-21 after a close encounter.

The second set saw Jackson and Beason string together multiple points to build a 7-3 lead. Wisconsin mounted a comeback but couldn’t quite catch up. Nebraska again took the set with a final score of 25-22, thanks to Landfair’s decisive kill.

Finally, the third set featured a key 7-0 run by Nebraska, expertly served by Murray, which shifted the momentum in their favor at 9-5. Even when Wisconsin managed to tie the score at 14-14, the Huskers regrouped and closed out the match emphatically at 25-17.

Looking Ahead:

Nebraska heads into the final stretch of the regular season with two important road matches next weekend. The Huskers will face fourth-ranked Penn State on Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) and Maryland on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CT). Both matches will be broadcasted on BTN and aired on the Huskers Radio Network. Fans will be eager to see if the Huskers can continue their incredible form and secure a spot in postseason play!

Will Nebraska maintain their perfect conference record? Don’t miss the action as they push towards the NCAA tournament!