Nebraska Volleyball Closes Nonconference Play With Win Over No. 21 Kentucky

Fourth-ranked Huskers enter Big Ten play undefeated for just the second time ever

Nebraska volleyball is through the nonconference schedule with an undefeated record.

The No. 4 Huskers improved to 9-0 with a four-set win over No. 21 Kentucky: 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21. This is the first undefeated run through the nonconference since 2016 and just the second since 2008.

The Huskers hit .338, while the Wildcats hit .243. Nebraska had the edge in kills (62-53), blocks (9-7) and digs (61-48). Each team had four service aces, while the Huskers committed eight fewer errors.

Merritt Beason and Harper Murray each finished with 17 kills and 10 digs. Also eclipsing double-digit kills were Ally Batenhorst (12) and Andi Jackson (10).

Bekka Allick had a match-high six blocks. Bergan Reilly notched a career-high 46 assists.

The match also featured one of the greatest rallies the sport has seen. For more than a minute of real time in the fourth set, the teams went back and forth until the ball ultimately hit the floor on Kentucky's side of the net.

Two players weren't suited up for the match. Defensive specialist Laney Choboy was banged up from an injury suffered during the Stanford match. Lindsay Krause was out after being involved in a recent hit-and-run.

"Lindsay gets rear-ended on O Street from some yahoo speeding all over the place, which always happens on O Street," Coach John Cook said. "I said on the radio, I hope the mayor was here and the chief of police and they hear this."

Cook said Krause went through about 10 minutes of light practice earlier in the day but that was it.

Nebraska opens Big Ten Conference play Friday against No. 19 Ohio State in the Bob Devaney Sports Center.