Not even having seven players on the court at one point was enough to end No. 1 Nebraska volleyball’s sweep streak as the Huskers took down Northwestern 3-0 during the program’s Pink Match Friday night.
Nebraska won 25-17, 25-13, 25-17 — its 10th straight sweep — to improve to 19-0 and 9-0 in conference play.
Prior to the match, Nebraska recognized seven “honorary captains,” women who have battled or are battling breast cancer. Among them was Kim Hunter, the mother of redshirting freshman Ryan Hunter. Members of the team gave gifts and hugs to each of them, saving the Hunters for last.
“Girls were crying, I’ll tell you that,” Rebekah Allick said. “I was consoling some people on the end line. It was very cool. It’s bigger than sport. Yeah, it’s really fun, it’s a nice escape, it creates opportunity, but at the end of the day, it brings people together, and so it was really cool. I honestly can’t imagine; I’m so grateful my mom has been healthy all of her years. And so just a shout-out to Ryan and her family. I can’t imagine how hard that would have been, but it was really cool just to see her standing there. She looked amazing.”
On the court, it was all business for the Huskers, who hit .357 and held Northwestern to .099. Nebraska out-blocked the Wildcats 10 to one and out-aced them six to two with only five errors.
Harper Murray led another balanced effort with nine kills on .286 hitting, eight digs, two blocks and two aces. Allick and freshman Teraya Sigler each finished with seven kills on .417 hitting while Laney Choboy made her third straight start at libero with a match-high 10 digs.
Nebraska took a moment to settle in as the lead changed hands a few times early. The Wildcats held a 9-8 advantage when the Huskers kicked it into gear, ripping off a 7-0 run featuring an ace from Sigler plus 2.5 points from Allick (a kill, a solo block and a block assist). Sigler missed her seventh serve, but the Huskers won the next four rallies as well to take a 20-10 lead before cruising to the finish.
Harper Murray (27) swings over the block against Northwestern. Photo by John S. Peterson.
The most interesting part of the set came on the penultimate point, when Northwestern started with seven players out of confusion. Nebraska won the point anyway, then Allick and Virginia Adriano teamed up for a block to close it out.
“I just remember the crowd being like, ‘What? What? What’s going on?’” Sigler said. “I’m like, ‘What is happening?’ I look over and a girl runs off the court, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Like, even in college, that stuff still happens.”
Busboom Kelly said her initial reaction was she thought it was odd, then she had a conversation with the official after the play.
“She just said it was a verbal warning, and I said, ‘Oh, well, if that’s only a verbal warning, we might try that too if we need a point,’” Busboom Kelly said. “I might have to throw somebody else out there and just get a verbal warning.”
The Huskers recorded six blocks (including three solo) in the set to hold Northwestern to .040 hitting. Nebraska hit .375.
After five ties and three lead changes to open set two, the Huskers took the lead for good with a 4-0 run, making the score 10-6. Nebraska extended the advantage with a 5-1 run then delivered the knockout blow, winning eight of the final nine rallies to turn it into a rout.
Taylor Landfair appeared to tweak her ankle on a rough landing early in the second set, checking out to see the trainer while Sigler played the rest of the match, front row and back. Busboom Kelly said afterward she didn’t think Landfair’s injury was anything to worry about.
“I really think it was just leaning on my teammates and learning that I can go in there and I can be put in this position and be OK,” Sigler said of the sudden role change. “Working really hard throughout the week and going through practices and cutthroat, sixes and whatever, and coming in and wanting to show that and help the team any way that you can is the ultimate goal …
“Game-changing looks different for everyone and looks different for every role. I needed to come in here and — Taylor is a force at the net — and to come in there and not try to be anything that I’m not and try to just help the team as best I can.”
After totaling six kills, five blocks and an ace in the first two sets, Busboom Kelly gave Andi Jackson the rest of the day off as Manaia Ogbechie started the third set in her place. The freshman originally committed to the Wildcats before a coaching change.
Northwestern kept it somewhat close early in the third set, but the Huskers pulled away midway through with a 5-0 run featuring Murray at the service line, building an 18-10 edge and triggering a Northwestern timeout. Campbell Flynn checked in to set the rest of the way out of the break.
The teams traded points the rest of the match, with Adriano serving up an ace off the tape on Nebraska’s first match-point opportunity.
Nebraska hit .333 and held Northwestern to .174. Ogbechie made the most of her limited opportunity with four kills on .375 hitting while also teaming up with a fellow freshman in Sigler for a block.
“I just think that the Nebraska standard here is that no matter how old you are, you’re expected to play at this level,” Sigler said. “Manaia came in here and what, four kills, and just went out and showed who she was, and I think that goes back to our gym. We have a cutthroat gym, we go in there and we’re ready to just rip each other’s heads off and then go to the training table afterwards. It’s that environment of no matter who’s out on the court, we have trust in you to do your job and to do it well.”
Nebraska will have a quick turnaround as the Huskers will return to John Cook Arena to host Michigan State, one week after sweeping the Spartans in East Lansing.
“Michigan State is playing really well,” Busboom Kelly said. “They are confident, they’ve got some big arms, so I’m excited to get them. I also think it’s unique, but it’s fun to play a team back-to-back so quick, and then it becomes a little bit more fun as a coach, too, to see what adjustments you can make.”
First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
