Nebraska volleyball isn’t used to playing their indoor season this time of year, but they’re making the best of it.
Nebraska volleyball entered this season with a lot of expectations. They didn’t have any seniors on their team last season and while they did lose some players via the transfer portal, the talent they welcomed in offset that.
That’s why it was disappointing (but understandable, of course) when the season was postponed in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the Huskers still got to play for what is considered the 2020 season, instead playing a shortened season from January through April.
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After four matches, Nebraska is a perfect 4-0. Their original home opener against Northwestern was postponed, so they’ve only played against Indiana and Maryland, two teams who don’t typically make much of a splash in the Big Ten.
Still, the Huskers can only play who is on their schedule and so far, that’s been relatively easy. They have an away match this weekend against Rutgers and then a run of tougher competitors will begin, as they’ll face Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio State. That’s the tough stretch on Nebraska’s schedule for sure, as Wisconsin is the No. 1 team in the country and Minnesota is right behind the Huskers (who are No. 4), sitting No. 5 in the rankings.
Illinois isn’t what they once were, but this is a team that went to the national semifinals two years ago (and lost to Nebraska). Ohio State isn’t ranked, but they’re 4-0 and are definitely improving and a force to be reckoned with.
Nebraska volleyball has been terrific and hopefully, that continues.
In their first four matches, the Huskers have dropped just one set, which came this past Friday to Maryland. Otherwise, they’ve swept their opponents and looked dominant while doing so. Service errors are definitely an area of concern and need to be improved on, but hitting-wise, Nebraska isn’t slacking. They hit .337 in their 3-0 win over the Terrapins on Saturday while holding Maryland to a .169 hitting percentage.
The Huskers have mostly played their same starting lineup from a season ago, but we’ve gotten to see more from sophomore Riley Zuhn in these first four games. Zuhn appeared in 17 matches as a backup outside hitter, but she’s been relied upon more so far.
She’s playing in senior outside hitter Jazz Sweet’s spot and we’ve seen very little from Sweet in the four matches thus far (she was involved in a minor traffic accident and cited on suspicion of a DUI last fall, which could have something to do with it).
Regardless, Zuhn has played well and the Huskers have also seen newcomers junior Kayla Caffey — a transfer from Missouri — and freshman Keonilei Akana in action and like what they see. Of course, throw in the always-dependable Lauren Stivrins, Lexi Sun, and Madi Kubik, and this team is as stacked as ever.
The matches are going to get tougher, but with the NCAA Tournament in Omaha for this season, there’s no reason why Nebraska volleyball can’t get back to the National Championship Game and win their third title in five years.