NEB VB: Huskers Set for Spring Match in Kearney

MATCH PREVIEW

• The Nebraska volleyball team will play its 2024 Spring Match against Denver at the UNK Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb., on Saturday, May 4. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m., with doors opening 90 minutes prior to first serve. The Huskers will sign autographs after the match. Approximately 5,000 tickets to the match were sold out in 46 minutes. 

• For the third consecutive year, the Huskers’ spring match will be televised statewide on Nebraska Public Media and streamed on NebraskaPublicMedia.org for free. Larry Punteney and Kathi Wieskamp will be on the call.

• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and the Huskers app. John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will provide color commentary.

• The Huskers played their 2017 spring match at Kearney High School but have not played a spring match at UNK’s 5,000-seat Health and Sports Center. Kearney Public Schools is the primary host of the event, working in partnership with Nebraska Athletics, UNK and the Kearney Visitors Bureau.

• The trip back to Kearney continues Nebraska’s tradition of touring the state for spring volleyball matches. Since 2007, Nebraska has played spring matches in North Platte, Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Norfolk, Wayne, Ogallala, Kearney and McCook.

ABOUT THE HUSKERS

• Nebraska finished the 2023 season at 33-2 (19-1 Big Ten) and reached the NCAA Championship match, falling 3-0 to Texas in Tampa, Fla.

• The Huskers won the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2017, and head coach John Cook was named AVCA National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year.

• With four freshmen in the lineup, the Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season.

• The Huskers, who had no seniors on their roster in 2023, return 10 letterwinners including every starter.

• Opposite hitter Merritt Beason (first team), libero Lexi Rodriguez (first team), setter Bergen Reilly (second team) and outside hitter Harper Murray (third team) were AVCA All-America selections in 2023.

• Beason was the AVCA North Region Player of the Year, and Murray was both the AVCA North Region and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Reilly was the Big Ten Setter of the Year, and Rodriguez was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.

• The Huskers bring back 86.5 percent of their kills from 2023, 99.7 percent of their assists, 100 percent of their service aces, 96.2 percent of their digs and 79.4 percent of their blocks.

• Nebraska has two freshmen on the roster who enrolled in January and played during the beach volleyball season. Skyler Pierce is a 6-2 outside hitter from Lenexa, Kan., and Olivia Mauch is a 5-6 libero from Bennington, Neb. Both Pierce and Mauch tied for the team lead with 18 wins during the beach season.

FIVE HUSKERS NAMED TO U.S. U21 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

• Four members of the Nebraska volleyball team have been selected to the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team this summer.

• Laney Choboy, Andi Jackson, Olivia Mauch and Bergen Reilly were among the 20 players named to the U21 National Team. Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes is an assistant coach for the team.

• The team will train June 14-22 in Anaheim, California. During that time, 12 athletes out of the 20 will be selected to represent the United States at the 2024 U21 Women’s NORCECA Continental Championship on June 23-July 1 in Toronto, Canada.

• All four Huskers have previous U.S. National Team experience. Reilly has played for the U.S. Women’s National Team, as well as the U18 and U19 teams, winning gold at the 2022 Pan American Cup with the U19 team. Choboy, Jackson and Reilly won the gold medal with the U.S. Girls U19 Team at the 2022 Pan American Cup. Reilly has also represented the U.S. Women’s National Team at the Pan Am Final Six in 2022. Mauch was part of the U19 team that won gold at the 2023 FIVB U19 World Championships.

SCOUTING REPORT: DENVER

• Denver finished 14-12 overall in 2023 and was 12-4 in the Summit League.

• Outside hitter Cassie Davis was a first-team All-Summit League pick last season after leading the Pioneers with 3.60 kills per set and 36 service aces.

• Setter Briley Decker was an All-Summit League Freshman Team selection last year, providing 9.45 assists per set and 1.74 digs per set.

• Megan Pendergast is entering her second season as head coach at Denver. A former Husker player from 2009-10, Pendergast was previously an assistant coach at UCLA, Oklahoma and Tulsa.

SERIES HISTORY

• Nebraska is 2-0 all-time against Denver. The teams played in 2019 at the Devaney Center, a 25-23, 25-17, 25-12 Husker sweep.

2024 SCHEDULE TAKING SHAPE

• The Big Ten Conference announced its volleyball conference schedule rotation for the 2024 season in February.

• Although the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington will bring the conference up to 18 teams, the schedule will remain a 20-game schedule with 10 home games and 10 away games.

• Nebraska will play three opponents both home and away - Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Double-play opponents were determined with consideration for competitive balance, geography and rivalries.

• The Huskers will host Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA and USC.

• Nebraska will travel to Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Washington.

TICKET AND BAG POLICY FOR SATURDAY’S SPRING MATCH

Tickets

Everyone regardless of age needs a ticket to enter Saturday’s volleyball match. Children 2 and under can purchase a lap ticket on game day at the UNK Health and Sports Center for $5 and the child must be present at the time of purchase. The child is expected to sit on a lap. No seat will be assigned.

Bag / Purse Policy

Small clutch purses and wallets are allowed at entry. Clear, uncolored plastic tote bags are also permitted, or guests may use a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar).