The Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team continued their strong start to the season with a decisive 3-0 victory over South Dakota State University (SDSU) during the Players Era Volleyball Showcase held in Las Vegas. The match concluded with set scores of 25-18, 25-20, and 25-15, demonstrating Nebraska's dominance on the court.
Despite the absence of a significant Husker fan presence at the match, the atmosphere remained competitive. Commentary from the Husker radio broadcast team, including John Baylor and Lauren Cook West, provided insights into the match dynamics. Baylor noted the noticeable lack of red in the stands, as many tickets appeared to be held by SDSU supporters, limiting the Cornhuskers' fan turnout.
Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly employed a consistent starting lineup, similar to the previous matches this season. However, she took the opportunity to give bench players valuable experience, especially in non-conference settings. Notably, freshman Harper Murray participated in the first set, contributing three kills with a hitting percentage of .200 on ten attempts.
Two additional freshmen, Gabby DiVita and Jayden Robinson, made their debuts for the Cornhuskers, with DiVita impressively recording a service ace during the third set. Throughout the match, Nebraska's serving game was notably effective, accumulating five aces compared to SDSU's one.
The first two sets proved to be more competitive than anticipated, with Nebraska struggling with uncharacteristic service errors. Set one saw the teams trading points, while set two featured several lead changes before Nebraska ultimately secured the win. In contrast, the third set showcased Nebraska's superiority, as they maintained a comfortable lead throughout, allowing more players, including Kenna Cogill and Keoni Williams, to gain experience on the court.
Key contributors for Nebraska included Teraya Sigler, who led the team with ten kills, and Skyler Pierce, who recorded seven kills with an impressive hitting percentage of .429. Setter Bergen Reilly also had a standout performance, tallying 32 assists, five digs, and two blocks, while hitting .600 with three kills.
For SDSU, Sylvie Zgonc was the standout player, leading all players with twelve kills on thirty-one attempts, although she finished with a hitting percentage of .129. Hannah Klein also contributed with six kills but ended the match with a negative hitting percentage of -.043.
This match served as a valuable opportunity for Nebraska to develop their younger players in a competitive environment, particularly following the recent changes to redshirt rules that allow for more flexibility in player participation. The Cornhuskers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their upcoming matches in Chicago against DePaul and Missouri as part of the B1G-SEC Challenge, with their next match scheduled for Friday at 5:00 PM CST at Wintrust Arena, which will be broadcast on FS1.
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