3 takeaways from Nebraska volleyball win over Kentucky

Nebraska volleyball opened the season with an impressive 3-1 win over Kentucky by scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, and 25-20.

It wasn’t a perfect night in terms of attacking for the Huskers. They had a little bit of rust and trailed for most of the first set before Andi Jackson and Lindsay Krause sparked a run.

Kentucky tied things up in the second set. Yet, the defense of Nebraska suffocated Kentucky in the third and fourth sets. Rebekah Allick was dominant around the net. Andi Jackson was too. She didn’t have a ton of kills, but man, when she hits the top of her jump, she’s impressive.

Allick had 11 kills and 12 blocks. Merritt Beason also notched 11 kills and six blocks, while Jackson pitched in with 10 kills and five blocks. Here are three takeaways from the win by No. 2 Nebraska over No. 9 Kentucky.

Dominant defense

The Huskers defense is usually exceptional, which is why they rarely lose. It’s easy to talk about all of their spectacular hitters and also Bergen Reilly. She was incredible.

However, Lexi Rodriguez and Laney Choboy looked like the best back-row tandem in the country. When they are out there together, it just feels like the ball rarely hits the ground.

Choboy is always good for a couple of highlight-reel digs and didn’t disappoint on Tuesday night at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville.

That effort and Nebraska’s dominance around the net held Kentucky to a .139 hitting percentage. Kentucky committed plenty of errors but the Huskers defense was stingy.

Middle blockers stole the show

Allick was one of the elite defenders in the country last season and was second in the Big Ten in total blocks and seventh in the country.

The veteran helped spark the Huskers in the first set. Not only was she dominant on the defensive end, but she took advantage of Kentucky’s middle blockers which were a big question coming in.

Allick hit .667 for Nebraska. Jackson hit .412. Harper Murray was solid with eight kills (.250) but Allick and Jackson stole the show.

Jackson’s production was really solid and some of her kills, well, you had to see them to believe them.

Bergen Reilly was nearly perfect

Nebraska volleyball hit .258 so it wasn’t a great night offensively but Reilly was stellar with 39 assists and just one error. It was impressive how she focused more on the middle blockers offensively.

That was a weakness of Kentucky’s and she exploited it all match by setting up Allick and Jackson. She had plenty of moments where she got her teammates in perfect position. She’s just smooth and it’s fun to watch her operate.

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