After getting pushed to five sets by No. 9 Creighton Tuesday, No. 5 Nebraska allowed no such dramatics to No. 14 Arizona State Friday night at the Devaney Center, as the Huskers won 25-20, 26-24, 25-19. The victory was Nebraska’s third against a ranked opponent this year and fourth victory overall. The win also stretched the Huskers’ winning streak at the Devaney Center to 29 matches.
Merritt Beason led NU (7-1) with 15 kills, while Andi Jackson and Harper Murray added 10 kills each. Rebekah Allick had five blocks. Meanwhile, Arizona State (7-1) was led by Geli Cyr with 14 kills and Shania Cormartie, who added 10. The Huskers solidly outhit the Sun Devils, .319-.213, while outblocking ASU 7-3.
A four-point run early in set one gave the Huskers control, as Nebraska led 6-4 and never trailed thereafter en route to setpoint. While the Huskers hit a robust .419 for the set, Arizona State was nearly as good, hitting .355. Andi Jackson led NU with six kills, while Geli Cyr paced the Sun Devils with five.
The second set was hotly contested throughout, with 15 ties and seven lead changes during the set. A service error by the Sun Devils tied the set at 22, then a block by Jackson and Lindsay Krause gave Nebraska a 23-22 lead, forcing Arizona State to take its second timeout. Cyr’s 11th kill of the night gave the Huskers a 24-23 lead, but a net violation tied it at 24. A second service error gave Nebraska its second set point, and a cross-court swing by Merritt Beason landed to clinch the set and give Beason her 10th kill. Of those 10 kills, seven came in the second set on just nine swings.
The Huskers took control of the third set early, scoring five straight points to build a 5-1 lead after Arizona State scored the first point of the set. The Sun Devils were able to get back into the set. A three-point run gave Arizona State an 11-10 lead before Nebraska won five of six rallies to push ahead, 15-12. The Huskers retained control of the set, thanks in part to winning a couple of challenges, including a challenge that ASU was in the net after a rally the Sun Devils had won. The successful challenge gave Nebraska 19-16 lead instead of 18-17. It was the beginning of a strong finish by Nebraska, as the Huskers won seven of the last 10 rallies to clinch the match.
The Huskers continue competition in the Nebraska Classic with a match against Wichita State at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Devaney Center. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m. on B-107.3. The Shockers (3-5) lost to Long Beach State in four sets Friday in Lincoln. WSU has lost four of five.