#1 Nebraska kicked off their final home stand with a Thursday night match up with #25 Illinois. Nebraska started the first set looking off, but battled back in the end of set one to take the set. Set two Illinois was able to keep close until the Huskers pulled away in the end. After the first nine points of set three the Huskers were ready to roll and took control of the game to end the sweep.
Nebraska is 26-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
The Huskers hit .483 on the night, marking
the highest single match hitting percentage against a ranked opponent. Besting the .477 they hit on Sunday against Washington.
Teraya Sigler led Nebraska with 13 kills hitting .684. Mania Ogbechie had nine kills and hit .750, while Andi Jackson also had nine kills and hit .643. Ogbechie also had five blocks.
Illinois played well, especially in the first two sets, but they were just unable to stop the Huskers full throttle offense.
#1 Nebraska 3, #25 Illinois 0
Set 1 Nebraska 25, Illinois 23
Illinois started the match with a tough serve and got an ace to start the match. After a rally, Nebraska answered back with a kill by Mania Ogbechie. The two teams traded points through much of the beginning of the set. The Huskers missed three of there serves in their first six points. Illinois went on a 4-0 run to make it 13-10. The Huskers were struggling to stop the Illini defensively and Illinois got a 16-12 lead. After going down 18-13 the Huskers went on a run with some impressive defense and master sets by Bergan Reilly that ended up with Husker kills. Teraya Sigler was disruptive with big kills and good blocks. The Huskers evened it up at 18. Ogbechie had two blocks in a row to put the Huskers ahead 20-18. The Illini were able to get the side out and tie it back up at 21. Andi Jackson ends the set with a jet of a kill.
The Huskers hit a monsterous .567 on the set while Illinois hit .242.
Nebraska had five service errors on the set, while Illinois had two aces.
Teraya Sigler led all hitters with five kills.
Set 2: Nebraka 25, Illinois 20
The Huskers started off the set with a Harper Murray and Mania Ogbechie set. Nebraska got out to a fast 5-2 lead. Illinois battled back to tie up the match at 9 each. The teams trade points back and forth and then Harper Murray gets on the service line and gets a few points including an ace. Nebraska goes up 15-13 into the media timeout. Sigler’s big kills and Ogbechie’s big blocks help put the Huskers up 19-15. Harper Murray got her second ace of the set to bring about set point, but then missed her next serve to give it back to Illinois. Teraya Sigler closes out the set with a kill.
The Huskers hit .345 on the set and Illinois hit .300. Teraya Sigler still led all hitters with 9 kills.
Set 3: Nebraska 25, Illinois 12
Set three started off with a beautiful Olivia Mauch serve receive and a kill for Mania Ogbechie. Ryan Hunter came into the match for Nebraska. Andi Jackson got the next two kills for the Huskers. Ryan Hunter had a big kill down the middle. Illinois tough serving allowed them to go up 8-7. Keri Leimbach came in to serve and went on a 9-0 run. Her serving was great and rattled the Illinois server receive. Bergan Reilly ended the match with an ace serve.
The Huskers next match is at Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday against Iowa. The Huskers and the Hawkeyes face off at 6:00pm, the game can be watched on B1G+.
