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Wisconsin-Nebraska Volleyball Officially 1 vs. 2
Saturday's matchup between Nebraska and Wisconsin will officially feature the top two ranked volleyball teams in the country.
The latest AVCA coaches poll lists Wisconsin at No. 1 and Nebraska at No. 2. Both teams are currently undefeated.
Since the inception of the AVCA poll in 1982, Nebraska has played in five matches that featured the top two ranked teams, and the Huskers are 2-3 in those matchups:
Aug. 26, 1995
The only 1 vs 2 matchup to be played at the Coliseum, No. 2 Nebraska hosted No. 1 Stanford early in the 1995 season. In the first of three meetings as 1 vs 2 between the two programs, the Cardinal topped the Huskers 3-1 in both team's second match of the season. Stanford would go on to lose to Texas just two days before the Huskers topped the Longhorns for the program's first national title.
Dec. 16, 2006
The second meeting between Stanford and Nebraska as 1 and 2, this time with NU as the top ranked team and a national championship on the line. NU boasted a 32-1 record going into the match while Stanford was 30-3.
In front of a then-collegiate volleyball record crowd of 17,209, Omaha's Qwest Center saw the team from California take the first set 30-27, but it was all about the home state team the rest of the way with Big Red taking the final three sets 30-26, 28, 27 for the program's third national title.
Aug. 27, 2016
At the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon, both No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Texas dispatched of No. 10 Florida and Oregon, respectively, on the first day. On the second day, the two squared off in a rematch of the 2015 national title match.
Just like in 2015, Big Red got the better of their old conference foe. Nebraska swept Texas 25-15, 16, 21 to begin a national title defense that would come up just short. Texas got revenge with a national semifinal sweep before falling to Stanford in the championship.
Nov. 23, 2016
In Nebraska's only conference matchup featuring 1 vs 2, the Huskers went on the road to Minneapolis for their second top-2 match of the 2016 season. No. 1 Nebraska jumped out to a two-set lead with wins of 25-21 and 25-22, but No. 2 Minnesota overcame a 23-20 deficit in set three to win 28-26 before taking set four 25-17 and set five 17-15.
This was the final regular-season loss for Nebraska before meeting Texas in the national semifinals. The Golden Gophers made that same round, falling to Stanford.
Sept. 18, 2019
The last time the Huskers played in a 1-vs.-2 matchup was the third time they met up with Stanford in such a matchup. This was the only time that the Bob Devaney Sports Center has played host to a 1 vs 2, as No. 2 Stanford went into Lincoln and upset the top-ranked team in the nation.
The teams split the first two sets before Stanford ran away with the final two 25-17 and 25-16. The Cardinal improved to 6-1 and would carry that momentum the rest of the season for a national championship. Nebraska fell to 7-1 and would ultimately finish 28-5 with an NCAA Tournament loss at Wisconsin.
No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 2 Nebraska play Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The Huskers Radio Network will also carry the match, including B 107.3 FM in Lincoln.
