In their second home match of the year, the #1 Huskers took on the #20 Baylor Bears. It was a match of long rallies, great defense, and lots of service pressure. While we saw the Huskers bend a bit, they did not break and pulled off the sweep.
Nebraska had gold warm up shirts to support the fight against pediatric cancer and Angels Among Us. This was part of the “Go Gold” campaign that has over 50 volleyball teams across Nebraska wearing gold.
Nebraska-3, Baylor 0
Set 1- Nebraska 25, Baylor 20
Virginia Adriano got things started off for the Huskers with a big kill. Baylor’s defense was tough though and Nebraska struggled to find the floor at first. Baylor also did a good job of playing off the Nebraska block. The two teams traded points back and forth keeping it close. Andi Jackson served an ace to get the Huskers to the 15 point commercial break. The Huskers started pulling away after the break with some killer serving and great defense. Just as Baylor looked to be closing the gap, Mania Ogbechie gets a big block to kill the momentum. Reilly finished the set with a kill of her own. In the first set Nebraska hit a .444 with 16 kills while holding Baylor to .192. They also had three aces, however there were also five service errors.
Set 2– Nebraska 25, Baylor 22
Nebraska found themselves in a hole early as Baylor got off to a 4-1 start and then another three point run by the Bears behind some firey kills from Ksenia Rakhmanchik. But the Huskers were not going to lay down and they went on a run of their own. Olivia Mauch was on the service line, Bergan Reilly was setting up her hitters from all over the court and the ever scrappy Huskers were picking up all the balls.
After a 9-1 Nebraska run, Baylor switched their offense to a 6-2 and it worked as they were able to go on a 4-1 run of their own. Tough serving had Nebraska with a comfortable lead, but Baylor kept battling back. Mania Ogbechie finished off the set with a kill. The Huskers notched another three aces on the service line in this set.
Set 3-Nebraska 26, Baylor 24
Once again Adriano got things started for the Huskers with a couple kills. Baylor came into the third set determined to make the Huskers earn it and found themselves with an early 6-4 lead. Nebraska stepped it up and battled back t0 a 7-1 run behind some killer hits by Adriano and Harper Murray. Baylor was not going to make the Huskers earn it though and once again they battled back on a 5-1 run. The rallies during this set were incredible. Neither team was a letting much hit the ground. Late in the set Baylor took a 23-22 lead, behind some very scrappy defense and some intense service pressure. The Husker’s Seniors stepped it up as Laney Choboy was picking up everything and Andi Jackson and Harper Murray picked up their intensity with two kills to put the Huskers at match point. Bergan Reilly ended it on the second match point with an ace.
Both teams were putting on the service pressure tonight. Nebraska ended the night with six service aces and Baylor had four. Nebraska ended hitting .324 while holding Baylor to .212. Nebraska was led by Ogbechie and Murray with 11 kills a piece and Adriano and Teraya Sigler with 8 each. Bergan Reilly ended with 39 assists and really showed why she is the reigning National Setter of the Year.
Nebraska’s next match is tomorrow at 2pm against Georgia Tech.
