#1 Husker Volleyball Visits Minnesota for Their Final Match of the Regular Season

Yesterday was just a tough day to be a Husker fan. A 13-10 loss to Iowa in football, a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin in volleyball, and a 2-1 loss to Stanford, in OT, in soccer. If that is not just a heartbreaking day, then I don’t know what is.

Husker volleyball will look to get Husker Nation back on track today against Minnesota. They will, hopefully, be the ones to bring Nebraska fans out of their sadness and back to being hopeful again about Husker sports.

The Huskers just looked unmotivated yesterday against Wisconsin. Every time they had a lead, they made mistakes and let Wisconsin over power them to take back the lead in every set. We will leave this match behind us and go on to the next.

Nebraska had one player of the week this week in the B1G and she tried to do all she could to help the team in yesterday’s match. Lexi Rodriguez was named Defensive Player of the Week and it is rightfully deserved.

In last week’s matches against Michigan and Iowa, Rodriguez averaged 5.67 digs per set. She had 19 digs against Iowa and 15 against Michigan with the addition of 4 assists.

Nebraska and Minnesota last met on September 24th this season. This match was only the second match of conference play for both teams. Everyone was expecting this match to be a super close one since Minnesota had been a very dominate team in the Big Ten in recent years.

Nebraska swept the Golden Gophers in their first meeting. Minnesota will be looking for some revenge for this tonight just like Wisconsin last night.

The Huskers will really need to be ready for their push tonight if they are wanting to keep their #1 seed in the tournament.

Minnesota doesn’t really have too many wins that are super impressive this year. They swept Ohio State on the season winning both matches played. They also beat a strong Indiana team as well. They lost key matches against Wisconsin and Penn State though.

I think their worst loss of the season had to be to Rutgers. I’m going to take a guess and say they went into that match somewhat overconfident and got beat. This could’ve been what happened to Nebraska last night.

Minnesota also has first year coach Keegan Cook leading this team. Between a new coach and losing some key players from last year is what could have made this team struggle a little more than anyone expected.

Redshirt Junior Taylor Landfair has been their strongest player all season so far. She has registered 328 kills this season and is hitting .230. The last time the Huskers played Minnesota Landfiar was held to hitting .208 which is hard to do with her.

McKenna Wucherer and Lydia Grote are also two hitters that could be tough on Nebraska’s defense. Wucherer had a team leading 11 kills against the Huskers back in September.

On defense, the Huskers will need to try to hit around Minnesota’s 6’2” blocker Phoebe Awoleye. Now she is no Anna Smrek, but she still knows how to block. She recorded 7 blocks against us in the last match.

Libero Kylie Murr also knows how to keep balls off the floor. She leads the team this season with 418 digs and is averaging 4.06 a set.

Well, we have made it to the end of the regular season and all Nebraska needs to do is win this match against Minnesota to keep one of those #1 spots going into the tournament.

Minnesota will be coming out strong and fast since they are on the bubble to get into the tournament, but the Huskers need to learn from yesterday and will need to contain this and stay calm.

The match begins at 8:00pm CST and will be played at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The match will be broadcast on BTN/FoxSports.

#1 Nebraska (27-1, B1G 18-1)

#2 Bergen Reilly 6’1” FR S
#5 Bekka Allick 6’4” SO MB
#6 Laney Choboy 5’3” FR DS/Libero
#7 Maisie Boesiger 5’6” SO DS/Libero
#8 Lexi Rodriguez 5’5” JR DS/Libero
#9 Kennedi Orr 6’0” JR S
#10 Caroline Jurevicius 6’2” FR OH
#11 Hayden Kubik 6’2” SO OH
#13 Merritt Beason 6’4” JR OH
#14 Ally Batenhorst 6’5” JR OH
#15 Andi Jackson 6’3” FR MB
#22 Lindsay Krause 6’4” JR OH
#27 Harper Murray 6’2” FR OH
#44 Maggie Mendelson 6’5” SO MB

Minnesota (16-11, B1G 12-7)

#3 McKenna Wucherer 6’1” SO OH
#5 Melani Shaffmaster 6’3” SR S
#6 Kylie Murr 5’6” 5th Year Libero
#9 Lydia Grote 6’2” SR OH/Opposite
#10 Elise McGhie 5’10” SR S
#12 Taylor Landfair 5’6” Redshirt Junior OH
#17 Phoebe Awoleye 6’2” SR MB
#20 Arica Davis 6’0” JR MB
#22 Julia Hanson 6’1” SO OH/Opposite