When then NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee announced its midseason Top 16 seed rankings on Saturday, it wasn’t Pittsburgh — the No. 1 team in the AVCA Coaches Poll — at the top of the list.
Instead, it was second-ranked Nebraska (18-1, 8-0 Big Ten) at No. 1, thanks largely to the Huskers’ 6-1 record against other teams in the Top 16. They’ll have plenty of opportunities to add to that résumé as well with five more matches against other teams in the midseason seeding over the second half of Big Ten play.
The NCAA DI Women's Volleyball Committee announces its Top 16 Rankings for results through October 19, 2024 🏐
1️⃣ @HuskerVB
2️⃣ @Pitt_VB
3️⃣ @PennStateVBALL
4️⃣ @LouisvilleVB
5️⃣ @StanfordWVB
6️⃣ @CreightonVB
7️⃣ @SMUVolleyball
8️⃣ @TexasVolleyball
9️⃣ @BadgerVB
1️⃣0️⃣ @OregonVB
1️⃣1️⃣… pic.twitter.com/kyxZ9vxydL— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 20, 2024
“We were very excited,” Taylor Landfair said. “I think all of our training has really proven that we are number one, so I just think that it’s amazing that that we’re getting that recognition. But also that’s just kind of a number that we’re at right now, it doesn’t really mean anything necessarily, because the tournament hasn’t even happened yet. So just making sure that we’re still going to practice, heads held high, still wanting to compete, still doing everything we can for each other, still listening to the coaches, all that kind of stuff, just because the championship is December 22.”
Landfair has started in three straight matches and five of Nebraska’s last six. After splitting time with Lindsay Krause in four of her first five starts at Nebraska, Coach John Cook stuck with Landfair throughout the Huskers’ entire weekend road trip. She put up 12 kills on .417 hitting in one of her best performances of the season against Michigan State then followed it up with seven kills on .235 hitting the following afternoon at Ohio State.
“I just thought it was an improvement from my other matches,” Landfair said. “There were some things that I really wanted to work on at practice, especially with my footwork and just making sure that I’m always locked in. So I just think translating from practice to game was much easier than it was in the past, just because my focus was so prominent at practice. I think my performance was good, but it also just comes back to my teammates being there for me, supporting me, and my coaches telling me every single thing that I need to know about the scouting report and all that kind of stuff.”
Landfair said she’s learned a lot about patience, footwork and mixing up shots from assistant coach Jordan Larson and was excited to see her work translate to the court. While the competition at the OH1 spot will continue in practice between Landfair and Krause, Cook said the Minnesota transfer brings a different dynamic to the court when things are clicking for her.
“Taylor can do things a lot of players can’t do when everything’s right,” Cook said. “Her contact point is at the top of the antenna when everything’s right. So that’s what we’re trying to do, is can she get in that position to hit every ball, or does she not get her feet there? That makes her small. But there are not many players that can have as high of contact as she can.”
At 6-foot-5, Landfair’s height gives her potential defensively in addition to her high contact point attacking-wise. She said she’s already seen improvement in her blocking thanks to the feedback and positive reinforcement she’s received from her coaches and teammates, and Cook sees great potential in that part of her game.
“She can be a phenomenal blocker,” Cook said. “We’re working really hard on it. Because of her size and her length, she has a chance to be a really good blocker, but what we’re talking to her about is she’s got to see what’s happening and recognize it so she knows what to do, and that’s what we’re working really hard on with video and in-the-gym situations.”
Up next for Nebraska on Friday is the first of what will be three Big Ten rematches during the regular season as the Huskers face Illinois for the second time. The Huskers swept the Illini in Champaign three weeks go behind 10 kills on .350 hitting from Merritt Beason and a terrific team blocking effort in the final two sets.
“I think [the key is] just kind of refreshing, just because that game is in the past,” Landfair said of facing a team for a second time. “So just kind of looking forward and looking at the scouting report, making sure that we’re doing what we have to do at practice, that kind of thing. Just looking more forward instead of trying to look back on what we didn’t do as successfully against them.”
Led by prolific pin-hitter Raina Terry (fifth in the Big Ten with 4.28 kills per set on .240 hitting and sixth in aces at 0.50 per set), the Illini sit at 13-5 overall and 5-3 in league play. They’ve only lost three sets total since the 3-0 loss to Nebraska.
“The last match they lost was against us there, and they’ve won every match since then,” Cook said. “So they’re hot right now.”
Friday will also be another chance for the Reilly family to reconnect as Bergen Reilly’s older sister, Raegan, is a back-up setter for the Illini after transferring from South Dakota State to spend her final season in the Big Ten.
First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Plus with UNL students Jacob Schrantz and Camden Cohn on the call.
On Saturday, Nebraska volleyball will welcome Michigan to the Devaney Center to complete the weekend home stand. At 5-3 and 15-4 overall, the Wolverines have already won as many Big Ten games as they did all last year under second-year coach Erin Virtue.
“Their setter’s a year older, they got Jacobs back, they’ve had talented middles, and she’s a good coach … She’s been there a while now and they’ve got their system,” Cook said. “She’s got a program now.”
Allison Jacobs, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter who missed the 2023 season with an injury, is leading the Michigan attack at 4.12 kills per set (sixth in the Big Ten) on .242 hitting. Michigan’s setter is an Omaha native — Skutt Catholic alumna Morgan Burke. A teammate of Krause’s in high school, Burke started 13 matches as a freshman and has stepped up her game this year as a sophomore, averaging 10.18 assists per set. Libero Maddi Cuchran is third in the Big Ten at 4.01 digs per set.
Saturday’s match will also be available on Big Ten Plus with the same broadcast crew. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
