SEATTLE – In a decisive display of skill, Nebraska’s dynamic duo of outside attackers, Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair, recorded 22 of the team’s 44 kills in a convincing 25-17, 25-11, 25 victory -21 against Washington, Saturday night.
Ranked second nationally, the Cornhuskers executed their game plan to perfection, hitting an impressive .375 attacking percentage while effectively stifling the Huskies, who finished the game with a .158 attacking percentage.
Murray established herself as a key performer, scoring 12 attacks with a .360 attack percentage, with her first error not coming until her eighth attempt in the second set. Meanwhile, Landfair also showed his proficiency, contributing 10 attacks and posting an exceptional .471 attack percentage, in addition to three blocks.
Andi Jackson also left her mark with seven kills at a .333 rate, and setter Bergen Reilly effectively sealed five of six kill attempts.
The win for the Huskers (24-1, 14-0) caps a striking road trip, having previously swept Oregon on Thursday, reaching their 15th straight sets victory.
The turnout for Nebraska fans in Seattle was palpable, as a record crowd of 9,768 filled Alaska Airlines Arena, marking the first full capacity in program history and breaking the previous record by more than 1,100 fans.
With this victory, Nebraska finds itself alone at the top of the Big Ten standings, especially after No. 7 Wisconsin’s previous victory against No. 3 Penn State. The Huskers are now 14-0 in competition, trailing Penn State (13-1), Wisconsin (12-2) and Purdue (10-3).
Washington (18-6, 8-6) struggled throughout the match, conceding points with seven service errors and 19 attack errors, which hurt their efforts to compete. Emoni Bush led the Huskies with 11 kills but had a rough night, finishing with a .108 attack percentage.
Despite getting off to a strong start with a 10-7 Washington advantage, Nebraska’s defense quickly tightened up, allowing them to come back and grab a 15-12 lead by winning eight of ten exchanges. They closed the second set with an impressive .480 attack, remaining untouchable with no blocks against them and committing only three attack errors.
Lexi Rodriguez, a three-time All-American, had 11 punts, making crucial defensive plays early in the game.
As the season progresses, Nebraska’s intensity and teamwork shine a light on their ability to reclaim the title. With six games remaining in the Big Ten schedule, they continue to be the team to beat.
Stay tuned as the Cornhuskers aim to carry that momentum into the home stretch of the season, chasing not only conference glory, but also national championship aspirations.
