No. 1 Nebraska volleyball swept its 11th straight match as the Cornhuskers took down Michigan State 25-15, 25-15, 25-18, Saturday at John Cook Arena. Nebraska (20-0, 10-0 Big Ten) has now won its last 34 sets, 29 of them by five or more points.
Teraya Sigler led a balanced Husker attack with nine kills. Rebekah Allick and Harper Murray added eight kills and four blocks each. Murray also contributed 10 digs. Victoria Adriano and Andi Jackson notched seven kills each, with Jackson adding in five blocks. Harper Murray tallied 37 set assists for Nebraska. The Spartans (15-5, 5-5 Big Ten) were led by the seven kills of Bianca Mumcular and Zuzanna Kulig. Kulig also added seven blocks. The Huskers outhit MSU, .382-.118 and outblocked them 11-9.
Nebraska shot out of the gate, scoring the first four points, and six of the first seven. The Huskers led 11-2 after 13 rallies. A five-point run with Sigler serving grew the lead to 18-7, and Nebraska cruised from there to finish off the first set.
Michigan State led early in the second set, 5-3, but a five-point Husker run keyed by two kills and a block by Allick gave NU an 8-5 lead and control of set No. 2. The Spartans cut Nebraska’s lead to one twice, 10-9 and 11-10, but the Huskers held the lead. After MSU drew to within 13-11, Nebraska won 10 of the next 11 rallies to lead, 23-12. The Spartans fought off two set points before Allick terminated to clinch set two.
Michigan State again held the early edge in set three, leading 6-3 and 8-5. But the Huskers won six of the next seven rallies to open an 11-9 advantage. The Spartans cut NU’s lead to two on a couple of occasions, but never drew any closer. Two blocks and a kill by Jackson fueled the match-ending four-point run.
Nebraska is next in action on Friday at No. 12 Wisconsin. Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m., with first serve at 8 p.m. on KLIN and B-107.3.