Nebraska 3 vs USC 0 – 25-13, 25-16, 25-20
This was an impressive win and a whole team performance. Three players with 10 kills, five more players with single digit kills, twice as many digs as the other team and a hitting percentage over .400 as a team (.412). Those stats include teamwork on offense and working together on defense.
The most impressive statistic was how fast Nebraska was able to side out or get the ball back from USC.
When USC was serving Nebraska won the point 80% of the time.
That means
the pass is right in the pocket on Bergen Reilly’s head and she is able to choose which hitter gets the ball. Then, those hitters are super-efficient and terminating the ball to earn that point and win the serve back. 80% in the side out percentage is excellent!
Nebraska won this match with quiet and consistent point scoring. While watching the match, you knew Nebraska was winning but as the set came to the close, it was surprising to see the point differential. Huskers hit .500 in set one while keeping USC to a .125 hitting percentage. Half of the balls that Huskers hit went for kills, HALF!
These weren’t always the floor denting kills that Nebraska is capable of, instead, they were hard cut shot by Taylor Landfair or deep corner shots by Virginia Adriano.
Of note, Olivia Mauch wore the libero jersey for this match. Maybe that event isn’t really a note. Maybe there are just two players on the Nebraska roster that can wear the jersey and do all the skills required for a high performing team and it isn’t something we have to make a big note.
Mauch and Laney Choboy both take the court in every match. This is a fact. One of them wears a different color jersey and is the libero, and the other, the one wearing the same color as the other players, still plays a ton of defense and passes serve with precision.
Nebraska volleyball returns to the court on Thursday, November 20th against Iowa. The match is at home in the Devaney Center at 7 pm CT and broadcast on FS1.
