3 takeaways from Nebraska volleyball’s Sweet 16 win over Kansas

If there was any doubt whether or not Nebraska volleyball was going to beat Kansas on Friday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA volleyball tournament, it was erased in the first few minutes of the match.

Thanks to four blocks in the first set from Andi Jackson, including a few in the first eight points, Nebraska volleyball built an 8-1, after four blocks total, and never looked back in what was another 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-11, 25-12).

Nebraska has swept 23 of its last 24 matches. The Huskers have won 72 of their last 73 sets. They will face Texas A&M on Sunday for a berth in the Final Four.

Here are three takeaways from another dominant win.

Andi Jackson set the tone

Bergen Reilly was the Big Ten Player of the Year, but it’s hard to argue that anyone is more important to this team than Andi Jackson. She’s the best blocker in college volleyball. She set the Big Ten record for hitting percentage in Big Ten conference matches this season, and hasn’t slowed down.

The way she managed four blocks in the opening stanza set the tone. It was like Kansas realized it didn’t have chance after that run. Give the Jayhawks credit, they tried to battle, but they had to be demoralized after a terrible start.

Jackson wasn’t the only middle dominating

Rebekah Allick, who has had the best season of her career, earning All-American and All-Region honors, had her own dominant stretches on Friday night. The senior scored on all nine of her swings. She was also credited with three blocks.

It’s part of what makes this team so dominant. You have one of the most talented hitters in college volleyball (Harper Murray), plus a former Big Ten Player of the Year in Taylor Landfair, as well as Virginia Adriano.

But Nebraska has the best tandem of middles in college volleyball. It’s not close. Friday was another reminder of just how dominant they are.

Defense, defense, defense

Whether it’s the front row or the back row, Nebraska’s defense is as good as there is in college volleyball. They have elite players at the net, in the middle, plus Laney Choboy is a very solid middle.

Against Nebraska, fourth-seeded Kansas hit .022. The Huskers hit .465. That’s an insane difference. Bergen Reilly, who was under the weather, added two blocks and six digs to her 28 assists.

The defense didn’t allow Kansas to score 20 points once. That’s why this team doesn’t lose matches or sets. It has to win nine more to win and bring the national championship back to Nebraska.

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