The #1 Nebraska volleyball team took on #13 Purdue in Lincoln in an afternoon showdown. The Boilermakers came in on a three match winning streak, but the Huskers came out hot and firing on all cylinders and easily took the first set. However, the Boilermakers were not going to lay down and let the Huskers win. They came storming back in set two with great serving and crafty hits. Nebraska took the next two sets to take the win.
In a game where the star seniors were not necessarily having their best
match, the underclassmen took control. Teraya Sigler had herself a match. She led the Huskers with 15 kills, hitting .355 and added a block as well. She was joined in double digit kills by Harper Murray with 13, Virginia Adriano with 11, and Mania Ogbechie with 10.
Purdue’s freshman Addy Tindall led all hitters with 16 kills and Elkhorn native Grace Heaney had a big game with nine kills and three blocks.
While it was not Andi Jackson’s night in the hitting department, she led all players with six blocks. The Huskers ended the match with 12 total blocks. The Huskers hit .303 on the match while holding the Boilermakers to .133.
Nebraska 3, Purdue 1
Set 1: Nebraska 25 , Purdue 13
Like so many matches before, Nebraska started off the first set with a kill by Virginia Adriano. Adriano had the first two kills for the Huskers. The two teams battled back and forth Purdue finding kills early and Nebraska playing off the block. Nebraska went on a 5-0 scoring run behind the serving of Harper Murray. Behind big kills by Adriano and Teraya Sigler, the Huskers go up 11-5. Nebraska was operating nearly automatically, seemly getting kills at will through much of this set. Purdue was able to go on a short 3-0 run while the Huskers struggled with some out of system scrambling, but Nebraska soon took control behind a big block. Teraya Sigler finishes off the set with a booming kill.
Virginia Adriano had five kills in the set and hit 1.000. Nebraska hit .455 while holding Purdue to .036.
Set 2: Nebraska 20, Purdue 25
Purdue started off the set with a 2-0 lead, which was quickly ended by a Mania Ogbechie rocket. The two teams were moving point for point with lots of defensive scrambling for both teams. Purdue surged out to a 9-6 lead behind some big hits and good blocking. Nebraska clawed back up to even things out with big kills behind Sigler and Murray. Purdue used short serves to get the Huskers out of system and give themselves the 15-11 lead going in to the media timeout. The Purdue’s serve and tough defense left Nebraska scrambling and making lots of uncharacteristic mistakes. Nebraska tried to get back to their game, but went down 11-18. Just when Nebraska seemed to be taking control, going on a 6-1 run, Husker errors put the Boilermakers up 21-17. Purdue takes the set on an block out of bounds.
Nebraska was held to .118 on the set, while Purdue hit .237. The Huskers just really could not get in to a rhythm and were scrambling out of system a lot this set. Purdue’s blocking and playing off the Husker block also contributed to their win.
Set 3: Nebraska 25, Purdue 19
Once again this set started with both teams battling back and forth. Purdue’s serves were really affecting the Husker serve receiving and offense. This was a set full of long rallies with both teams playing awesome defense and mixing up big hits with tips to keep the other on their toes. The Huskers went into the timeout ahead 15-12. Nebraska pulled ahead, but Purdue wasn’t going to let them have it easy. Nebraska was the first to 20. The Huskers had a strong run to end the set.
Purdue Freshman Addy Tindall and Teraya Sigler lead all players with 13 kills each. Both players were killing it from all over the floor. The Nebraska block also picked back up in set 3.
Set 4: Nebraska 25, Purdue 14
As with all of the other sets, these teams were back and forth to start this set. There were several lead changes and ties throughout the the beginning. The Huskers were able to go on a 3-0 run to take the lead 11-8. Haper Murray started to come alive in this set. She was hitting with intention. Olivia Mauch had a beautiful save to keep a rally going and it ended with a big Andi Jackson block. The Huskers went into the timeout up 15-8 after a Olivia Mauch ace. The Huskers went up big climbing to a 21-13 lead. The Huskers took the win on a long serve by Purdue.
Nebraska’s next game is Thursday at 6pm in against UCLA in Lincoln. You can catch the action on FS1.
