Nebraska Sweeps Maryland, Improves to 12-0 in Dominant Victory

The Nebraska Cornhuskers continued their impressive season with a decisive victory over the Maryland Terrapins, sweeping the match on March 2, 2024, and improving their record to 12-0. The match showcased both the strengths and weaknesses of the Huskers, particularly in their serve reception, which has been a focal point this season.

During the opening moments, a serve from Maryland’s Haley Melby landed inside the back line for an ace, highlighting a recurring issue for Nebraska’s passing game. The Terrapins finished the match with a total of nine aces, the highest number against Nebraska since the Texas Longhorns recorded twelve in the 2023 NCAA title match. Nebraska’s assistant coach, Jaylen Reyes, expressed concern over the team’s communication and decision-making, especially given that they had shown improvement in recent matches against Michigan and Arizona.

The Huskers’ passing struggles are compounded by the integration of new primary passers, including freshman Teraya Sigler and sophomore Olivia Mauch, who earned her fifth consecutive start as libero. Reyes pointed out that many of the aces were targeted at gaps in the defense, emphasizing a need for players to be more decisive on the court. “A lot of those aces are coming into the seams,” he said. “We’re kind of on our heels.”

Despite the difficulties in returning serves, Nebraska’s middle blockers delivered a strong performance. Rebekah Allick tied her career high with 13 kills, committing just one error on 17 attacks. She demonstrated versatility with a variety of offensive plays, effectively utilizing both setters used during the match. Andi Jackson also excelled, recording a hitting percentage of .800 with nine kills on ten swings, nearly achieving a perfect night.

The match saw Dani Busboom Kelly, Nebraska’s head coach, utilize a wide rotation, featuring 14 of her 17 players. This strategy allowed for experimentation, particularly in the second set, where the Huskers adopted a 6-2 offensive formation. Freshman setter Campbell Flynn and opposite hitter Allie Sczech were introduced in a double substitution to provide fresh energy alongside starting setter Bergen Reilly and starting opposite Virginia Adriano. This approach led to an impressive .324 hitting percentage in the set, although it also resulted in a close finish, with the Huskers narrowly winning 27-25.

The second set was the only frame in which Maryland managed to record more than six kills, with the Terrapins landing 14 kills of their own. Nebraska’s performance, while strong overall, revealed areas in need of improvement ahead of their upcoming match against Penn State.

As the season progresses, the challenges faced in serve reception and overall consistency will be critical for Nebraska as they navigate through the competitive landscape of the Big Ten Conference. With a solid winning streak, the Huskers remain focused on refining their gameplay while continuing to capitalize on their offensive strengths.