3 takeaways from Nebraska volleyball going back to the Final Four

Not that long ago, Wisconsin was the team that Nebraska volleyball couldn’t beat. Now, after three consecutive sweeps, the Huskers own the Badgers and they are headed back to the Final Four.

For the third time this season, Nebraska volleyball didn’t just beat the Badgers — they swept them. Nebraska took the first set 26-24, then rolled to wins in the last two 25-17 and 25-21 to advance to the Final Four for the 18th time.

The 33-2 Huskers, who finished as the national runner-up last season, are headed to Louisville. They need two more wins to achieve their goal. Harper Murray had 10 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks. Andi Jackson had 10 kills and five blocks. Taylor Landfair delivered 13 kills, two digs, and two blocks — including the first set-clinching point.

Wisconsin was held to .126 hitting. Sarah Franklin had 12 kills but she had to take 48 swings to get there and hit just .188.

Nebraska volleyball played nine sets this season against Wisconsin and won all nine. The Huskers will play Penn State or Creighton in the national semifinal and here are three takeaways from another appearance in the Final Four.

Harper Murray is becoming a Nebraska legend

The offseason was well-documented, but as Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule once said, you shouldn’t judge people when they are down, but instead how they get back up.

Well, you have to admire the way Murray has bounced back as a person and a player. She’s come so far from last season’s national championship match. Her passing has improved and so has her defense. Murray was second on the team with 12 digs and had a hand in the last two blocks to end the match.

Murray had 22 kills in the regional semifinal and with two NCAA tournament games to go, hopefully, Harper is writing quite a legacy.

Defense leads the way, again

Lexi Rodriguez, who won regional player of the year was spectacular. She had 17 digs but it’s hard to quantify her impact on the match. One rally that lasted nearly a minute featured three digs by Rodriguez, including one she dove and reached with her opposite hand to save the ball.

Murray, Merritt Beason, and Andi Jackson might steal the show with their hitting displays, but defense wins championships and that’s why the Huskers are headed back to the Final Four, two wins away from a national championship.

John Cook has pushed all the right buttons

Cook has been more relaxed this season or felt more relaxed. It seems like he made an effort to relate more to his players, like Murray, and it has paid off.

Cook was public in his support of Murray and it turned out to be the right move. She’s flourished as a person and a player thanks to his leadership.

Great leaders know how to change. They adapt over time and that’s what Cook has done. He’s got 101 NCAA tournament wins and now he’s on the verge of another national title thanks to his willingness to do things a little differently.

The Nebraska volleyball players would run through a brick wall for him and it shows.

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