Volleyball On SI

Players Era Volleyball Showcase: Nebraska, Texas Make Statements With Wins in Las Vegas

No. 2 Texas handled No. 18 TCU in straight sets while No. 1 Nebraska cruised past UNLV to set up a highly anticipated Sunday matchup Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas .

Paige Durrenberger

Dec 17, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, US; Texas Longhorns Logan Eggleston (33) attacks against Louisville Cardinals Aiko Jones (15) at CHI Health Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, US; Texas Longhorns Logan Eggleston (33) attacks against Louisville Cardinals Aiko Jones (15) at CHI Health Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

Two matches and two sweeps for the first day of the Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas.

Nebraska, Texas, TCU and UNLV descended on T-Mobile Arena for the first evening of a two-day showcase.

With three ranked teams in the field, including the nation's top two, the weekend is offering postseason-caliber competition before most teams have settled into their starting rotations.

No. 2 Nebraska Quickly Sweeps UNLV

Nebraska opened the showcase against host UNLV and wasted little time making its case as the nation's top-ranked team, sweeping UNLV 25-18, 25-15 and 25-16.

UNLV made things interesting early after falling behind 8-2 in the opening set, using a five-point run to pull within two at 12-10. However, Nebraska took it in stride and closed the set 25-18 before UNLV could find the momentum for a late-set rally.

After set one, Nebraska settled in. The Cornhuskers held the Rebels to a negative hitting percentage and closed the frame on a 5-1 run for a 25-15 win. Nebraska quickly handled the third set, building a double-digit advantage at 15-5 before finishing off the sweep.

Senior outside hitter Harper Murray led Nebraska with 11 kills on .364 hitting, while sophomore outside hitter Teraya Sigler and senior middle blocker Andi Jackson added eight kills apiece. Jackson also contributed five blocks as Nebraska cruised with a 10-2 advantage at the net.

The sweep gave Nebraska a convincing first result of the season, but a Sunday test against No. 2 Texas will be more revealing of Nebraska's skills.

No. 2 Texas Wins Three Straight Sets Against No. 18 TCU In A Nail-Biting Match

Perhaps fans opted to go watch UNLV football take on Memphis one and a half miles down at Allegiant Stadium because T-Mobile Arena certainly wasn't full. Well, if that's the case, they certainly missed out on some great volleyball.

A pancake save secured the Longhorns the second-set victory, 25-23. But even with the tough break, the Horned Frogs refused to back down.

Texas swept TCU in Saturday's second match, handing the Horned Frogs a loss in their season opener and giving the Longhorns their second straight victory.

Even though Texas worked to establish dominance early, TCU was not letting up. The match was instantly back and forth, and it took the Longhorns posting 30 points to win the first set.

While the first set action was impressive, what captured fans' attention was Texas sophomore outside hitter Abby Vander Wal going down mid-set. Without putting any weight on her left knee, Vander Wal was helped off the court by Texas athletic trainers after an awkward landing.

Texas didn't allow its teammate's injury to pull focus. The second set was just as athletic, and a mind-bending dig by senior libero Ramsey Gary put Texas up two sets.

The third set provided TCU with its best opportunity to extend the match.

After Texas controlled much of the first two frames, the Horned Frogs refused to go quietly with their backs against the wall. TCU stayed within striking distance throughout the third, forcing the Longhorns to battle rather than cruise toward the sweep.

But when the set tightened late, Texas found the points it needed. A kill by senior Torrey Stafford sealed the deal for the Longhorns, 25-23, and Texas picked up its second win of the season.

For Texas, the sweep provides an encouraging response after one of its biggest early-season issues plagued the Longhorns in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Texas committed 41 service errors across its first two matches, including 24 in its five-set win over Marquette.

This time, Texas minimized its self-inflicted wounds, only clocking seven service errors, even with TCU's. The Longhorns seem to be finding consistency from the service line.

Saturday's victory gives Texas some more confidence as it goes into one of its biggest challenges of the season tomorrow afternoon. The Nebraska-Texas game will be the first time the teams are meeting since the 2023 national championship, where the Longhorns swept the Cornhuskers to capture their second consecutive national title.

Sunday's Schedule, How To Watch

Game

Time

TV

Nebraska vs Texas

2:30 p.m. ET

FOX

TCU vs UNLV

6 p.m. ET

FS1

Published |Modified
Paige Durrenberger
PAIGE DURRENBERGER

Paige Durrenberger is a sports writer and Economics student at the University of Texas at Austin. She has covered golf, softball, and the Texas Stars for The Daily Texan and is also a contributing writer for 5Wins. Raised in Dallas, Texas, when Durrenberger isn’t covering sports, she’s either out running with her dog Bailey or cheering on whichever Dallas team is in season.

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