3 thoughts ahead of Nebraska volleyball and Penn State in national semifinal

The Nebraska volleyball team has been on a mission to get back to the national championship and just one more team stands in their way: Penn State.

Nebraska had to share the Big Ten championship with Penn State after losing on the road to the Nittany Lions late in the season. Both teams advanced to the Final Four and will face an ACC team (Pittsburgh or Louisville) in the title match.

Can the Nittany Lions beat John Cook’s squad twice in a row? That seems like a tall task, but Penn State just took down Nebraska volleyball in four sets. They are also playing incredible volleyball right now.

Both teams are. The Huskers won 12 of 13 sets in their regional. Their defense has been spectacular and it will need to stay that way Thursday night in Louisville. Here are three thoughts ahead of the national semifinal match scheduled for 30 minutes after the first semifinal at 6 PM CST on ESPN.

The defense needs to show up

In the loss to Penn State, Nebraska volleyball held the Nittany Lions to a .152 hitting percentage. However, in the fourth set, Penn State hit .351. They also hit .205 in the first set. Penn State hit negative in the second and .122 in the third.

So Nebraska has defended well against the Nittany Lions. For the season, Nebraska has allowed .137 and held Wisconsin to just .126 in the regional final. That’s the kind of performance the Huskers need tonight.

They have the best libero (Lexi Rodriguez) in college volleyball. The four-time All-American is in the running for National Player of the Year and if Nebraska is going to win tonight, and on Sunday, it starts with defense.

Nebraska volleyball hitters need to deliver

Nebraska volleyball has multiple attackers who are All-Americans (Harper Murray and Andi Jackson) plus Merritt Beason (First-Team All-Big Ten) and Taylor Landfair. The Huskers also have an All-American setter in Bergen Reilly.

Yet, the offense didn’t hit above .205 in any of the four sets in Happy Valley. Penn State has a great defense too — you don’t get this far without one, but Murray, Jackson, Beason, and Landfair need to deliver.

The Huskers probably have the best array of attackers in college volleyball and they need to be at their best to advance.

A team on a mission

Penn State beat this team a few weeks ago, but this mission is about much more than Penn State. Nebraska has had one goal this season: win the national championship.

Anything sort of that will feel like a failure, as awful as that sounds. The motivation of last season’s loss has driven this team all season long, but the pressure of being a Nebraska volleyball player is immense.

Can the Huskers handle it? I believe they can. My prediction is that they beat Penn State, in four sets. But handing that pressure, that’s a key question that needs to be answered tonight, and hopefully Sunday in Louisville.

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