LINCOLN, NE – In a triumphant return to the Devaney Center after a three-week hiatus, the No. 2-ranked Nebraska volleyball team displayed their prowess by securing a spirited victory over Michigan State. The Huskers treated their home crowd to a thrilling match, winning with scores of 25-12, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15 on a Friday night.
Here are three quick insights from Geoff Exstrom of Inside Nebraska as the Huskers maintain their unblemished 16-0 season.
Michigan State Proves to be a Worthy Adversary
For the second consecutive encounter with the Spartans, the Huskers were pushed to a four-set showdown. Michigan State has emerged as a formidable opponent, as they managed to coax the Huskers into one of their most challenging sets of the season in the previous week, resulting in a 25-16 loss with a -.103 hitting percentage.
The third set against MSU on Friday proved to be a testing ground for the Huskers. They struggled, hitting a mere .000 with 12 errors and 12 kills, eventually suffering a 25-22 loss. Despite facing multiple five-point deficits, the Huskers could not secure a clean sweep.
Jackson and Beason Shine on the Offensive Front
Andi Jackson, the talented freshman, had experienced some hiccups in recent matches, with hitting percentages of .176, .167, and .182. However, returning to the Devaney Center, Jackson delivered her best performance in weeks. She amassed an impressive 13 kills with an astounding .524 hitting percentage and added a match-high six blocks to her tally.
Merritt Beason was equally remarkable, achieving a hitting percentage of over .400 for the first time since September. She concluded the match with 13 kills on a .423 hitting percentage. Beason's contribution extended to the defensive side, where she secured eight digs and contributed to three crucial blocks.
An Off Night for Harper Murray
Harper Murray, the freshman sensation, had been a consistent performer in her debut season until this match. However, in the 16th game of her season, she encountered her first significant struggles. Unable to effectively handle Michigan State's serves, Murray was replaced by Hayden Kubik midway through the second set. By that point, Murray had a meager hitting percentage of .077, with three kills on 13 attempts and two errors.
Kubik made an immediate impact by securing her first kill of the season shortly after her entry into the game. Although Murray started in the third set, she continued to face challenges, committing three errors on three swings. This led Coach John Cook to turn to Kubik once again. Murray did improve in the fourth set, but it was undeniably a challenging night for one of the Huskers' top hitters, with seven kills and a .080 hitting percentage.
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