Huskers drop set, but reach 24-0 with win over Wildcats

LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team won its 24th match in a row with a 3-1 (28-26, 24-26, 25-11, 25-20) win over Northwestern in front of 8,637 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Wednesday night.

Nebraska improved to 24-0 (15-0 Big Ten), its best start to a season since 2005 (28-0). Northwestern dropped to 11-14 (5-10 Big Ten).

The Huskers hit .278 and held the Wildcats to .143, including .087 over the final three sets. Nebraska had 13 blocks on the night, including seven by Bekka Allick, six by Andi Jackson and five by Bergen Reilly.

Merritt Beason and Harper Murray each had 13 kills to lead the Big Red. Allick tied her season high with 11 kills and hit .562, and Ally Batenhorst also had double-digit kills with 10. Jackson chipped in eight kills on .600 hitting.

Reilly finished with 45 assists and 12 digs for her third straight double-double.

Lexi Rodriguez had 11 digs, while Beason had 10.

Laney Choboy served two of Nebraska’s four aces in the match.

First set was the best.

The Huskers held a 5-3 lead before Northwestern scored a 6-2 run to go up 9-7.

The Wildcats led 12-10 when a kill by Murray and Wildcat attacking error tied the score at 12-12.

A kill by Jackson put the Big Red back on top, 15-14, but Northwestern scored four straight points to go up 20-17. The Wildcats led 22-19, but a kill by Allick and Northwestern hitting error got Nebraska within 22-21.

Beason then smashed back-to-back kills to put the Huskers up 23-22. A Northwestern kill tied the score at 23-23, but Beason stepped up with another kill for set point, 24-23. Northwestern answered again, but Batenhorst posted a kill for another set point, 25-24.

Once again, the Wildcats fought it off with a kill, and a Husker hitting error gave Northwestern set point, 26-25.

Beason terminated from the back row to make it 26-26, and Allick and Murray teamed up for a block and another Husker set point, 27-26.

This time, Murray finished off the set with a kill for a 28-26 win.