The middle may have been bumpy, but No. 2 Nebraska still won over No. 16 Minnesota, 25-12, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, Thursday night at the Devaney Center. The win was the Huskers’ (25-1, 15-0) 22nd straight match win, though NU’s 16-set winning streak was snapped by the set two defeat.
Bergen Reilly showcased her all-around game with six kills, 20 digs and four blocks in addition to her 40 set assists. Harper Murray led Nebraska with 13 kills while Taylor Landfair added 12. Andi Jackson tallied nine kills on .471 hitting and added six blocks to led the Husker defense. Julia Hanson led Minnesota (16-9, 9-6) with 20 kills while Lydia Grote added 14.
Nebraska hammered the Gophers in set one, hitting .367 while holding Minnesota to .098 hitting. The Huskers were 11-for-13 trying to get side outs. The trouble started in the second set. After the early going was back and forth, the Golden Gophers won six of the next eight rallies to build a 13-10 lead. Later in the set, a four-point Minnesota run opened a 22-17 lead. Nebraska fought off three set points, but ultimately fell 25-22, snapping a 16-set winning streak that stretched back to the first set against Michigan Oct. 26. Grote drove the Gophers’ effort in the second with seven kills.
In the third set, the Huskers were less than sharp, hitting .151 as a team. Meanwhile, Julia Hanson was single-handedly keeping Minnesota in the set with nine kills. Still, Nebraska assembled three three-point runs to build breathing room and hold off the Golden Gophers. Nebraska took control early in the fourth set, winning nine of ten rallies at one point to build a 13-4 lead and take control of the set.
The Huskers now prepare to take on Indiana, which was swept at Iowa Thursday night. The match starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with pregame coverage at 6:30 p.m. on B-107.3.