Nebraska, Florida, SMU, and Penn State took part in the first Spikes Under The Lights exhibition at AT&T Stadium. Each match was played best of three to 21 points, and all of the teams took home some money.
Florida and Penn State each took home $200,000 for playing in the exhibition.
SMU got $250,000 and the Huskers won $350,000.
The first match was a slow start for the Huskers, but once they got warmed up we saw the Nebraska we are used to seeing.
Nebraska defeats Florida in straight sets, 21-19 and 21-18.
I have to admit, this match was a lot closer than I thought
it would be. With Florida’s down year last year, and eight transfers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What became obvious throughout the match was that Florida is going to make some waves this season.
Nebraska started the match off strong with two quick points before Florida battle back. It was back and forth after that, with each team going on short runs until Nebraska finished off the last three points.
Set two was much the same as the first set. It was very back and forth with Florida getting a little bit of a lead before Nebraska went on a 5-0 run to take the lead. Florida battled back, but the Huskers came on strong in the end with a “soul crushing” block by Andi Jackson, a kill by Virginia Adriano, and an ace by Teraya Sigler to finish it off.
Nebraska hit .220 on the match, while holding Florida to .169. Andi Jackson led the Huskers hitting .571, with 5 kills and 3 blocks. Virginia Adriano also had 5 kills and Teraya Sigler had 6 kills and 1 ace in her first start as a six rotation player. Bergan Reilly ended the match with 19 assists.
Florida was led by Logan King with 9 kills and 5 digs.
SMU takes down Penn State, 24-22 and 21-18
Much like the Nebraska/Florida match, Penn State and SMU went back and forth for much of their first set. After three set points the Mustangs were able to take the set 24-22.
Set two saw SMU putting their foot on the gas from the start. However when it looked like they were starting to take charge, Penn State kept coming back. This was much due to not only Kennedie Martin’s lethal hits, but to Whitney Lauenstein. She was a force hitting .450 with 12 kills. Although Penn State did not let up, SMU got the upper hand and finished the set.
The rallies in this match were so impressive. Both teams were picking up balls that they had no business getting.
SMU hit .323 as a team and they were led by Suli Davis and Favor Anyanwu with 11 kills and 5 kills respectively.
Nebraska wins the championship 21-12, 21-11
Nebraska got off to a 8-1 start behind the laser serving of Virginia Adriano. They didn’t let off there and rocketed ahead to 12-2. Both teams were scrappy and there were several long rallies. The highlight of those rallies was a beautiful pancake by Laney Choboy that lost SMU one of it’s challenges. SMU rallied back with strong serving from Christa Wilburn. However the Huskers were just too much and they took the set 21-12. In the set Nebraska held SMU to a -.087 and only 4 kills, while hitting .160 and tallying 9 kills.
The second set started out more equal with a lot of back and forth. But Nebraska started pulling away with some big kills by Skyler Pierce and they didn’t look back. DBK used this as an opportunity to get as many players as she could into the game. We got to see Kenna Cogill, Ryan Hunter, Gabby DaVita, and Keoni Williams and Bergan Reilly did her best to get them each a kill.
Harper Murray had a slow start in the first match, but she was on fire in the championship, leading an evenly spread Husker attack with 6 kills.
