Nebraska Cruises Over Northwestern for its 10th Straight Sweep

LINCOLN—Northwestern tried almost everything to get the better of No. 1 Nebraska, including using seven players on the court during one rally.

With the Huskers leading 23-17 in the first set, Ayah Elnday served with six teammates in front of her. Once she realized the mistake, Elnday walked off the court and stood by her coach for a moment. She took a few steps on the court again, but retreated as the point played out, which eventually ended on a kill from Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly.

Even with the unplanned advantage, the Huskers notched their 10th straight sweep as they easily handled Northwestern 25-17, 25-13, 25-17 Friday evening at John Cook Arena.

Pink Night sweep! 🧹🎀 pic.twitter.com/FNCKM0RRdc
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) October 25, 2025

Rebekah Allick and Teraya Sigler said they had never seen seven players on the court in college, high school or club volleyball.

“I just remember the crowd being like, What’s going on? ” Sigler said. “I’m like, ‘What is happening?’ I look over and a girl runs off the court, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Even in college, that stuff still happens.”

Dani Busboom Kelly said the officials issued a verbal warning to the Wildcats after the point.

“I said, ‘Oh, well, if that’s only a verbal warning, we might try that too,” she joked. “If we need a point, we might have to throw somebody else out there and just get a verbal warning.”

Bergen Reilly sets during the match against Northwestern. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Strange plays aside, the sweep was a typical performance for Nebraska. The Huskers (19-0, 9-0) hit .357 for the match for their 16th match this season with a hitting percentage above .300. Reilly tallied 30 assists before giving way in the middle of the third set to Campbell Flynn, who added four assists.

The Wildcats (13-8, 3-6) hit .099 for the match, led by seven kills from Isabella Bullington. Nebraska won the blocking battle 10-1 and also recorded six aces.

Even though the final score was lopsided, Nebraska didn’t play its cleanest match, but still got the job done.

Allick said even if the entire team isn’t hitting for big numbers or dominating an inferior opponent, they can still get frustrated and get the job done. The Huskers’ standards are high because of the challenging intersquad scrimmages they put themselves through in practice every day.

“We’re just really freaking good. I’m going to say it. We’re really freaking good,” Allick said. “I just feel like our bad is still really good.”

Teraya Sigler digs the ball against Northwestern. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Junior outside hitter Harper Murray led a balanced Huskers’ attack with nine kills. Allick and Sigler both finished with seven kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Andi Jackson added six kills and Virginia Adriano had five.

Manaia Ogbechie appeared in just the third set and made quick work with four kills on eight swings, and she teamed with Sigler for a block.

“The Nebraska standard here is that no matter how old you are, you’re expected to play at this level,” Sigler said. “I’m really proud of her to come in here and just make each other better.”

The only scary moment for Nebraska happened late in the first set when Taylor Landfair landed on a Northwestern player while coming down from a block. She gingerly walked off the court and was replaced in the front row by Sigler.

Andi Jackson notches a kill against Northwestern. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

She remained on the bench for the remainder of the match, standing next to her teammates and even jogged off at the end of the second set for intermission. Busboom Kelly didn’t think the injury was serious.

“She didn’t even really seem to be limping at the end,” Busboom Kelly said. “I haven’t talked to her or a trainer, but it doesn’t seem to be anything worrisome.”

The evening also featured the Huskers’ Pink Out Match, where players wore pink arm sleeves and accessories to raise awareness of cancer survivors. The team honored six cancer survivors before starting lineups, including freshman opposite Ryan Hunter’s mother, Kim.

Allick said several of her teammates were crying after handing flowers to the survivors and giving them hugs. She tried to console them and realize that they were playing for something bigger than themselves.

Nebraska volleyball huddles with honorary starters ahead of the annual “Pink Match” for breast cancer awareness. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Busboom Kelly, who lost her grandmother to breast cancer, said she appreciated the evening and raising awareness about an issue that has touched so many people’s lives.

In the huddle before the third set, the Huskers were talking about how they didn’t play up to their standards in the first two sets. Reilly told her teammates that there were cancer survivors in the stands and they should put on a show for them.

“It’s a nice escape. It creates opportunity, but at the end of the day, it brings people together, so it was really cool,” Allick said. “I’m so grateful my mom has been healthy all of her years. Just a shoutout to Ryan and her family. I can’t imagine how hard that would have been, but it was really cool just to see her standing there. She looked amazing. Kim looked amazing.”

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